Press Releases and News

WASHINGTON, D.C. – The U.S. Soccer Foundation today announced it has awarded nine grants totaling $159,376 to organizations that will build and enhance safe places to play in eight states. When completed, the projects will provide access to safe play spaces for more than 12,000 youth and adults.

Today, Houston Dynamo owners Jake Silverstein and Ben Guill announced a commitment to create 15 soccer mini-fields, known as mini-pitches, across the Greater Houston area over the next five years.

Washington, D.C. – Girls and boys across the country, including thousands in underserved communities, will gain new access to Safe Places to Play over the next seven years thanks to a new and enhanced Mini-Pitch System™ designed for youth soccer.

WASHINGTON, D.C. – The U.S. Soccer Foundation today announced it has awarded five grants totaling $86,797 to organizations that will build and enhance safe places to play in five states. When completed, the projects will provide access to safe play spaces for at least 29,418 youth and adults.

The U.S. Soccer Foundation and Musco Lighting, a global leader in sports lighting, have partnered with Energy Assist Foundation and 7-Eleven to announce the creation of 10 mini-pitches with Fields & Futures in Oklahoma City. These new mini-pitches will support efforts to help Oklahoma City Public Schools (OKCPS) grow sports participation across the district and promote physical activity for its students, as part of the district’s Pathway to Greatness initiative. The monetary value of this project well exceeds a half million dollars.

Columbus, OH – The Columbus Crew SC Foundation, Columbus City Schools, Columbus Recreation and Parks, and the U.S. Soccer Foundation together unveiled a new mini-pitch at Eakin Elementary School in Columbus yesterday. The new, state-of-the-art mini-pitch is complete with built-in goals as well as lights, allowing community members to enjoy the game past daylight hours.

Dallas, TX – Dallas Park and Recreation Department, Target, and the U.S. Soccer Foundation unveiled a new soccer mini-pitch at Lake Cliff Park on Saturday. This mini-pitch, one of five to have recently come to Dallas, marks the latest play space to be completed as a part of a Target and U.S. Soccer Foundation partnership to build 100 mini-pitches nationwide by 2020. To date, the two organizations have also created mini-pitches in Atlanta, Chicago, Houston, Miami, Orlando, Phoenix, and Tampa through the partnership, with more to come to the Bay Area, Washington, D.C., and Philadelphia later this year.

The U.S. Soccer Foundation today announced a new initiative, United for Girls, aimed at increasing opportunities for young girls and women from underserved communities to play soccer and reap its many benefits.

Washington, D.C. – In advance of the upcoming FIFA Women’s World Cup, the U.S. Soccer Foundation and Johnson & Johnson today awarded grants to five organizations that will increase opportunities for girls to participate in soccer in communities that have historically been excluded from such opportunities. Through these grants, the awarded organizations have the ability to nearly triple the number of participants collectively impacted over the three-year grant period. Grantees will also work with the Foundation and UpMetrics to develop a report that highlights best practices for increasing female participation in soccer.

WASHINGTON, D.C. – The Republicans defeated the Democrats at D.C. United’s Audi Field to win the 7th annual Congressional Soccer Match. The event brought together embassy employees, Members of Congress, professional athletes, Hill staffers, and soccer fans – all in support of the U.S. Soccer Foundation’s proven, life-changing programs for children in underserved communities.