FIFA World Cup 2026 Miami and U.S. Soccer Foundation alliance builds on philanthropic investments to grow the game in Miami’s under-resourced and culturally-rich communities
August 4, 2025
The FIFA World Cup 2026 Miami Host Committee and the U.S. Soccer Foundation yesterday announced a strategic alliance to positively impact the lives of more than 30,000 youth across the region by the end of 2026. The announcement was made during the opening of a new mini-pitch funded by Citadel founder and CEO Ken Griffin at Children’s Home Society as part of a vibrant back-to-school celebration that signals not just the return of classes, but the kickoff of a transformative year for youth soccer in Miami.
As students return to classrooms, this alliance ensures that soccer becomes a powerful tool for learning, mentorship, and community building throughout the academic year and beyond. It also builds on the Miami-Dade Soccer Initiative—an effort launched by the Foundation alongside Griffin Catalyst, the civic engagement initiative of Citadel founder and CEO Ken Griffin, and The Children’s Trust in 2023 to create 50 mini-pitches in under-resourced communities across the country and scale the Foundation’s proven programs that improve health and well-being though soccer.
Together, the Host Committee and the Foundation will activate programming opportunities on the mini-pitches and train 750 coaches as mentors to ensure adults have the tools to create positive and supportive environments for young people. As educators and coaches prepare for the fall season, the launch of the Yes, Coach!™ microsite—complete with resources and training for coaches and educators—and expansion of Just Ball sites will provide timely tools and spaces for youth to thrive both on and off the pitch.
“Miami’s global reputation will rise even further when the world comes for the 2026 FIFA World Cup,” said Ed Foster-Simeon, President & CEO of the U.S. Soccer Foundation. “We’re committed to making sure this historic tournament leaves a legacy for local youth and families for generations to come in this dynamic city. That’s why we’re proud to collaborate with the Miami Host Committee to leverage prior investments made toward our cause so that additional supporters of Miami’s World Cup efforts can have an even greater impact and help transform young lives through the power of soccer.”
On May 3, the FIFA World Cup 2026 Miami Host Committee joined the U.S. Soccer Foundation and more than 900 youth and their families at its annual Just Ball Unity Cup for a celebration of soccer and community. More than 11,000 youth across Miami-Dade County have participated in Just Ball since the program launched in the area in 2023 with the support of adidas, Griffin Catalyst, and The Children’s Trust. The program will expand to new sites, including the Children’s Home Society location, this fall and will continue to expand across the region thanks to new support from Vita Coco, who was also at the mini-pitch opening event to help launch Just Ball at the site.
“We are proud of our longstanding support of sports as a mechanism to improve the lives of children and their families,” said The Children’s Trust President & CEO James R. Haj. “Collaboration on communitywide projects like this is essential to ensure our neighborhoods are safe places for children and youth to play, to learn, and to thrive.”
“At Vita Coco, we’re committed to fueling play with products that are better for people and the planet – an effort which has an even larger impact when communities have access to the spaces and programs that make it possible,” said Jane Prior, Chief Marketing Officer at Vita Coco. “We’re excited to partner with the U.S. Soccer Foundation to support the Miami Just Ball season and help expand access to soccer through the incredible work they do in local communities.”
Created in partnership with adidas, Just Ball creates hyperlocal opportunities for middle and high school aged youth to play right in their neighborhoods, and no cost and with no pressure. Trained coaches, called Playmakers, encourage pick-up style, creative play and give agency to the players to call their own fouls in a safe and supportive environment. In addition to Miami-Dade County, Just Ball runs in the New York City metro area and Los Angeles.
As part of this strategic partnership with the Foundation, the FIFA World Cup 2026 Miami Host Committee joins FIFA World Cup 26™ Philadelphia and FIFA World Cup 26™ New York New Jersey in supporting Yes, Coach!™, an initiative with Stand Together Foundation to harness cultural milestones like the FIFA World Cup 2026™ to drive social impact through youth sports mentorship. Through community partnerships and trainings, the two organizations will work to ensure more coaches throughout the region are trained in youth development best practices and have the tools they need to create safe, supportive relationships with their players and teams. The Yes, Coach! microsite will be released later in August.
The U.S. Soccer Foundation is leading nationwide efforts to ensure that the 2026 tournament benefits youth and families across the nation for generations to come. Together with its partners, the Foundation has installed more than 800 mini-pitches nationwide, with the goal to install a total of 1,000 by the end of 2026. Last year, the U.S. Soccer Foundation engaged 1 million youth in its programs proven to improve the health and well-being of participants, including 33,000 youth in the Miami-Dade area.
About the U.S. Soccer Foundation
As the national leader for sports-based youth development in under-resourced areas, the U.S. Soccer Foundation is on a mission to let soccer do what it does: change absolutely everything. Founded as a legacy of the 1994 FIFA World Cup, the Foundation provides underserved communities access to innovative play spaces and evidence-based soccer programs that instill hope, foster well-being, and help youth achieve their fullest potential. Headquartered in Washington, D.C., the U.S. Soccer Foundation is a 501(c)(3) organization. For more information visit www.ussoccerfoundation.org or follow us on LinkedIn and Instagram.
