Bold initiative builds on more than three decades of proven impact across hundreds of communities nationwide
Campaign marked by a Miami gala honoring long-time Foundation supporter Kenneth C. Griffin and Coach Bora Milutinović
Washington, D.C. (January 29, 2026) – The U.S. Soccer Foundation today announced Soccer Will, a national campaign to scale its proven programs that help youth improve connections with peers and adults, build resilience, and increase soccer participation. To support these initiatives, the Foundation will invest $30 million by 2030 to improve the lives of 10 million youth where they live, learn, and play, building on decades of community-based impact and early investments that demonstrated proven results at scale.
“For more than 30 years, we’ve seen that when young people have access to safe places to play, caring mentors, and supportive families, their health and well‑being improve. They also gain more opportunities to grow, discover what they’re capable of, and build brighter futures—while strengthening the communities around them,” said Ed Foster-Simeon, President & CEO of the U.S. Soccer Foundation. “Through Soccer Will, we’re expanding that impact to reach 10 million youth by 2030. This is a bold goal, but it’s achievable, and it’s urgently needed. Together with our partners, we are ensuring that every child has the opportunity to play, grow, and succeed through our sport.”
Soccer Will advances the Foundation’s mission across three pillars that will guide program expansion over the next five years.
This growth builds on early leadership from supporters like Ken Griffin, founder and CEO of Citadel and founder of Griffin Catalyst, whose initial investments helped demonstrate how local soccer programs could scale into a durable, national model.
Thanks to early commitments from longtime and new partners, the Foundation has already raised $13 million, nearly halfway toward its goal of $30 million – a number that also honors the organization’s rich history of three decades of impact. Campaign lead gifts include adidas, Britton Family Foundation, MetLife Foundation, Musco Lighting, the Ted and Meredith Segal Foundation, the Stand Together Foundation and Zaffirini Family Foundation.
“As a lifelong soccer fan, I’ve seen how the game can help young people build strong skills and form meaningful relationships with peers and coach-mentors,” said Paul Britton, founder and CEO of Capstone Investment Advisors and Board Member of the U.S. Soccer Foundation. “What has always impressed me about the U.S. Soccer Foundation is its commitment to using the game to create positive change in communities. I’m proud to support its continued evolution and help scale programs that enrich lives, strengthen connection, and inspire a lasting love of the game.”
“The U.S. Soccer Foundation has been an invaluable partner to our professional clubs in expanding access to the game for children in under-resourced communities across Houston,” said Ted Segal, Majority Owner and Chairman of Houston Dynamo FC and Houston Dash and Board Member of the U.S. Soccer Foundation. “As both a club owner and Foundation board member, I’m proud to help support this next phase of the U.S. Soccer Foundation—one that will deepen our impact in Houston and strengthen communities across the country by opening more doors for young people to play, grow, and thrive through soccer.”
“We’ve seen first-hand the life changing impact that the Foundation’s youth soccer initiatives have made in communities across the country,” said Jeff Rogers, Musco’s Chief Executive Officer. “The Soccer Will campaign is a powerful expansion of those efforts that will build on all the positive momentum and continue to close opportunity gaps for youth and families. We’re very excited and proud to be a part of it.”
Each year, the Foundation reaches more than one million young people through its youth-centered programs. It has worked with more than 1,000 community partners across the country and created more than 850 mini-pitches that transform neighborhoods and are located within a half-mile of where 6.5 million youth live. To date, it has equipped more than 27,000 coach-mentors with youth development best practices, including 3,000 educators who have collectively supported more than 1.2 million students nationwide.
These results show that the Foundation’s programs create real, measurable change. Ninety-nine percent of coach-mentor trainees feel prepared to make a positive impact, and communities with mini-pitches consistently report improved well-being, with 98% of residents saying their neighborhoods feel safer and more active after a mini-pitch is installed.
Youth participating in Foundation programs experience significant growth: 95% report increased confidence, and 83% at higher health risk see improved outcomes. Together, these data points highlight the transformational impact made possible when youth are supported by caring adults and have consistent access to safe places to play and high-quality programs.
Yet millions of young people in under-resourced communities still face barriers to play and connection. Sports participation has declined, and one in three children lacks a mentor, while mental health challenges persist. And in too many communities, access to recreation remains out of reach; children living in low-income neighborhoods are four times more likely to lack local recreational facilities. These barriers underscore the urgent need for expanded access to the kinds of opportunities the Foundation provides.
The Soccer Will campaign tackles these disparities by scaling what works: safer, local places to play, caring, trained mentors, and accessible, evidence-based programs that integrate physical activity and connection. With expanded investment and partnerships, the Foundation aims to ensure that every child—regardless of ZIP code—has the opportunity to thrive.
The Foundation will celebrate Soccer Will with a special community event in Miami on Friday, January 30, featuring Coach-Mentor Training and a youth soccer clinic on a Griffin Catalyst mini-pitch that has been transformed into a community hub. The following evening, the Foundation will formally launch Soccer Will at its Pitch Perfect Gala, honoring the 1994 U.S. Men’s National Team Coach Bora Milutinović and long-time Foundation supporter and philanthropist Kenneth C. Griffin.
Bora Milutinović will receive the inaugural Yes, Coach! Award in recognition of his profound impact as a coach-mentor, empowering young players to thrive both on and off the field. Ken Griffin will receive the #10 Award recognizing his profound impact and unwavering dedication to communities through the game of soccer.
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 with 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.
