When more than 700 kids got a chance to run onto the field at MetLife Stadium on Wednesday for a youth soccer clinic, there was hardly a fan in the stands. To be sure, it was a stark contrast from the more than 80,000 who watched Lionel Messi and Argentina defeated Canada in a Copa America semifinal on that same field the night before.
The excitement level, however, was just as high.
While the three recent Copa America games at MetLife showcased the draw of international soccer, the clinics led by the U.S. Soccer Foundation and the 2026 FIFA World Cup Host Committee of New York/New Jersey, showed its reach. And it showed the depth that the host committee and all involved are working to develop.
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Simply put, the impact of the World Cup in this area needs to be about more than the eight matches that will be played in New Jersey and the six that will be played in Philadelphia, said Lauren LaRusso and Bruce Revman, the co-managers of the host committee.
LaRusso and Revman said the youth event — which included players representing organizations including the N.J. Youth Soccer/U.S. Youth Soccer TOPSoccer, the YMCA of Greater New York and the New Jersey YMCA State Alliance — is just one of the ways the committee is working to help the World Cup come alive for so many.
“This day reflected all that the N.Y./N.J. Host Committee and our region strive for: diversity, access, inclusion and growing the game of soccer,” they said in a joint statement. “We are committed to using the FIFA World Cup 2026 to engage with as many people as possible in the lead up and leave a lasting legacy for the local communities.”
And they are committed to using as many partners as possible to make it happen.
LaRusso and Revman cited the work of the U.S. Soccer Foundation, a legacy strategy partner, but they also applauded the work of local groups, including the Statewide Hispanic Chamber of Commerce of New Jersey and the New Jersey Pride Chamber of Commerce, which worked together on an event that marked two years until the first game will be played.
Luis De La Hoz, the chairman of the Hispanic Chamber, said the event is a way for businesses to reach a Hispanic community in New Jersey of approximately 2.5 million.
“Soccer means a lot to us,” he said. “It’s not just another economic opportunity. Soccer will move the needle.”
Gus Penaranda, the executive director of the Pride Chamber, agreed. The connection to minority communities is huge, he said.
“For those of you that have not been (to a World Cup), take the Super Bowl and multiply it by 1,000 and add good food and music — that is what’s coming to New York and New Jersey in 2026.”
LaRusso and Revman are ensuring there will be plenty of moments before then.
Revman said the impact of Wednesday event could be seen one face at a time.
“You should have seen the faces of their parents, when they saw their children walk onto the pitch — that was very special,” he said. “When you do these events, it makes it easier when you’re doing the hard work because that’s why we all do this.”
The event was part of the N.Y./N.J. Host Committee and U.S. Soccer Foundation’s larger partnership that is focused on accelerating the foundation’s efforts to create safe places to play and engage New York and New Jersey in soccer by 2026.
U.S. Soccer Foundation CEO Ed Foster-Simeon said the foundation is focused on advancing soccer as a vehicle for social impact. Over the last three decades, the foundation has engaged more than 2 million youth from more than 1,000 largely underserved communities in proven programs, he said.
“Events like today’s celebration are integral to ensuring that large-scale events leave a positive and lasting impact for youth, especially those from underresourced communities,” he said. “This is just the beginning of much more to come to ensure that we use the beautiful game to strengthen communities and improve the health and well-being of youth leading up to and after the FIFA World Cup 2026.”
