As excitement builds ahead of this summer’s World Cup, elementary students from five Miami-Dade County Public Schools came together for a morning of soccer matches, games, obstacle courses, and cross-community connection.
(Credit: Achieve & Lazaro Llanes Creative)
Education nonprofit Achieve Miami hosted its “Achieve SPARK World Cup” celebration on Saturday, May 9, bringing together elementary students from across Miami-Dade County for a festival style morning of soccer-themed enrichment activities, inter-school matches, obstacle courses, and team-building experiences.
Held simultaneously at Arcola Lake Elementary School and Caribbean K-8 Center, the event marked the culmination of Achieve SPARK’s 2025-26 program year, bringing together students from all five SPARK school sites for a high energy morning of soccer-themed games, outdoor activities, teamwork, and community building.
Supported by FIFA as part of Achieve Miami’s broader collaboration to expand access to sports-based learning, students participated in short matches, soccer-themed enrichment activities, carnival-style games, and obstacle courses alongside peers and high school mentors while wearing color-coded jerseys provided by FIFA, creating a true match-day experience inspired by the excitement surrounding this summer’s World Cup.
Students also were gifted an “Achievement Award” by Raising Cane’s, a longtime supporter of Achieve Miami, which included a special certificate redeemable for a free Kids Combo meal.
“Today is about giving students the opportunity to feel part of something bigger than themselves while building confidence, teamwork, leadership, and connection through an experience that brings the excitement of the World Cup directly into their community,” said Leslie Miller Saiontz, founder and president of Achieve. “These are the kinds of moments that help students step outside their comfort zones, encourage one another, and create meaningful relationships with peers and mentors.”
Achieve SPARK is Achieve Miami’s bi-weekly weekend program that pairs elementary students, known as “Little Buddies,” with high school mentors, known as “Big Buddies,” for tutoring, enrichment, literacy-focused activities, athletics, and wellness programming.
Supported through Achieve Miami’s broader collaboration with FIFA and the FIFA World Football Remission Fund, the program integrates sports-based enrichment and wellness activities designed to help students build communication skills, perseverance, confidence, leadership, and teamwork in an engaging environment.
Since its founding in 2015, Achieve Miami has served more than 15,000 students through weekend, summer, and year-round educational initiatives. By partnering with schools, educators, community leaders, and private sector organizations, the nonprofit continues to create meaningful learning opportunities that support students both inside and outside the classroom.
Learn more at www.achievemiami.org.
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