Today, the New York City Soccer Initiative (NYCSI) partners \u2013\u00a0New York City FC,\u00a0the Mayor\u2019s Fund to Advance New York City, Etihad Airways,\u00a0and Judi Health \u2013 alongside\u00a0the Department of Education\u00a0celebrated the opening of a new mini-soccer pitch at JHS 62 Ditmas in Brooklyn.\u00a0<\/p>\n
The new pitch is part of NYCSI\u2019s \u201c26 for 26\u201d commitment to build 26\u00a0additional\u00a0mini-pitches\u00a0across the five boroughs in celebration of the FIFA World Cup 2026\u2122 and to create a lasting soccer legacy for New York City following the tournament.\u00a0Ten\u00a0of those pitches have opened or will open in communities across the city in 2026.\u00a0<\/p>\n
NYCSI was launched in 2016 as a first-of-its-kind $3 million initiative to create and\u00a0maintain\u00a050 mini-pitches across New York City and expand free soccer programming for the next generation of New Yorkers. The initiative helped spur other cities to launch similar efforts to create mini-pitches and expand access to free, high-quality soccer programming.<\/p>\n
Following the completion of the original 50 pitches in 2021, NYCSI partners committed to building an\u00a0additional\u00a026 mini-pitches across New York City in celebration of the FIFA World Cup 2026\u2122. Through the next phase of NYCSI, the partners are building on the initiative\u2019s impact and harnessing the momentum\u00a0from\u00a0the world\u2019s biggest sporting event to create\u00a0a lasting legacy\u00a0of accessible soccer, safe places to play,\u00a0and community programming for young New Yorkers across all five boroughs.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe World Cup was a monumental moment for soccer in New York City and across the country, and its impact will be felt for generations, but\u00a0the work\u00a0has\u00a0not\u00a0stopped\u00a0with the final whistle,\u201d said\u00a0Brad Sims, New York City FC CEO. \u201cAt New York City FC, we believe we have a responsibility to build on that extraordinary momentum and ensure that the\u00a0world\u2019s\u00a0game is accessible to every community across our city. Today\u2019s ribbon cutting is another proud moment as we continue delivering on our promise to create safe, high-quality spaces where young people can play, grow, and develop a lifelong connection to the beautiful game. These pitches will help ensure the World Cup leaves\u00a0a lasting legacy\u00a0for the next generation of New\u00a0Yorkers.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cThis has been an extraordinarily special summer for soccer in New York City,\u201d\u00a0said\u00a0Kate R. Smith, Executive Director of the Mayor’s Fund to Advance New York City.\u00a0\u201cWe are proud to help carry the excitement and community spirit after the final whistle through the New York City Soccer Initiative 2.0 – expanding access to safe places to play and free soccer programming for youth and families. This\u00a0mini-pitch\u00a0is part of that\u00a0lasting legacy, and we are thrilled to celebrate the community and partners who made it possible.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cProviding students with safe, modern, and engaging spaces to learn and play is essential to supporting their success both inside and outside the classroom,” said Kevin\u00a0Moran, New York City Public Schools Deputy Chancellor of Operations. “We are grateful for our partnership with New York City FC and everyone who helped make this pitch possible. This new field will expand opportunities for physical activity, teamwork, and community building, ensuring that students have access to a high-quality recreational space where they can grow, connect, and thrive for years to come.\u201d<\/p>\n
Since NYCSI\u2019s launch, more than 20,000 young people have been positively\u00a0impacted\u00a0through its pitches and programs. NYCSI has partnered with city agencies, community-based organizations,\u00a0and young leaders across New York City to broaden its reach and provide opportunities for young people to play, learn,\u00a0and connect through soccer.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Through the continued expansion of its network of mini-pitches and free programming, NYCSI aims to engage a total of 50,000 young people and ensure that the impact of the FIFA World Cup 2026\u2122 continues to be felt in communities throughout New York City long after the tournament concludes.\u00a0<\/p>\n
In addition to creating free and safe places to play, NYCSI\u00a0aims to provide the nation\u2019s largest connected soccer network through infrastructure and by\u00a0providing\u00a0free soccer programming for young people throughout the five boroughs. Programming is delivered by City in the Community (CITC) \u2013 the\u00a0nonprofit\u00a0foundation proudly supported by New York City FC \u2013 and is designed to use the power of soccer to promote health, education, leadership,\u00a0and community connection.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cThe New York City Soccer Initiative is about creating lasting access to the game, and meaningful programming is a critical part of bringing that vision to life,\u201d said\u00a0Bailee Eaglin, Executive Director of City in the Community. \u201cAfter a summer when young people across New York City\u00a0had\u00a0the chance to experience soccer on the world\u2019s biggest stage,\u00a0it\u2019s\u00a0important that they have opportunities to experience the game for themselves in their own communities. Through free programming across the five boroughs,\u00a0we\u2019re\u00a0proud to help bring these pitches to life and ensure they\u00a0remain\u00a0places where young New Yorkers can connect with soccer for years to come.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
The opening at JHS 62 Ditmas is part of a broader year of investment in soccer infrastructure across New York City. In total,\u00a0ten\u00a0NYCSI\u00a0mini-pitches\u00a0have opened or will open in 2026, bringing\u00a0new places\u00a0to play to communities across the city while advancing the \u201c26 for 26\u201d commitment.\u00a0<\/p>\n
The new JHS 62 Ditmas pitch will provide students and the surrounding community with a high-quality space for soccer and physical activity while creating new opportunities for young people to\u00a0participate\u00a0in programming that supports their development both on and off the pitch.<\/p>\n
\u201cJoining NYSCI on this pitch development program through our partnership with New York City FC is an honor,\u201d said AJ Loiacono, CEO of Judi Health. \u201cFew things are more rewarding than supporting the growth and development of our city’s youth, and what better way than to improve access to places to play the world\u2019s most popular sport for tomorrow\u2019s leaders, on and off the pitch.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cAs Principal of JHS 62 Ditmas, I am incredibly excited to see this new soccer pitch become part of our school community,\u201d said Marielena Santiago, Principal of JHS 62 Ditmas.\u00a0\u201cEvery day, we strive to create opportunities that support our students\u2019 growth both inside and outside the classroom, and this beautiful new space will do exactly that. It will give our students a place to stay active, build friendships, develop teamwork and leadership skills, and simply enjoy being kids. We are deeply grateful to the New York City Soccer Initiative and its partners for investing in our students and helping create a lasting resource that will\u00a0benefit\u00a0our school and community for years to come.\u201d<\/p>\n
New York City Soccer Initiative 2026 Mini-Pitch Sites\u00a0<\/p>\n
JHS 62 Ditmas\u00a0\u2013 Brooklyn\u00a0<\/p>\n
PS 5 Ellen Lurie\u00a0\u2013 Manhattan\u00a0<\/p>\n
Lafayette Middle School\u00a0\u2013\u00a0Brooklyn<\/p>\n
The remaining\u00a0seven\u00a0sites to be built in 2026 will serve the rest of the\u00a0city’s\u00a0boroughs, with\u00a0three\u00a0locations planned in The Bronx,\u00a0two\u00a0in Queens,\u00a0and\u00a0one\u00a0each\u00a0in\u00a0Brooklyn and Staten Island.<\/p>\n
The original New York City Soccer Initiative created 50 mini-pitches at parks and public schools across all five boroughs between 2016 and 2021. Together, the original network and the 26 new pitches will continue to expand access to soccer and provide lasting community resources for young New Yorkers.<\/p>\n