ATLANTA — Thousands of soccer fans are set to gather at Mercedes Benz stadium Thursday night for the second Copa America match in Atlanta as Team USA plays Panama.
With Atlanta on the world soccer stage yet again and the World Cup on the horizon, one metro group is working year-round to ensure all kids can access the sport.
"I think people undervalue the impact that sports programs have on the lives of youth," Francisco Stenger, program manager for Soccer in the Streets, shared as young players practiced in Doraville. "With the growth of soccer in America today, we see a lot more kids having curiosity towards the game, and what's impressive about what we do is our goal isn't to create better players but to provide access."
Such access continues to be critical in the U.S., where barriers around transportation or cost can keep some families on the sidelines.
"The actual number one barrier in the sport in America is the 'pay to play' model," Stenger said. "Here in the United States, parents are paying upwards of $500 all the way up to $2,000 just to play in a recreational league or in a travel club."
As a result, improving access to free soccer has anchored the nonprofit's mission for 35 years in Atlanta, and Soccer in the Streets' reach continues to grow. In 2022, more than 1,400 players participated in the group's programming; in 2023, the number of players hit 2,800.
"I think everybody deserves the chance to be part of something," Coach Sergio Lopez shared. "Especially when you're growing up."
As the group's reach continues to climb, so do its partnerships across the metro, ranging from MARTA to the Latino Community Fund. Next up, organizers shared, is a July pilot that focuses on a futsal curriculum, a soccer-like game played on smaller indoor surfaces.
"The Soccer in the Streets futsal pilot is a 6-week experience where players will learn the foundations of the game, building meaningful relationships with coaches and teammates," Chelsea Wood - Director of Operations, said. "We are grateful for the opportunity to grow the beautiful game in this way alongside Atlanta parks and rec."
The game, both Lopez and Stenger agreed, is ultimately a jumping point for so much more.
"Here, for example, you see kids from multiple nationalities and ethnic groups, but what brings them together is this common game," Stenger said. "By using soccer not as the goal, but as the tool to connect them and have them learn what it's like to be on a team, learn what it's like to interact with each other and identify those challenges that a lot of kids faced in the pandemic when they didn't have that interaction, is a major accomplishment for me."
Learn more about Soccer in the Streets here.
