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Community Spotlights
Connecting communities and strengthening the game through local action.
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The Kang Women’s Institute worked with Football for Her, Cal South and other local community leaders and coaches alongside USWNT players and alumni to share best practices in health, education and performance — highlighting the importance of inspiring and engaging women and girls through Her Lens.
Soccer Forward Community Spotlight Events are high-impact, on-the-ground activations held in the days leading up to each U.S. Soccer match. They are designed to elevate and shine a light on local organizations using soccer to drive social change.
By engaging U.S. Soccer member organizations, players, alumni, and local partners, each event highlights real stories of access, inclusion, and community service, bringing the game closer to those who often have the least access to it. Inviting board members, sponsors, government officials, and local leaders to witness the impact first hand deepens relationships and engages the broader community.
These high energy, highly intentional gatherings will showcase the incredible practice and expertise that exists within the soccer community and use it to strengthen and scale other programs. Huddle Ups will also kickstart local Soccer Forward Communities that work collectively to lead system change for the ongoing growth of soccer as a force for good.
Huddle Ups will be led by local soccer leaders who have already changed the game, attended by the teams, leagues, community groups, companies and educators who make up the local soccer ecosystem, supported by Soccer Forward, and fueled by the World Cup.
Register your interest in participating in a Huddle Up here.
Soccer Forward kicked off a project with local community organizations Oakland Genesis and Oakland Soccer Club ahead of the NWSL Championship to support girls in Oakland, alongside Bay Area Host Committee, Oakland Roots and Oakland Soul, NWSL and NorCal Premier Soccer highlighting Oakland’s leadership in using soccer as a force for good.
Offered 100+ middle school girls an educational session on women’s health topics. Teamed up with the WNT, KC Current, and Kansas City Girls Preparatory Academy to help build confidence, connection, and body awareness for girls on and off the field.
Convened 100+ girls and leaders for a WNT training session viewing. The event highlighted a range of local soccer for good organizations, such as Philadelphia Union Foundation, Love City Football, Kensington Soccer Club, Lancaster Inferno, Coatesville High School, and The JT Dorsey Foundation.
Spotlighting 130+ local students (“Verde Leaders”) and Austin FC’s 4ATX Foundation. Members of our USMNT alongside several MNT alumni supported the event, which focused on using soccer as a force for good and provided funding for the program over the next four years.
Partnership with Cal South, Angel City FC, Hollywood Park/Rams, the City of Los Angeles Department of Recreation & Parks and Bank of America to spotlight how soccer is being used to empower youth, particularly girls.
Uniting the community through soccer with America SCORES Bay Area, Bay FC, San Jose Earthquakes, Cal North, and the Bay Area Host Committee.