U.S. Soccer Foundation’s mini-pitch initiative spreads the sport in small spaces
Excitement permeated the playground at Burnet Elementary in Dallas, Texas as students wearing U.S. Soccer Foundation jerseys lined up for a ceremonial “first kick.” The crowd was gathered to celebrate a new soccer mini-pitch system designed and donated to spread the sport. Speeches, an inaugural scrimmage, and a feast supplied by Buffalo Wild Wings Foundation rounded out the festivities.
“While soccer is having its moment in the spotlight in the lead-up to the 2026 Men’s World Cup, we want millions of kids to have their moment, too,” says Ed Foster-Simeon, President & CEO of U.S. Soccer Foundation.
The Burnet Elementary ribbon-cutting marked the 750th project in the U.S. Soccer Foundation’s “Safe Places to Play” program, an initiative to create 1,000 mini-pitches across the country by 2026. Supporters cheered the unveiling of the customized hard-court surface, which was made possible through philanthropic partnerships.
The nonprofit organization, which was established as a legacy of the 1994 FIFA World Cup, saw early success in promoting soccer participation. But even as the sport has gained popularity, many soccer clubs’ pay-to-play model continues to leave out under-resourced youth.
According to Aspen Institute’s ‘State of Play’ report, 75 percent of children aged 6-17 living in households making less than $75,000 miss out on the benefits of team sports. Furthermore, the Trust for Public Land indicates one in three Americans do not have a park within a 10-minute walk from home, leaving too many kids without a safe place for free play.
“The Foundation team did a landscape analysis and saw that, while the game had grown phenomenally in the suburbs and more affluent areas, it hadn't in urban areas, some rural areas, and generally underserved communities,” says Jennifer Arnold, the Foundation’s vice president of marketing and communications. “It’s hard to find space for full-size fields, especially in urban communities, and they're also expensive to build and maintain.”
Filling Gaps In Soccer’s U.S. Expansion
Globally, “futsal” and “minifootball” variations keep soccer accessible and help develop talent. Shrinking the number of players and the area on which soccer is played results in faster, higher-scoring games, and play that emphasizes footwork and control. With the 2026 Men’s World Cup coming to cities across North America, the Foundation recognized scaling the field down might be the ticket to scaling up the sport.
“How can we make sure that even the kids and fans that won't make it to the stadium benefit [from the upcoming World Cup]?” Arnold says. "How do we make sure we don't miss another wave of growth, similar to ‘94, but that this wave might be more inclusive?”
As cities invest in infrastructure to host World Cup games, the Foundation saw the potential to introduce mini-pitches alongside its coach-mentor programming. The pitches are perfectly suited for both organized soccer and pick-up games.
The organization began targeting run-down parks and vacant lots in places like New York, Greater Miami, Houston, and the Bay Area to develop a network of mini-pitch facilities. An application process also allows suggestions for unique community partnerships in smaller communities.
Most mini-pitches, which cost between $100,000-$125,000 to install, are funded through multiple sources, including grants and donors. Among them, two-time World Cup champion and Olympic gold medalist Alex Morgan, whose foundation helped fund a mini-pitch at Mission Valley YMCA in San Diego, Calif. For Morgan, the mini-pitch project aligned with her mission to advance sports equity.
Small-sided Soccer Solutions
In 2018, the Foundation collaborated with Musco Lighting to design an innovative Mini-Pitch System™. Their partnership, which has included Musco donating more than $1 million towards the initiative, helped mini pitches proliferate. Nine pitch sizes—ranging from 40’ x 84’ to 60’ x 120’—mean sites can tuck a single pitch alongside existing courts or develop side-by-side pitches.
“What makes the Mini-Pitch System™ different is how durable and rugged it is because it was developed precisely to withstand harsh conditions and for areas where it's going to get a lot of use,” says Eduardo Zamarripa, Musco Lighting director of youth sports market development.
The Iowa-based company has tweaked the design over time, moving away from the kind of acrylic play surface seen on tennis courts to more durable SnapSports athletic surfaces. The team installs on concrete or asphalt and provides a 10-year parts and labor warranty. The galvanized steel structures feature lights, benches, and lockable storage for equipment.
“Everything we do is with the mindset of creating an affordable solution that is maintenance-free and replicable,” Zamarripa says. “We think of the mini-pitch as something that is inclusive, and not just from a sport accessibility standpoint, but from a physical and emotional standpoint.”
A range of add-ons allow mini-pitches to be equipped for additional sports, including basketball, pickleball, and tennis. They can host a variety of adaptive programming, too, thanks to widened gates that accommodate sports and power wheelchairs.
“For us, soccer really is just a vehicle,” Zamarripa says. “It's about having a space where you feel included, where you can have fun and break a sweat, playing a sport or exercising with your friends.”
Tracking Towards Community Goals
Data collected through U.S. Soccer Foundation surveys points to promising trends. Not only are mini-pitches introducing the sport to new players (31 percent of mini-pitch users are new to soccer), but these facilities are also improving perceptions around quality of life:
- 99 percent of those surveyed say people in their community are more active after installation of a mini-pitch.
- 98 percent say their community feels safer after installation of a mini-pitch.
- 96 percent say their mini-pitch is accessible to all.
- 91 percent say their mini-pitch serves as a new community hub.
In Miami-Dade County, where the Foundation’s mini-pitch program kicked off in 2023, youth are gaining equal access to recreation, regardless of economic, racial, or social background.
A $5-million gift from Citadel founder and CEO Kenneth C. Griffin and additional investment from the Children’s Trust established 50 mini-pitches and launched the Miami-Dade Soccer Initiative. The community is focused on increasing access to the game and improving the health and well-being of at least 36,000 children by 2030.
"The community response is great,” Arnold says. "We work really closely with partners to make sure the mini-pitch is wanted and fits within the community.”
