State of SOCCER
NEW YORK CITY/NORTHERN NEW JERSEY

For the first time, a Project Play community State of Play report is tackling a specific sport – soccer. State of Soccer New York City/Northern New Jersey, our 18th community report, will analyze the local youth soccer ecosystem to understand the challenges and opportunities for more children to play soccer.

Project Play supports children playing many different sports. In partnership with the Laurie M. Tisch Illumination Fund, Project Play is focusing this work on soccer to culminate the report’s release around the 2026 FIFA Men’s World Cup final at the Meadowlands in East Rutherford, New Jersey, near New York City. The World Cup offers opportunities to grow the game of soccer among kids.

State of Soccer New York City/Northern New Jersey will offer findings and recommendations for the region, highlighting programs and models that work well along with ideas to improve quality experiences for more children. Some topics that will be explored include:

  • Barriers for girls to play soccer and potential solutions

  • Incorporation of youth voice into soccer program design and delivery

  • Pickup soccer and free play

  • Encouraging sport sampling beyond just soccer

  • Recruitment, training and retention of soccer coaches

  • ACL injuries in soccer, especially among girls

  • Facilities and play spaces for youth soccer and their proximity to young people

State of Soccer New York City/Northern New Jersey is guided by a local advisory group. Project Play plans to hold a local soccer summit on Oct. 10, 2025, see agenda below.

If you are interested in attending our October event or learn more information about this project, please contact Jon Solomon (jon.solomon@aspeninstitute.org.) and Ruby Avila (ruby.avila@aspeninstitute.org).

Friday, october 10, 9am - 12pm
midtown lofts & terrace, SUITE 100, NYC

Agenda

8:30 am Breakfast & Networking

9:00 am Opening Remarks

  • Tom Farrey, Executive Director, Aspen Institute Sports & Society Program

9:05 am How Kids View Soccer

Project Play’s No. 1 strategy to increase sports participation: ask kids what they want. We’re asking them in our State of Soccer youth survey and identifying where soccer deserts exist for greater investment. Learn preliminary results from our youth survey and mapping project.

  • Jon Solomon, Community Impact Director, Aspen Institute Sports & Society Program

9:15 am How Soccer Can Build Positive Youth Development

Adelphi University’s two-year study of South Bronx United Academy found that each extra year of youth and coach-mentor engagement results in higher social emotional learning scores and a better chance the player attends college. How can soccer build skills on and off the field?

  • Andy Jenkins, Director of Soccer, South Bronx United

  • Nezar Hanafy, Former South Bronx United Player, Central Park East High School Graduate

  • Meredith Whitley, Professor, The School of Health Sciences, Adelphi University; Research Fellow, Centre for Sport Leadership, Stellenbosch University

9:35 am How to Keep Her in the Game

Nationally, girls account for 42% of children ages 6-17 who play soccer, according to the Sports & Fitness Industry Association. Participation is even less for Black girls and Latinas. How do we get more girls playing given the health and social benefits that can come from being on a team?

  • Yael Averbuch West, General Manager, Gotham FC; Former U.S. Women’s National Team Player

  • Mackenzie Moreno, Assistant Coach, Unique Ballers FC; Former City College of New York Player

  • Emily Tisch Sussman, Co-Owner, Gotham FC; Podcast Host, “She Pivots”

9:55 am Table Conversations: Recommendations to Keep Girls in the Game

Attendees engage in facilitated conversations on strategies to grow soccer participation for girls.

10:10 am Break

10:20 am ACL Injury Announcement

Learn about the ACL Injury Pledge from the Aspen Institute and Hospital for Special Surgery.

10:25 am How to Elevate Rec Soccer

MLS GO is partnering with the National Recreation and Park Association to help subsidize parks and recreation agencies implementing MLS GO programming. Meanwhile, more travel clubs are starting rec teams. What’s next for rec soccer as how it gets delivered evolves?

  • Kyle Albrecht, Vice President/General Manager, MLS Next & MLS GO 

  • Evan Dabby, CEO, New Jersey Youth Soccer

  • Brian McFadden, Youth Sports Program Manager, National Recreation and Park Association 

10:45 am How Government Can Grow Soccer Access to All Kids

Some soccer nonprofits don’t know government funding exists. Many compete against each other for dollars with similar models, forcing like-minded soccer organizations to not work together. How can government investments and partnerships create greater collaboration? 

  • Francisco Moya, New York City Council Member, District 21 (Queens)

  • Jared Cooper, Executive Director, FundPlay Foundation

11:05 am How to Intentionally Build & Program Soccer Fields

If you build it, they will come, right? Not necessarily. Just because a soccer pitch gets built doesn’t mean children will play there. Street Soccer USA builds soccer parks in New York and around the country with programming attached to the project. What’s the model to make these spaces free while delivering soccer and workforce development to community members?

  • Ziham Ascencio, Program Director, Street Soccer USA – NY Chapter

  • Jon Solomon, Community Impact Director, Aspen Institute Sports & Society Program

11:20 am Table Conversations: World Cup Legacy

Attendees engage in facilitated conversations on how the World Cup can help grow the game.

11:35 am How to Partner and Invest Locally in Soccer Forward Communities 

Soccer Forward Foundation, the 2026 World Cup legacy project for U.S. Soccer, is creating “Soccer Forward Communities” across the country, including the South Bronx. How and why is this project happening? What will it entail? How can the South Bronx model utilizing collective impact and localized solutions be replicated in other communities? 

  • Richard Berlin, Co-CEO, DREAM Charter School

  • Lex Chalat, Executive Director, Soccer Forward

  • Lisbeth Custodio, Program Director, The Sports Creative

  • Luis Fernando Llosa, Author, Sportswriter, Youth Sports Consultant

11:55 am Closing Remarks

  • Laurie Tisch, Founder & President, Laurie M. Tisch Illumination Fund 

 

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