The Los Angeles Region will use the spotlight of the FIFA World Cup 26™ to educate and inspire future players, coaches, and referees
LOS ANGELES (November 5, 2025)– The Los Angeles World Cup 2026 Host Committee, in collaboration with the Play Equity Fund, is pleased to announce the launch of its Grow the Game of Soccer* Clinic Series, a community legacy program that will use the spotlight of world’s largest single-sport event to inspire the next generation of soccer players, coaches, and referees across the region.
The Grow the Game of Soccer initiative will feature innovative, free clinics leading up to next summer’s FIFA World Cup 26™ that will bring together the region’s professional soccer clubs — LA Galaxy, LA Football Club, and Angel City Football Club – along with Cal South and local soccer stakeholders to elevate skills, build confidence, and spark a lifelong passion for the game.
The Grow the Game of Soccer Clinic Series will kick off on Saturday, December 6, 2025, at the Los Angeles City College Soccer Field, with a coaching clinic that will introduce a new training approach that emphasizes broader youth development, not just soccer skills. The clinic will equip grassroots coaches from communities around Greater LA with tools to better understand how the sport can support young people’s emotional growth through physical activity and building meaningful relationships.
Participating coaches will receive a playbook developed by the Play Equity Fund, the Center for Healing and Justice (CHJ) and Cal South and will be based on “healing-centered” techniques to promote inclusion and support youth who may have experienced injustice or trauma.
The Grow the Game of Soccer Clinic Series will include:
- Youth Clinics — designed to develop and empower young players on the field and in life.
- Coaching and Referee Clinics — will feature a curriculum that will help participants understand how sport can support resilience, growth, and leadership. The training sessions will be led by the Center For Healing and Justice Through Sport (CHJS) and Cal South, the official youth and adult state soccer association of the U.S. Soccer Federation, U.S. Youth Soccer, and the U.S. Adult Soccer Association.
- Engaging Experiences — will feature giveaways, player appearances, and engaging activations from partners.
“The Grow the Game of Soccer Clinic series is about more than just soccer — it’s about creating opportunity, building community, and leaving a lasting legacy for Los Angeles,” said Kathryn Schloessman, President & CEO of LASEC and CEO of the Los Angeles World Cup 2026 Host Committee. “Thanks to the support from our local professional clubs, our Foundational Partners and the Play Equity Fund, we are equipping youth, coaches and referees with the tools to thrive on and off the field.”
“The Grow the Game of Soccer Clinic Series will equip and inspire a new generation of players while building on the vibrant youth soccer culture in Los Angeles,” said Renata Simril, President of the Play Equity Fund, and President & CEO of the LA84 Foundation. “Our research shows how important soccer is to our kids and communities in LA. These clinics will shine a light on coaches and kids who are writing new chapters on the pitch and in life. By investing in kids and coaches, we will turn the energy of the World Cup into a lasting legacy.”
A 2024 Play Equity Report found that over 640,000 youth in LA County played soccer in 2024. This research, commissioned by the LA84 Foundation, studies youth sports participation trends in the LA region, and found soccer participation increases annually.
To be eligible to participate in the Grow the Game of Soccer coaching clinic on December 6, 2025, please register your interest at this LINK.
Please note registration does not guarantee participation, due to limited space. Registering allows account holders to express their interest in attending, and those who register in the system will be given the first preference to attend the Grow the Game of Soccer coaching clinic.
Following the clinic on December 6, the Los Angeles World Cup 2026 Host Committee will host additional coach, referee, and player clinics in early 2026. More details on dates, locations and how the community can sign up will be forthcoming.
For more information on FIFA World Cup 26™ in Los Angeles and to learn more about the Host Committee’s community legacy initiatives, please visit losangelesfwc26.com.
