The Children's Trust and Soccer
Miami-Dade County is a vibrant, diverse community with cultures from around the world represented from the beaches to the Everglades. Many of those cultures have a fundamental connection to soccer, or what is sometimes called “the beautiful game.” And they brought the game and the passion it evokes with them to South Florida.
The game of soccer, futbol, foutebol, futebol, calcio, or any other name it is called throughout the world, is now a thriving culture in our community, from professional teams with among the best players to soccer pitches of all sizes.
For The Children’s Trust, however, soccer represents even more! The Trust has long recognized the unifying nature of the sport and the undeniable physical, social and emotional benefits playing it provides. Sports, teamwork and physical activity are among the most important activities for children and youth to engage in as part of healthy development. For this reason, The Trust partners with organizations that provide soccer programming and infrastructure not only to those who already enjoy the game, but also to those in underserved areas who should benefit from a passion for the game.
The Trust has partnered with the U.S. Soccer Foundation since 2018 to bring its Soccer for Success program to thousands of kids in our community.
Miami-Dade Soccer Initiative
In 2023, The Trust announced it would be part of the Miami-Dade Soccer Initiative that plans to build 50 soccer mini-pitches in Miami- Dade County by this year to coincide with the FIFA World Cup that will be held in North America, including Miami-Dade.
The initiative brings together The Trust, Griffin Catalyst , U.S. Soccer Foundation, and recently added Miami-Dade County Public Schools (M-DCPS), which joined to provide locations for 25 new mini-pitches. The mini-pitches located at M-DCPS schools will dramatically expand access to safe places to play and youth soccer programming that is often costly and inaccessible in under-resourced communities. The mini-pitches will be primarily located in these communities and give free access to soccer leagues and programming to youth who otherwise might not be able to enjoy soccer and all its benefits.
Recently, The Trust also joined the FIFA World Cup 2026™ Miami Host Committee, in collaboration with Miami Lighthouse for the Blind and Visually Impaired, to announce an initiative that will support the expansion of adaptive soccer programming for blind and visually impaired youth across Miami-Dade County, reinforcing a shared commitment to accessibility, inclusion, and long-term community development through sport. This initiative is supported through the World Football Remission Fund (WFRF), a FIFA-led initiative designed to fund football-related projects that positively impact communities worldwide.
Visit this page periodically for information on new mini-pitches being built in Miami-Dade County and other soccer-related news.