Today, the Aspen Institute’s Project Play initiative released its “State of Soccer New York City / North Jersey” report, a first-of-its-kind analysis of the region’s youth soccer ecosystem commissioned by the Laurie M. Tisch Illumination Fund as part of its Play to Thrive initiative. The report examines barriers to participation and identifies opportunities to expand access for children across the region ahead of the 2026 FIFA Men’s World Cup, which will hold its final in New Jersey on July 19, 2026.
Children turn to soccer for connection, joy and belonging — yet costs, infrastructure shortages and systemic inequities often restrict access to young people who can benefit the most from play. At a moment of heightened national attention on the sport, the report uncovers a unique opportunity to rebuild youth soccer as a more equitable, accessible and youth-centered system.
To uncover these findings about the youth soccer ecosystem in New York City and North Jersey, Aspen’s Project Play conducted a sport-specific “State of Play” analysis that included interviews with local leaders and policymakers, a regional community summit, focus groups with children, parents, and coaches, a data analysis of field availability versus demand, and a survey of nearly 700 youth soccer players. The survey lets children share their soccer experiences directly, so local leaders can improve programs based on their feedback.
Key Findings
● The “Fun Gap”: Children play soccer primarily for social reasons, valuing friends (48%), fun (46%) and skill-building (45%) over winning (23%) or scholarships (13%). However, the current system is driven almost entirely by the chase for scarce college or professional playing opportunities, often overlooking the sport’s broader benefits attached to a child’s physical, mental and social well-being.
● Cost as a Primary Barrier: Nearly one-third of players (32%) cite expensive team fees as a major issue, a figure that climbs to 41% for children from low-income households. Although community-based organizations and public agencies are working to bridge the gap, limited resources continue to sideline kids from the game.
● “Soccer Deserts” and Infrastructure Shortages: Demand for the sport vastly outpaces the supply of functional playing spaces, particularly in dense urban areas like the Bronx, Brooklyn, Queens and Newark.
● The Transportation “Hidden Tax”: Access to play is often determined by car ownership. While 86% of high-income players are driven to practice, only 21% of low-income players have the same reliable access.
● Gender Disparity in Participation: Girls represent just 38% of high school players in New York City and 42% in North Jersey — both below the 45% national average. The report finds that many girls feel intimidated or ignored in mixed-gender coed settings, leading to earlier dropout rates.
● The Decline of Pickup Play: Historically vital to the region’s soccer culture, unprogrammed soccer is vanishing. As children rarely organize their own games, the sport is being pushed further into rigid, expensive club environments.
● Commercialization and Overtraining: The drive for elite performance has led to excessive specialized play at young ages. This overtraining contributes to burnout and a surge in serious injuries, such as ACL tears, which disproportionately affect female athletes.
The report identifies local leaders striving for a more equitable system and urges a unified approach to address systemic barriers. Key recommendations include reducing costs by prioritizing support for recreational providers, investing in infrastructure and shifting the soccer culture from high-pressure competition to a play-centric model that prioritizes mental and physical health.
Read the full “State of Soccer New York City/North Jersey” report and the executive summary.
Turning Data into Action
The report was commissioned through the Illumination Fund’s Play to Thrive initiative, a multiyear $10 million investment to ensure every child, regardless of zip code, income, gender or identity, has the opportunity to experience the benefits of sport. Play to Thrive invests in the places, people and partnerships working to close persistent gaps in access across New York City and Northern New Jersey.
“As our region prepares to host the 2026 FIFA Men’s World Cup, we have a rare opportunity to think intentionally about legacy,” said Laurie M. Tisch, president of the Laurie M. Tisch Illumination Fund. “What will this moment mean for the children and communities who live here long after the final match is played? How can the excitement surrounding soccer translate into lasting systems, safer places to play and more inclusive opportunities for young people to belong and thrive? We hope this report serves as a catalyst for thoughtful action and collaboration.”
Since its 2025 launch, Play to Thrive has supported a series of soccer-focused initiatives across New York and New Jersey, each addressing barriers the report identifies, from girls’ participation gaps to a lack of accessible, safe places to play:
● Keep Her in the Game, a Gotham FC initiative in partnership with Girls Leadership, aimed at retaining girls in soccer while building confidence and voice. Now in its second year, the program has expanded with support from the presenting partner, Dove.
● Elevate Play, a Gotham FC initiative driven by Playworks NY/NJ that brings positive, structured play to school recess and connects school communities to live soccer experiences. The program has expanded with support from Bank of America.
● Street Soccer USA, which is developing a new community soccer park and learning center in Queens, purpose-built for youth development and focused on young people facing poverty and housing instability.
Also building on the report’s insights, the Soccer Forward Foundation, the U.S. Soccer Federation’s legacy and social impact arm, is launching a multi-sector collective in the South Bronx, using soccer as a tool to address critical social challenges. The initiative in the South Bronx is part of Soccer Forward Communities, which is U.S. Soccer’s model for investing and support on a hyper-local level. Soccer Forward Communities will support a collective group of soccer for good organizations, including DREAM Charter Schools, South Bronx United, Street Soccer USA and The Sports Creative, over the next four years to increase the number of safe, inclusive and accessible soccer spaces, integrate the sport into more schools, and train hundreds of coaches to deliver positive health and educational outcomes across the community. Soccer Forward Communities will also work to continue to respond to the report’s findings in real time.
“This report provides a critical, data-driven look at the barriers young people face in accessing the game today,” said Lex Chalat, Executive Director of the Soccer Forward Foundation. “It reinforces the importance of listening to communities and investing in solutions that reflect local needs. In the South Bronx, we are working alongside partners to expand access, strengthen programming and create more inclusive opportunities for young people to play.”
“State of Soccer New York City / North Jersey” is the 17th community report produced by the Aspen Institute’s Project Play initiative. Previous reports helped mobilize leaders across sectors to set shared agendas, shape government policies, develop innovative partnerships and unlock tens of millions of dollars in grantmaking. Future Project Play community reports will analyze youth sports access in Omaha, Nebraska; Portland, Oregon; and Atlanta, Georgia.
About The Aspen Institute
The Aspen Institute is a global nonprofit organization whose purpose is to ignite human potential to build understanding and create new possibilities for a better world. Founded in 1949, the Institute drives change through dialogue, leadership, and action to help solve society’s greatest challenges. The Aspen Institute Sports & Society Program’s main initiative is Project Play, which develops insights, ideas and opportunities to help stakeholders build healthy communities through sports. For more information, visit ProjectPlay.org.
About The Laurie M. Tisch Illumination Fund
The Laurie M. Tisch Illumination Fund is dedicated to expanding access and opportunity for all New Yorkers and fostering healthy, vibrant communities. The Illumination Fund supports innovative approaches across a range of issues with a focus on advancing equity and community well-being. In 2018, the Illumination Fund launched its Arts in Health initiative to support organizations using the arts as a tool for healing, connection, and public engagement. Building on this work, in 2025 the Illumination Fund launched Play to Thrive, a multiyear initiative designed to expand access to youth sports and strengthen mental health and wellbeing. The initiative supports organizations that provide safe, inclusive sports programming, with particular focus on girls and underserved communities, and advances evidence-informed coaching and leadership development. For more information, please visit thelmtif.org.
