Free Soccer for Kansas City Kids
The Kansas City Current, the city’s NWSL franchise, has opened a no‑cost youth soccer league for about 120 children aged eight to ten in the Northeast part of the city, eliminating the fees that have kept many families from playing.
Each participant receives a full uniform, shin guards and a pair of Nike cleats at no charge, while the program also provides stipends for coaches and a referee certification pathway for teenagers as young as fourteen.
The initiative is backed by CVS Health as the presenting partner, together with U.S. Soccer, the Kansas State Youth Soccer Association, the state of Missouri, United Way of Greater Kansas City and local nonprofits such as Estrella De Oro, Guadalupe Centers and the Mattie Rhodes Center.
Running through August 29, 2026, the league will link families with additional community resources and plans to expand into school‑focused partnerships in the coming months.
Mayor Quinton Lucas, Senator Barbara Washington, co‑founders Angie and Chris Long and NWSL Commissioner Jessica Berman highlighted the program at its opening ceremony, emphasizing its role in creating a domestic talent pipeline and strengthening neighborhoods.
A Model for Other Clubs
NWSL Commissioner Jessica Berman said she hopes other NWSL clubs will adopt the no‑cost model to nurture American talent and support the communities that inspire the sport.