Soccer Streets Brings World Cup Fever to NYC Schools
New York City’s Department of Transportation unveiled "Soccer Streets," a seasonal program that converts the roadways outside 50 public schools into pop‑up soccer pitches, art stations and block‑party zones. The effort, timed to coincide with the 2026 FIFA World Cup, aims to let students experience the excitement of the tournament without leaving their neighborhoods.
From May 1 through June 26, the streets become lively venues where children can join pickup matches, practice drills and paint team flags. The activities are designed to blend recreation with learning, encouraging outdoor play while fostering teamwork and creativity.
The project is a collaborative venture involving several city agencies and private partners. NYC DOT Commissioner Mike Flynn emphasized the importance of reclaiming public space for community use, while Schools Chancellor Kamar Samuels highlighted the educational advantages of active, experiential learning. Mayor Zohran Kwame Mamdani described the initiative as a way to make the World Cup "accessible to all New Yorkers, not just tourists."
Chobani’s CEO Hamdi Ulukaya, a self‑declared soccer enthusiast, shared his personal connection to the sport and praised the program’s power to unite diverse groups. World Cup Czar Maya Handa underscored the role of community involvement in the broader celebration, and Leslie Davol of Street Lab spoke about the grassroots movement to reshape urban streets into shared public realms.
Beyond the immediate school‑yard transformations, the city announced a suite of fan‑focused events citywide, a joint announcement made by Mayor Mamdani, Governor Kathy Hochul and the FIFA World Cup 2026 New York New Jersey Host Committee. Applications for the 2026‑27 school year to join the Open Streets program are now open, inviting additional schools to participate in future editions of Soccer Streets.