When the final whistle blows at the 2026 FIFA World Cup in East Rutherford, the excitement will extend far beyond the pitch. Tim Helfrich, Chief Leadership Officer of Street Soccer USA, sees the tournament as a catalyst for change in underserved neighborhoods across the United States.
Helfrich, a former Division I player at Davidson College and a veteran educator with 25 years in secondary and higher education, says the organization’s purpose is simple yet powerful: use soccer to fight poverty and strengthen communities. His belief is rooted in personal experience, from his days as a teammate of co‑founder and CEO Lawrence Cann in the late 1990s to his current role leading a national network of street‑soccer programs.
A Bold Vision for 26 Communities
Under his leadership, Street Soccer USA has been selected as a recipient of the FIFA Global Citizen Education fund and has launched the 26 for 2026 initiative, a plan to construct 26 street‑soccer parks and learning centers in 26 different U.S. locations before the championship match on July 19.
The initiative is more than a construction project. Each site will combine a playing field with classrooms and resources aimed at youth development, job training and civic engagement. Helfrich emphasizes that the parks will serve as hubs where sport, education and community service intersect, creating pathways out of economic hardship.
Helfrich’s excitement about the upcoming World Cup is matched by his commitment to measurable impact. He points to the organization’s track record of uplifting lives, noting that the new parks will provide safe spaces for thousands of young people while also fostering leadership skills that extend beyond the game.
The partnership with FIFA underscores the global reach of the project. By aligning with the sport’s governing body, Street Soccer USA hopes to amplify its message and attract further investment, ensuring that the legacy of the 2026 tournament includes tangible, long‑term benefits for the communities it touches.