World Cup legacy hits home: New soccer pitch opens for Brooklyn kids
The new field is part of the New York City Soccer Initiative, a partnership involving NYCFC, the Mayor's Fund to Advance New York City, Etihad Airways and Judi Health, working alongside New York City Public Schools.
More Stories
Brooklyn kids have a new place to play soccer — and it’s free for the community to use.
A new mini-soccer pitch opened Tuesday at JHS 62 Ditmas in Kensington as part of an effort to turn the excitement surrounding the 2026 FIFA World Cup into something New Yorkers can use long after the tournament.
For 11-year-old Khari Brooks, the difference is simple: He finally has a real soccer field to play on.
“I've never had a real soccer pitch before,” Brooks said.
Brooks said he has been playing soccer for about six years, but finding a proper field in the neighborhood hasn't always been easy.
“It's probably just plain grass around the place, not really lines, to actually play a real game,” Brooks said. “So this is really good.”
Students wasted no time breaking in the new turf following Tuesday's ribbon cutting.
The new field is part of the New York City Soccer Initiative, a partnership involving NYCFC, the Mayor's Fund to Advance New York City, Etihad Airways and Judi Health, working alongside New York City Public Schools.
The initiative launched in 2016 as a $3 million effort to build and maintain 50 mini-soccer pitches across the five boroughs and expand access to free soccer programming. Those first 50 pitches were completed by 2021.
Following that work, the partners committed to building another 26 pitches as part of a “26 for 26” effort tied to the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
The goal is to make sure the excitement surrounding one of the world's largest sporting events leaves behind places where New York City kids can continue playing.
“We’re really just excited to continue growing the wonderful game, providing safe spaces, welcoming spaces for children to enjoy the game in a city where green space is at a premium,” said Jennifer O'Sullivan, chief operating officer of NYCFC.
The JHS 62 Ditmas field is the third new mini-pitch completed as part of the latest expansion.
Another Brooklyn pitch has opened at Lafayette Middle School, while P.S. 5 Ellen Lurie in Manhattan also has a completed field.
Seven additional pitches are expected to open by the end of 2026 — three in the Bronx, two in Queens, one more in Brooklyn and one on Staten Island.
Organizers plan to complete all 26 new pitches by the end of 2027.
For Brooks, though, the project isn't about 26 fields or millions of dollars. It's about what he and other kids now have right outside their school.
“They put a lot of work into it,” Brooks said. “And it's a good way to invest in the community.”
