This past weekend, FIFA 1904 brought the beautiful game to the streets of Harlem. In partnership with Open Streets—the New York City program that temporarily closes streets to vehicles and returns them to public use—we closed off Saint Nicholas Avenue between 116th and 118th Street for a day of street soccer and community celebration.
The event was free and open to the public: part of FIFA 1904’s greater mission of making soccer more accessible and reconnecting the game with the communities that have always given it life.
The Tournament
Six local teams competed in a 3v3 street soccer tournament for a $500 cash prize, bringing an intensity and level of play that reminded everyone why the streets have always been one of football’s purest proving grounds.
Beyond the tournament, the avenue came alive with live DJs, dance performances, local vendors, free merch and refreshments, bouncy houses, and activities for children and families: a full celebration of the community that showed up and showed out.
Why This Matters
The United States is one of the most expensive countries in the world to play soccer. According to the Aspen Institute, the average American family spent $1,472 per child on youth soccer in 2017, a figure that has only continued to rise. At the elite travel level, annual costs can range from $5,000 to more than $30,000, placing the highest levels of competition out of reach for many talented players.
The result is a system where access is too often determined by income rather than ability. Families earning $100,000 or more are roughly twice as likely to have children participating in travel sports as families earning under $50,000. Participation also drops dramatically during the teenage years—the very period when long-term development becomes most critical.
Football became the world’s game because it was never meant to be exclusive. At its core, all it requires is a ball, a few friends, and a place to play. That is why free community events matter. They remove barriers, create visibility for local talent, and return the game to the people who have always carried it forward.
What Comes Next
FIFA 1904's mission has always been bigger than fashion. We believe the game belongs to everyone, and we intend to keep creating spaces where that belief becomes tangible. As the United States moves toward a new era of football, our responsibility is not only to celebrate the game, but to help create pathways into it. Follow @fifa1904.vfiles on instagram to learn about our next street soccer event.
Congratulations to our tournament winners Aidan Curtis, Nicholas Rossi, and Milo Peters (Left).
Our Partners
Thank you to all our partners in making this event possible.
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Principals: Harlem Lane: Saint Nicholas Avenue Open Streets; A. Philip Randolph Square Neighborhood Alliance; New York City Department of Transportation; New York City Open Streets Full Closure
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Technical: Harlem Industries, The HORT; J. Max Bond Center for Urban Futures, Harlem Community Land Initiative, Street Lab, Open Plans, MakeMake NYC
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Programming: Batingua Dance, Bindelstiff Family Cirkus, Equity Design; New York Soccer Academy, Sambuco Tribe, Street Soccer USA
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Talent: Lala Miyagi; DJ Lou
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Governmental: Manhattan Borough President’s Office; Office of State Assembly member Jordan Wright; Office of Councilman Yusef Salaam; Manhattan Community Board 10
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Sponsors: FIFA 1904, VFILES, National Endowment of the Arts, Harlem Community Development Corporation, Herbalife, New York Presbyterian
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Community: Youth Civic Leadership Council, First Corinthian Baptist Church; Wadleigh Secondary School for the Performing Arts; Columbia Secondary School, Brotherhood Sister Sol, Carrie McCracken Community Garden, 121 Saint Nicholas Avenue HDFC, 131 Saint Nicholas Avenue Resident Association, Taft Rehab Resident Association, Graham Court Resident Association, Housing Services Inc., NYPD, 28th Precinct
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Athletic Support: Kirk Myers, Richy Castro