New York City is bringing World Cup excitement directly to school communities. Mayor Zohran Kwame Mamdani launched “Soccer Streets,” a traveling series that turns car-free blocks outside 50 public schools into soccer pitches, art stations and block-party style celebrations.
How Soccer Streets works
The activations began May 1 and are scheduled to continue through June 26, the last day of school. At each stop, students can play pickup matches, run drills, paint team flags and take part in neighborhood celebrations tied to the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
The city is partnering with Street Lab and Chobani, and the effort connects to NYC DOT’s Open Streets for Schools program, which allows schools to close adjacent streets for recess, outdoor learning and safer pickup and drop-off.
More than sports
Soccer Streets is partly about the World Cup, but it is also about public space. Many schools have limited outdoor space. Temporarily closing a street can create room for play, learning, family engagement and neighborhood gathering without requiring a new building or permanent facility.
For local businesses and community groups, these events can bring foot traffic, visibility and a family-friendly civic moment to commercial corridors and residential blocks. For schools, the program offers a practical example of how streets can become flexible public infrastructure.
What to watch
The city is encouraging more schools to participate in Open Streets for Schools for the 2026-27 school year. If Soccer Streets is successful, the larger question is whether temporary World Cup programming becomes a longer-term model for student recreation, school safety and neighborhood engagement.
Source: NYC Mayor’s Office, May 11, 2026. Read the official release.