As Atlanta continues building momentum toward the 2026 FIFA World Cup, local youth are getting more opportunities than ever to step onto the field. Earlier this summer, the City of Atlanta launched its first exclusive, single-sport soccer camp at Collier Park Recreation Center—introducing a new model for focused, skill-driven programming across Parks and Recreation.
Created in partnership with Soccer in the Streets, the camp brings high-quality coaching, drills, and player development directly into the Collier Heights community. What makes this program stand out is its emphasis on accessibility: every child, regardless of experience level, can learn the game, build confidence, and strengthen teamwork in a supportive environment.
A Strong Partnership Powering a New Approach
Soccer in the Streets—a longtime champion of youth access to the game—has been central to shaping this new camp model. Their coaches and mentors have helped guide everything from skill sessions to small-sided games, ensuring that each camper gets meaningful playing time and personal attention.
The organization’s commitment to equity aligns closely with the City’s mission to expand recreational opportunities in neighborhoods that have historically had fewer athletic resources.
“Our partnership with Soccer in the Streets gives young people a chance to see themselves in the game,” said a DPR program lead. “Kids are learning skills, but they’re also learning discipline, confidence, and belonging.”
A Summer of Skill-Building and New Experiences
Throughout the season, campers practiced footwork, passing, strategy, conditioning, and game flow—skills that will carry them into future leagues and teams. For many kids, it was their first introduction to organized soccer; for others, it was a chance to sharpen abilities in a focused setting.
And while the camp itself was the centerpiece, one especially memorable moment came when participants learned they’d be receiving tickets to attend Club World Cup matches earlier this year—an experience that added excitement and global context to what they were learning on the field. (A separate ATL.Direct story covers that event.)
Preparing for a Global Moment, One Neighborhood at a Time
As the world’s most popular sport, soccer is a natural way to bring young people together, broaden their horizons, and build unity across communities. With more countries belonging to FIFA than to the United Nations, the sport creates connections that transcend borders—a lesson reflected in every practice, cheer, and pickup game at Collier Park.
This new camp model is part of DPR’s broader commitment to expanding specialized youth programming and making sure Atlanta families see real benefit from the momentum surrounding the 2026 World Cup.
What’s Next
The Department of Parks and Recreation plans to expand its single-sport programming to additional recreation centers, giving more youth access to focused training in the sports they love.
For Soccer in the Streets and the City of Atlanta, this summer is just the beginning.
Learn more about youth programs at atlantaga.gov/iparcs.
