Atlanta’s road to FIFA World Cup 2026 continues to show up in neighborhoods and community spaces across the city — including on the soccer field.
Mayor Andre Dickens joined community leaders, students, and partners Wednesday morning at the East Lake Station Soccer Facility for the Soccer and STEM Showcase, a youth focused event hosted by Soccer in the Streets and Amazon.
The event brought together approximately 100 students ages 10 to 14 from organizations including the Boys & Girls Clubs of Metro Atlanta for a morning centered around soccer, science, technology, teamwork, and leadership.
Following an opening program and Brazilian drum processional, students rotated through soccer clinics and STEM activities led by organizations including Science ATL, STEAM Truck, and Amazon’s Think Big Van.
As part of the showcase, students were divided into countries as a nod to the FIFA World Cup, creating an atmosphere that reflected the growing excitement surrounding Atlanta’s role as a Host City in 2026.
During remarks, Mayor Dickens thanked partners for investing in Atlanta’s young people and highlighted the connection between sports participation and future success.
“The research is clear. Kids who play sports do better in school and in life,” Mayor Dickens said. “They build confidence. They develop leadership skills. They learn how to set goals and achieve them.”
The Mayor also highlighted how the showcase combined athletics with STEM learning opportunities.
“Today’s program is going even further … connecting soccer to STEAM learning,” Mayor Dickens said. “Because the same skills that make you a great athlete … like focus and problem solving … are the same skills that help you become engineers, coders … even mayor.”
The event also included check presentations supporting both Soccer in the Streets programming and the Mayor’s Youth Scholarship Program.
Mayor Dickens noted that Soccer in the Streets was among the first organizations selected during the city’s Year of the Youth initiative through the Youth Development Grant program.
“Soccer just happens to be the medium they work with,” the Mayor said. “But the message uses the sport to build character and offer lessons in leadership and teamwork.”
Throughout the morning, students moved between activities that encouraged collaboration, critical thinking, and physical activity while interacting with coaches, STEM educators, and community mentors.
The showcase reflected a broader focus across Atlanta’s FIFA preparations — ensuring that the impact of the World Cup extends beyond the matches themselves and creates meaningful opportunities for young people across the city.
