More Than a Moment

Every four years, the world’s attention turns to soccer.

The stadiums are spectacular. The athletes inspire us. The atmosphere is unforgettable.

But after the final whistle blows, an important question remains:

How do we make sure the excitement reaches the children who need it most?

This summer, Playing for Keeps had the privilege of helping answer that question in two Los Angeles communities.

During The ‘Wood Cup in Inglewood and through our partnership with Destination Crenshaw in the Crenshaw District of Los Angeles, we created temporary play spaces where children could run, play, and experience the joy of soccer in a safe, welcoming environment.

For many of these young people, it wasn’t simply another community event.

It was their first opportunity to experience the world’s game on a high-quality playing surface.

Watching children laugh, compete, encourage one another, and celebrate reminded me of something I have learned throughout my life—as an international footballer, educator, public health professional, and now President of the Playing for Keeps Foundation.

Children don’t fall in love with sports by watching them on television.

They fall in love with sports by playing.

That may seem obvious, but it is a reality we too often overlook when discussing the legacy of major sporting events. We celebrate attendance records, television ratings, tourism, and economic impact. Yet the most meaningful legacy is often much smaller—and much more personal.

It is the child who discovers confidence after scoring a first goal.

The young girl who realizes soccer is for her.

The family who spends an afternoon together being active in their own neighborhood.

The friendships that begin with a shared game.

Those moments happen because someone created a place to play.

Temporary activations like these create joy, spark curiosity, and open doors. They introduce children to new possibilities and remind communities of the power of sport to bring people together. They matter.

But at Playing for Keeps, we believe children deserve more than a memorable afternoon.

They deserve a place they can return to tomorrow.

And the next day.

And the day after that.

Our mission is not simply to create moments of play.

It is to transform those moments into lasting opportunities by helping communities build safe, high-quality, sustainable places where children can play, develop, and thrive for generations.

Los Angeles is entering what many are calling the Golden Era of Sports. Between the FIFA World Cup, the Super Bowl, the NCAA Championships, and the 2028 Olympic and Paralympic Games, our city will welcome the world.

These events bring tremendous excitement, but they also bring an extraordinary responsibility.

If we truly want this era to leave a meaningful legacy, we cannot measure success only by what happens inside world-class stadiums. We must also measure success by what happens in neighborhood parks, school playgrounds, and community fields.

The true legacy of sport is not measured by the matches we host.

It is measured by the opportunities we leave behind.

Because every child deserves more than a moment.

Every child deserves a place to play.