Key Takeaways
- Genesis, the U.S. Soccer Foundation, and the MLSPA opened the sixth mini-pitch in their partnership at Drexel Elementary School in Cicero, Illinois, on June 3.
- The court is part of Safe Places to Play, which has installed more than 850 mini-pitches nationwide and is targeting 1,000 by 2026.
- About 70 percent of those pitches sit in underserved communities with a low Child Opportunity Index, each reaching an average of 10,000 children.
- Genesis Gives has donated more than $2 million since 2022 toward youth sports and STEAM access in under-resourced communities.
- Cicero joins earlier installations in Florida, New York, California, Georgia, and Texas, the last of which opened just weeks ago in Dallas.
A Sixth Court Lands in Cicero
Genesis, the U.S. Soccer Foundation, and the Major League Soccer Players Association opened a new mini-pitch at Drexel Elementary School in Cicero, Illinois, giving local youth a dedicated, community-based space to play. The grand opening on June 3 featured a ceremonial first kick and an inaugural scrimmage, with participating children receiving commemorative jerseys and joining games throughout the day.
The court is a Musco Mini-Pitch System, a customized hard-court surface built for organized programs and pick-up play. It marks the sixth installation in the Genesis and U.S. Soccer Foundation partnership, following openings in Florida, New York, California, Georgia, and most recently Texas.
Inside the Safe Places to Play Footprint
The Cicero pitch is part of the U.S. Soccer Foundation’s Safe Places to Play program, which has installed more than 850 mini-pitches across the country and is working toward 1,000 by 2026. The program concentrates its placements where access gaps are widest. Roughly 70 percent of the mini-pitches are located in underserved communities with a low Child Opportunity Index, and each court reaches an average of 10,000 children.
That model converts underused lots and schoolyards into long-lasting community assets rather than one-off facilities, which is part of why the program scales through school districts and community partners like Cicero District 99.
Genesis Gives and the Brand Case for Mini-Pitches
Expanding access to youth sports is a core pillar of Genesis Gives, the corporate social responsibility arm of Genesis Motor America. Since 2022, the initiative has donated more than $2 million to support youth sports and STEAM education in under-resourced communities.
For Genesis, the appeal of recurring mini-pitch installations is a repeatable, locally visible asset that ties the brand to community access at a fixed location. “Access and community go hand in hand,” said Brandon Ramirez, director of corporate social responsibility at Genesis Motor America, noting the goal of bringing a shared space where children can connect and play.
A World Cup Backdrop
Local officials framed the opening against the 2026 FIFA World Cup, co-hosted across the United States, Canada, and Mexico. Dr. Aldo Calderin, superintendent of Cicero District 99, said the installation reflects the Board of Education’s commitment to the community and helps build anticipation for the tournament, while giving students one of relatively few mini-pitches in the country to practice on.
The timing is notable for the broader program. A World Cup year tends to lift youth soccer participation and sponsor interest, and a court that opens months ahead of the tournament captures that attention while remaining in place long after.
Closing the Gap to 1,000 Courts
With Cicero counted, the Genesis partnership has now delivered six of the more than 850 mini-pitches under Safe Places to Play. The remaining distance to 1,000 is the number worth watching. Hitting that mark in 2026 would put a Musco court within reach of hundreds more under-resourced neighborhoods, each averaging 10,000 children, and would give corporate backers like Genesis a maturing template for sponsoring physical, permanent access points rather than seasonal activations. For operators in youth soccer, the takeaway is the durability of the asset class: a single court keeps generating community traffic and brand visibility for years on the same footprint.
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