Key Takeaways
- Vita Coco and the U.S. Soccer Foundation enter year two of their partnership with two new mini-pitches in Dallas and Denver.
- The new courts are located at Tom C. Gooch Elementary School in Dallas and Trevista at Horace Mann in Denver.
- Vita Coco funded the construction and launch of both mini-pitches, expanding its role from the partnership’s first year.
- Professional soccer player and Vita Coco partner Weston McKennie supported the Dallas launch event with video messages to participants.
- The U.S. Soccer Foundation positions mini-pitches as hubs for youth development in under-resourced communities.
A Second Year Built Around Two New Courts
Vita Coco and the U.S. Soccer Foundation announced on June 3 that their partnership will continue for a second year, anchored by the construction and launch of two new mini-pitches. The first sits at Tom C. Gooch Elementary School in Dallas, Texas. The second is located at Trevista at Horace Mann in Denver, Colorado.
Mini-pitches are hard-court surfaces designed for small-sided soccer. The U.S. Soccer Foundation builds them as part of its mission to give every child access to safe places to play, regardless of zip code. The Foundation describes the courts as hubs for youth development, where kids build confidence, develop teamwork and leadership skills, and form healthy habits.
“Mini-pitches are more than places to play,” said Ed Foster-Simeon, President and CEO of the U.S. Soccer Foundation. “They are catalysts for opportunity. When young people have a safe space to show up, try new things, and feel part of a community, it expands what they believe is possible for themselves.”
Vita Coco Expands Its Role in Year Two
In the partnership’s second year, Vita Coco is supporting both the construction and launch of the two mini-pitches. The brand frames the investment as part of a broader commitment to fueling play and supporting community programs, alongside its product positioning. Vita Coco states its original coconut water contains 1,149mg of electrolytes per 500ml, compared to roughly 292mg in the leading sports drink.
“At Vita Coco, our desire to do better goes beyond our product, and we believe that every kid deserves the chance to play safely in their own backyard,” said Mike Kirban, co-founder and executive chairman of Vita Coco.
The Vita Coco Company, founded in 2004, is a public benefit corporation and Certified B Corporation. Its flagship brand is the leading coconut water in the U.S., and the company’s portfolio also includes protein-infused water PWR LIFT.
Community Launch Events Feature Weston McKennie
Vita Coco and the U.S. Soccer Foundation hosted a community launch event in Dallas alongside school leaders, local families, and community partners, with an additional celebration planned in Denver. Programming included soccer scrimmages, lawn games, and food, plus video messages of encouragement from professional soccer player and Vita Coco partner Weston McKennie.
“Growing up in Texas, soccer played a huge role in my life,” McKennie said. “This field is about more than just soccer. It’s about building confidence, building friendships, being part of a community.”
The U.S. Soccer Foundation, founded as a legacy of the 1994 FIFA World Cup, operates as a 501(c)(3) headquartered in Washington, D.C., providing under-resourced communities with play spaces and evidence-based soccer programs.
Why Beverage Brands Keep Investing in Access Infrastructure
The renewal places Vita Coco among the consumer brands using physical play infrastructure, rather than team or league sponsorships alone, as the centerpiece of youth sports investment. Mini-pitches offer a tangible, community-level asset with a long shelf life and a built-in connection to the schools and families brands want to reach. With both Dallas and Denver courts now live and a second-year commitment in place, the partnership gives the Foundation a repeatable corporate funding model and gives Vita Coco a visible presence in two major metros where the courts will serve kids well beyond the launch events.
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