Company Commits $500,000 to Boys & Girls Clubs of America to Grow Access to Soccer, Train Coaches and Advance Workforce Readiness for Club Teens
WATCH HERE: Alexi Lalas, Brian Kilmeade Unveil $500,000 Commitment to Boys & Girls Club of America Live on FOX & FRIENDS
LOS ANGELES, May 21, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- FOX Sports, America's English-language home for the FIFA World Cup 2026™, and Fox Corporation today announced community impact initiatives leading up to the anticipated tournament underscored with a $500,000 commitment to Boys & Girls Clubs of America (BGCA).
The investment expands FOX Sports' dedication to growing access to soccer for youth and is part of a broader, multi-year community impact platform collaboration with BGCA and nonprofit organization, Common Goal, designed to create lasting opportunity for young people through soccer across the United States.
"As FOX Sports prepares to present the largest FIFA World Cup™ in history, we have a unique opportunity to ensure the tournament's legacy is measured not only by unforgettable moments on the pitch, but by the lasting impact it creates in communities nationwide," said Eric Shanks, CEO and Executive Producer, FOX Sports. "We are honored to support the efforts of Boys & Girls Clubs of America, Common Goal, U.S. Soccer Foundation and others to expand access to soccer and create opportunities for the next generation both on and off the field."
The $500,000 investment will support youth soccer programming offered by BGCA, expanding access to the sport and creating new opportunities for young athletes nationwide. The legacy commitment is expected to engage more than 26,000 new youth across the country, while helping to train coaches and create job opportunities for Club teens as referees. The donation also enables local clubs nationwide to host Soccer Forward Fests, community-based events designed by U.S. Soccer to celebrate and deepen engagement in the sport.
"Soccer can open up new opportunities for youth and this collaboration with FOX Sports will allow us to support young athletes across the country," said Jim Clark, President and CEO of Boys & Girls Clubs of America. "This monumental donation will allow us to uplevel our support for players, coaches, referees and more, contributing to their success on and off the soccer field."
Building on its efforts from FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022™ and FIFA Women's World Cup Australia & New Zealand 2023™, FOX Sports is expanding its community initiatives ahead of the 2026 tournament through a growing ecosystem of impact organizations including Common Goal, U.S. Soccer Foundation, and its own long running FOX Sports University program. These combined efforts will increase access to the game, support mental health and create pathways for the next generation of players and professionals. FOX Sports is the only national broadcaster to take Common Goal's 1% pledge, committing one percent of its tournament coverage since 2022 to tell the story of soccer for social good across its platforms.
Together with Common Goal, FOX Sports will continue using the power of soccer to drive positive social impact through initiatives focused on inclusion, well-being and access to the game. This includes the company's commitment to the next chapter of "Create the Space," the mental health initiative led by Common Goal and launched in 2023 together with U.S. Women's National Team defender Naomi Girma and FOX Sports and Fox Corporation during the FIFA Women's World Cup 2023™. The initiative delivers youth-focused mental wellness training programs to soccer-based youth organizations across North America and the Caribbean, equipping the next generation with the tools to thrive both on and off the field.
"I'm proud of the work we've been able to accomplish at Common Goal to bring more awareness around how mental health impacts athletes. This support from FOX Sports and Fox Corporation allows us to make even stronger and more meaningful impact and change for good," said Girma.
FOX Sports is also further investing in the future workforce of sports through FOX Sports University, a longstanding program that connects college students with real-world experience and career pathways in the industry. Now in its 19th year, the program reaches dozens of universities across the country and more than 500 students annually. Leading up to FIFA World Cup 2026™, FOX Sports University partnered with 20 colleges on FIFA World Cup™-focused programming featuring a "World Cup of FOX Sports U" competition and nationwide campus speaker series with FOX Sports broadcasters, executives and leaders in the world of soccer.
FOX Sports' expanded community impact platform reflects a long-term commitment to leveraging the power of sport to create meaningful change. Together with Fox Corporation and nonprofit organizations across the country, the company remains focused on building a lasting legacy that extends well beyond the tournament and helps shape the future of soccer in the United States.
For more information, visit FOX Sports Press Pass, and follow @FOXSportsPR.
About FOX Sports
FOX Sports is the umbrella entity representing Fox Corporation's wide array of multi-platform US-based sports assets. Built with brands capable of reaching more than 100 million viewers in a single weekend, the business has ownership and interests in linear television networks, digital and mobile programming, broadband platforms, multiple web sites, joint-venture businesses and several licensing relationships. FOX Sports includes the sports television arm of the FOX Network; FS1, FS2, FOX Soccer Plus and FOX Deportes. FOX Sports' digital properties include the FOX Sports App and FOXSports.com, which provides instant scores, stats and stories from across the sports world. Live streaming video of FOX Sports content is available via FOX One, Fox Corporation's wholly owned, direct to consumer streaming service. Also included in FOX Sports' portfolio are FOX's interests in joint-venture businesses Big Ten Network and the UFL and a licensing agreement that established the FOX Sports Radio Network.
About Boys & Girls Clubs of America
For more than 160 years, Boys & Girls Clubs of America (BGCA.org) has provided a safe place for kids and teens to learn and grow. Clubs offer caring adult mentors, fun and friendship, and high-impact youth development programs on a daily basis during critical non-school hours. Boys & Girls Clubs programming promotes academic success, good character and leadership, and healthy lifestyles. More than 5,500 Clubs serve over 4 million young people through Club membership and community outreach. Learn more at BGCA.org and on social media.
About Common Goal
Common Goal has pioneered the football for good movement by connecting community organizations, amplifying proven approaches, and mobilizing collective action within and beyond soccer. Today, Common Goal brings together soccer's biggest impact collective - a global community of more than 200 best-in-class organizations across 117 countries, unlocking opportunities for over 3.6 million young people every year.
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