Who Gets To Play After The Final Whistle?

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OPINION: With the holiday season upon us, we have a lot to be thankful for. Among those things is a renewed sense of commitment to our children with the passage of AB749, the Youth Sports for All Act, legislation that prioritizes how California can develop a coordinated statewide approach and identify the resources needed to make quality youth sports more accessible, affordable, and safe for every child, in every community.

In less than a year, the world’s biggest sporting spectacle will land in our backyard: the FIFA World Cup. It will bring global attention to California, with sold-out stadiums and dazzling ceremonies. But there is a more important question to ask: Who gets to play after the final whistle?

As I reflect on this year, I am less focused on medals and trophies, and more on something fundamental: why we play in the first place.

We closed out this year with a belief that resonates more than ever: play is not a privilege. It is a must-have and a human right. When a child has a safe space to run, a trusted coach to guide them, and a team that welcomes them, they gain more than scoring a goal or winning a medal. They gain health, confidence, community, and a sense of belonging.

Yet too many kids in California miss out.

The 2024 California Play Equity Report revealed that nearly two-thirds of young people in our state do not meet basic physical activity guidelines. One in three children have stopped playing sports in the past two years. Families, especially in under-resourced communities, face challenges like “pay to play” fees, transportation, and a lack of safe, nearby places to be active.

Shaped by data in the Report and supported by a broad coalition of more than 50 organizations statewide, AB749 is a recognition that the current decentralized patchwork of youth sports is insufficient. A new Blue-Ribbon Commission, led by the California Health and Human Services Agency, will explore how California can develop a statewide system where safety and coaching standards are consistent, cost is not a barrier, and every child can enjoy the lifelong benefits of sport and play.

While the new law establishes the long-term policy foundation, the work on the ground is equally urgent as Los Angeles prepares to host the FIFA World Cup in 2026.

This year, the Los Angeles World Cup 2026 Host Committee launched a legacy program designed to harness the power of the “beautiful game.” It began with the ‘26 Champions’ grant program, honoring local nonprofit organizations that are using soccer to foster connection and opportunity. This month, partners launched the Grow the Game of Soccer Clinic Series, offering free clinics to train grassroots coaches, referees and youth players across the region.

These clinics focus on more than just tactics and drills. They also promote a healing-centered coaching approach to support young people’s emotional well-being, build resilience, and create team environments where every player feels they belong. With one-third of registered coaches reporting no formal certification, and another 12% reporting only generic level credentials, there is a strong need for introductory training and certification pathways.

The demand is undeniable. Research shows that over 640,000 youth in Los Angeles County played soccer in 2024, and participation continues to grow. If we match that enthusiasm with quality coaching and safe, accessible programs, soccer becomes more than just a game – it becomes a pathway to better health, higher graduation rates, stronger career prospects, and a new generation of leaders rooted in teamwork and empathy.

The legacy of the 1984 Olympic Games in Los Angeles has already shown what can happen when major sporting events invest in local communities.

Looking ahead to 2026 and beyond, we now have both the data and policy tools to do more. The question is whether we will choose to use this World Cup and the events that follow as a true accelerator: to level the field so every child has the chance to play.

Leaders in government, business, sports, and philanthropy can use this moment to turn mega-events into lasting investments into everyday access to play. All of us – parents, caregivers, neighbors, voters – can insist that every child in every neighborhood has a place to move, to belong, and to thrive.

The stadium lights will dim. The headlines will fade. What will remain is whether a child finds an open gate or a locked one.

We play because it matters. Now is the moment for California to prove it. Our kids deserve nothing less.

Renata Simril is President & CEO of the LA84 Foundation, and President of the Play Equity Fund.

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