Moving Legacy Forward

Join the 2026 Grassroots Symposium & Leadership Weekend to help shape what comes next for youth soccer in America. 

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The world's biggest soccer tournament has come and gone. 

The packed stadiums. The global headlines. The unforgettable moments on the pitch. 

But while much of the world's attention moves on, thousands of coaches, volunteers, community leaders and grassroots organisations across the United States continue the work of building the game from the ground up. Every day, they expand access to soccer, strengthen clubs and communities, develop coaches, create safe places to play, and open new opportunities for young people. 

This is where the tournament's legacy will ultimately be defined. 

The FIFA World Cup created unprecedented visibility, investment and momentum for soccer in the United States. But tournaments don't create lasting change on their own. They create opportunity. What happens next depends on whether that momentum is transformed into stronger grassroots organisations, more accessible pathways into the game, and deeper investment in the communities where soccer is part of everyday life. 

From August 27–29, more than 400 leaders from across American soccer will gather in Dallas for the 2026 Grassroots Symposium & Leadership Weekend, hosted by US Youth Soccer, Common Goal, and U.S. Soccer's Soccer Forward Foundation. 

United by the theme Moving Legacy Forward, the Symposium asks one question that now matters more than ever: What comes next? 

Each of the Symposium's three partners brings a different perspective to that challenge. 

• US Youth Soccer represents one of the country's largest youth soccer ecosystems. 

• Soccer Forward Foundation is helping transform the momentum of major tournaments into long-term investment in participation, places, people and community impact. 

• Common Goal connects the Soccer for Good movement, bringing together organisations that use soccer every day to strengthen communities and expand opportunities for young people. 

Their missions are different. Their approaches are different. But they are united by one shared belief: The future of soccer won't be shaped by tournaments alone. It will be shaped by the people working in communities every single day. 

As Tom Condone, Chief Executive Officer of US Youth Soccer, puts it:  

“This Symposium has always been about bringing together the people building the game every day. As we look beyond the World Cup, we have a responsibility to ensure soccer remains a force for opportunity, belonging and community across the United States.” 

Unlike a traditional conference, the Symposium is designed as a collaborative working space. 

Rather than gathering simply to reflect on what happened during the World Cup, participants—including coaches, club leaders, community organisations, researchers, funders, educators, policymakers, innovators and young leaders—will work together to explore how soccer can continue creating opportunity across the country. 

“The future of soccer in the United States won’t be built by one organization or one sector alone,” said Mary Connor, CEO of Common Goal. “The greatest legacy of the FIFA men’s World Cup will come from what communities build together afterward. We are proud to continue working alongside US Youth Soccer and the Soccer Forward Foundation to center soccer for good voices, strategies, and organizations at the Grassroots Symposium to ensure we are Moving Legacy Forward together.” 

Across three days, conversations will tackle some of the most important questions facing the game today: how to expand participation, create more inclusive environments, strengthen grassroots organisations, invest in community infrastructure, and ensure the momentum generated by the FIFA World Cup becomes meaningful progress for the next generation. 

"The FIFA World Cup gave us an extraordinary opportunity to showcase the power of soccer in the United States," said Lex Chalat, Executive Director of Soccer Forward. "The work now is ensuring that excitement translates into something lasting. By bringing together leaders from across youth soccer, community organizations, philanthropy and the broader game, we're building the partnerships that will expand access, strengthen communities and ensure the tournament's legacy continues to create impact for years to come." 

 Photos from the 2025 Grassroots Symposium & Leadership Weekend

Why take part  

The conversations taking place in Dallas won't stay in Dallas. 

They will help shape how organisations collaborate, where investment flows, how communities are supported, and how soccer continues to grow long after the final whistle. 

Whether you're a coach, club leader, researcher, educator, policymaker, funder or community practitioner, this is an opportunity to contribute your perspective, learn from leaders across the ecosystem, build new partnerships, and help shape what comes next—not only for the game, but for the communities it serves. 

Because the future of soccer won't be written by one organisation alone. 

It will be built collectively by the people working every day to expand access to the game, strengthen communities, and create opportunities for young people. 

If the FIFA World Cup was the launchpad, this is where the next chapter begins. 

Join more than 400 leaders from across youth soccer, community organisations, philanthropy, education and the Soccer for Good movement in Dallas this August—and help move legacy forward. 

Register today: 2026 US Youth Soccer Grassroots Symposium - US Youth Soccer