Pep Guardiola hails NYC initiative to promote soccer

Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola praised New York City's soccer initiative, which has helped create and maintain 50 new football fields across the city. 

The project, done in conjunction with Major League Soccer team New York City FC, works to inspire the younger generations and enable more than 10,000 kids to have free access to soccer programming in underserved communities. 

“I’ve spent a lot of time in New York City during my career. It’s a city I love deeply and, over the years, I’ve been lucky enough to see first hand New Yorkers’ passion for football,” said the Manchester City boss. 

“Young people want to play and need a place to play. The fact that there are now 50 new football pitches throughout New York City because of NYCFC and our group is amazing and will make a big difference in the lives of young people.

“I have said it for many years, I believe there is an incredibly bright future for football in the US and amazing projects like this one will play a part in helping to produce the next generation of young American talent.

“All over the world, I’ve seen how football can change lives; it brings people together like no other sport – and I’m very proud that our group has played a part in using our sport to bring people together and give young people more places to play the game we love here in Manchester and around the world.”

The project was initially launched in 2016, through a first-of-its-kind $3 million public-private partnership between the Mayor’s Fund to Advance New York City, NYCFC, the U.S. Soccer Foundation, Adidas, and Etihad Airways. 

While the aim was 50 pitches across New York City, NYCSI partners announced a new aim to install 26 more fields across the country.