PepsiCo’s Team Of Champions, Using Soccer To Benefit Underserved Communities, Expands

Soccer is a global sport, so it only makes sense that Pepsi chose to use its power in an effort to support underserved communities.

Last year the company launched “Team of Champions” with soccer star and “Team Captain”, Javier ‘Chicharito’ Hernandez.

This year they announced that 16 new organizations were joining the program and that they’re expanding their reach to other communities and recruit more women athletes to the program.

“Last year, PepsiCo and I worked together to establish the ‘Team of Champions’ program and, together, have brought 9,000 athletes and coaches onto the field,” said Chicharito. “In addition to the physical benefits of playing soccer, bringing this beautiful game into these communities teaches youth about teamwork, problem-solving, and accountability. Participation in sports overall enhances resilience and has been proven to boost self-esteem. I’m excited to continue to deliver on our mission to remove barriers to the game in underserved communities.”

Pepsi has committed $1 million over three years to ensure that the program has the financial resources it needs to succeed.

“The ‘Team of Champions’ is symbolic of PepsiCo’s commitment to drive long-term change and address systemic barriers in these underserved communities,” said Antonio Escalona, SVP & GM, Hispanic Business Unit, PepsiCo Foods North America. “Soccer is the most popular sport in the world, and the commitment made by our brands Lay’s, Pepsi and Gatorade through this program has had a measurable impact on Hispanic-owned and Black-owned soccer clubs, programs and businesses in the United States.”

According to the release, this year’s “Team of Champions” lineup consists of 16 local organizations in cities including Atlanta, Chicago, Dallas, Denver, Houston, Los Angeles, Miami, Minneapolis, New Orleans, New York, Philadelphia, Seattle, Tampa Bay and Washington, D.C.

Pepsi will leverage the UEFA Champions League, their largest global platform, to reach Black and Hispanic youth, and women athletes, in these cities and to break down barriers to create more access to “the Beautiful Game.”

PepsiCo will also feature stories from the 16 organizations leading up to the 2021-2022 UEFA Champions League final.

The PepsiCo “Team of Champions” 2022 receiving funding this year includes:

1. Club Soccer Centro (Houston, TX): SOCCER CENTRO is the largest Hispanic soccer organization in Houston, TX. Founded in 2002, they have supported over 35,000 players in the local community by keeping them busy on a field and off the streets. Currently, they work with more than 500 kids aged 4-18 in different soccer related programs.
2. Cultures United FC (Seattle, WA): Cultures United FC offers underprivileged young adults from diverse backgrounds a pathway to athletic advancement while simultaneously empowering them to give back to their community via free camps and clinics for youth.
3. FCI Soccer Academy (Washington, D.C.): FCI Soccer Academy is a non-profit organization with the purpose of getting the youth in Prince George’s County active and to form a community of parents and children who are able to spend time together.
4. Football For Her (Los Angeles, CA): Football For Her wants to give all girls the opportunity to get football (soccer) training and mentorship from professional female players and sport specialists, regardless of where they live and what they look like.
5. JaHbat FC Premier (Chicago, IL): A growing club, providing the opportunity to train and compete at the highest level for youth soccer, ages 6-19 years old. JaHbat currently has over 20 teams and more than 300 players. JaHbat is an acronym which represents the cultural backgrounds of each of the club’s first players; Jamaica, Americas, Haiti, Belize, Asia/Africa, and Trinidad.
6. Kalonji Soccer Academy (Atlanta, GA): Kalonji Soccer Academy is all about the kids and the program ran by Kalonji Family Foundation, is a not-for-profit 501c3 that offers programs for children and adults. They provide a safe, supportive, and caring environment where all children regardless of their socio-economic background can learn, play, and evolve their soccer skills.
7. Little Haiti (Miami, FL): Little Haiti FC is a not-for-profit start-up youth soccer club serving a diverse population of underserved families from the central Miami neighborhood of Little Haiti and surrounding communities.
8. Pure Game (Los Angeles, CA): Pure Game creates programming for children that integrates a character education curriculum, leadership coaching, and sport. Programs increase and encourage physical activity, incentivize attendance, introduce life skills, build character, and help children create a positive self-image.
9. RYSA Wimauma Warriors (Tampa Bay, FL): An organization located in the city of Wimauma that has been working and supporting the local Hispanic community, made up mainly of farmers who have emigrated from Latin American countries. This program improves the quality of life in the local community that shares a common love of soccer.
10. Sol Of the Cities (Minneapolis, MN): Twin Cities Sol Futsal Academy was founded by two families and entrepreneurs who saw a need for a futsal community that focused on player development, character building and fun for all skill levels.
11. South Bronx United (New York, NY): South Bronx United is a 501c3 non-profit, youth development organization that uses soccer to engage immigrant and first-generation youth and support the broader South Bronx community.
12. Texas Soccer Alliance (Dallas, TX): Texas Soccer Alliance is a soccer club/academy serving the Alliance, North Fort Worth, and Keller area. Their main focus is to provide full developmental support to all players in an effort to prepare them for competition at any and every level.
13. The 18th Ward (New Orleans, LA): The 18th Ward was created to increase youth access to sports by eliminating barriers to participation. They provide high-quality programs and trained coaches to make sure kids have fun and learn the foundational skills to feel successful in sports.
14. Union Jerez (Denver, CO): Union Jerez is a youth academy built on a foundation to help kids. We want to give an opportunity to kids to enjoy playing soccer and help them pursue a collegiate career to better their future.
15. United Philly Soccer (Philadelphia, PA): United Philly’s mission is to create an all-inclusive pathway for players residing in Philadelphia to participate in a high quality and competitive soccer program up through their high school years.
16. Women in Soccer (New York, NY): The Women In Soccer team is a growing community of women and allies united by the inclusive spirit of soccer. Their community loves and embraces people of all mind/body types, sexual orientations, gender identities, races, religious backgrounds, and ethnicities.