SOLEDAD — Soledad’s fall youth soccer season kicked off this month with player-led drills, local soccer organizations and the distribution of more than 200 FIFA soccer balls to local children and families.
The soccer balls were provided through FIFA’s World Cup 2026 community initiative, which made balls available to 500 U.S. cities represented through the United States Conference of Mayors. Soledad Mayor Anna Velazquez led the city’s effort to apply for the program.
“I want to thank the mayor for making this day possible. She reached out to FIFA and applied for the soccer balls, and because of her effort, we received 200 soccer balls that we were able to distribute to the families and children of Soledad,” said City Manager Megan Hunter in a video posted by the city.
The Sept. 5 kickoff at Vosti Park included coaches from the Salinas Regional Soccer Complex and Monterey Football Club, who led activities for young players.
Jonathan De Anda, general manager of the Salinas Regional Soccer Complex, said the organization brought coaches who are former professional soccer players or members of the Hartnell College women’s soccer team.
“We brought in our coaches … to bring the love of soccer to our community and to our youth because we’re not only a Salinas organization, we really serve our entire region and our entire Salinas Valley,” De Anda said.
The event also featured a video message from Soledad native Vanessa Aguilar, who has played for the Mexican U-17 national team and earned a scholarship to play midfield for the University of Washington. Aguilar is continuing her soccer career with the Huskies.
The city said the donated balls will give local youth an opportunity to continue playing and developing their skills following the World Cup.
“The World Cup may be over, but the excitement and inspiration it created don’t have to end,” Velazquez said. “I wanted to make sure Soledad was part of FIFA’s initiative and that our young people could experience that excitement right here in our community.”
The fall soccer season is a partnership between the City of Soledad, Salinas Regional Soccer Complex and Monterey Football Club.
