Pacoima Kids Win LA's First Youth World Cup Championship

When 10-year-old Marcos Turcios stepped onto the field at UCLA's Wallis Annenberg Stadium for the championship game, he had never traveled outside the San Fernando Valley. By the end of the day, he and his 14 teammates from San Fernando Gardens housing development in Pacoima had become champions.

The team of kids aged 8 to 13 won the Housing Authority of the City of Los Angeles' inaugural Youth World Cup on July 11, defeating Pico Gardens 10-4. For half the team, it was the first time they'd ever played on an organized soccer team.

Ten teams from public housing communities across LA participated in the month-long tournament, each randomly assigned to represent a different country. San Fernando Gardens, the only team from the San Fernando Valley, represented Portugal and ironically defeated Spain in the finals, mirroring the FIFA World Cup bracket happening at the same time.

The tournament was completely free for families. Every player received a uniform with their name on the back, and kids got to play at college stadiums including Cal State LA and UCLA, where they toured the campus before the final match.

Xavier Landa volunteered to coach after hearing no one had stepped up when sign-ups began in March. He grew up visiting San Fernando Gardens where his grandmother looked after him, and he knew how expensive youth soccer leagues had become for working families.

"A lot of parents don't really have the time or money to put their kids on teams that participate in these leagues," Landa said. "Everything was completely free. The kids had so much fun with this."

The Ripple Effect

The tournament brought together kids and families from public housing communities that rarely interact, including Mar Vista Gardens, Estrada Courts in Boyle Heights, Rancho San Pedro, and Nickerson Gardens in Watts. Beyond the competition, organizers wanted to expose young players to higher education by hosting games at university stadiums.

Twelve-year-old Albert Lopez said touring UCLA felt special. "I'm really happy that me and my friends were able to win it all," he said.

Teammate Ulysses Torres summed up what the victory meant: "We all came from the projects, and we made it."

After their win, Coach Landa threw a celebration at his Mission Hills home where the joy of their achievement still lingered. For these 15 young champions, the trophy represented more than a soccer tournament win.