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In December of 2025, Amgen was named the Official Biotech Partner by the Los Angeles Sports & Entertainment Commission (LASEC) and Los Angeles World Cup 2026 Host City Supporter forward of FIFA World Cup 2026™. This story highlights one of many many group actions made probably by Amgen’s sponsorship.
Long earlier than former skilled soccer participant Cobi Jones ever placed on the uniform for the United States and effectively earlier than he ever stepped foot out onto the pitch on the Pasadena Rose Bowl in 1994 to characterize the United States within the FIFA World Cup™, he was only a child having enjoyable enjoying the gorgeous recreation in native youth leagues.
“It was just—go out and play,” he stated. “You’re just thrown in with the team and you do a little bit here and there. It was going out and enjoying the time with friends.”
Now, greater than 30 years faraway from these matches within the World Cup, Jones—together with fellow World Cup {and professional} soccer veterans Mia Hamm and Julie Foudy serving as Los Angeles World Cup Community Ambassadors—are serving to to maintain selling soccer as groups from world wide come to Canada, the United States and Mexico to compete within the 2026 FIFA World Cup. (Note: Jones, who agreed to an interview with Amgen at a press convention asserting the kickoff of Fanfest and a subsequent sequence of upcoming occasions main as much as the 2026 FIFA World Cup in Los Angeles, will not be affiliated with Amgen.)
One of these occasions earlier than the World Cup in June is thru a sequence of soccer clinics referred to as Grow the Game.
Supported by Amgen and thru a collaborative effort between the Los Angeles World Cup 2026 Host Committee and The Play Equity Fund, the Grow the Game of Soccer Clinic Series is a approach to encourage youth to embrace soccer whereas studying or bettering upon fundamental expertise of the sport.
The first Grow the Game of Soccer youth clinic was held Feb. 28 on the stadium on the campus of California State University, Los Angeles and was attended by about 150 gamers whose ages ranged from 6 to 12. Another Grow the Game of Soccer clinic might be held May 9.
Children participated in a wide range of drills on the Grow the Game of Soccer clinics main as much as the World Cup in Los Angeles. Photo: Stacy Gleason for Amgen
It wasn’t far faraway from what Jones remembered when he was six and rising up in Westlake Village, California, a 10-minute drive close to Amgen’s headquarters, enjoying AYSO soccer and in native golf equipment and clinics: A number of enjoyable and an opportunity to study extra concerning the recreation.
“The clinics are fantastic for the kids,” he stated. “It got us out playing and got us out being active and moving and being outdoors and learning about the sport.”
The discipline was divided into stations the place gamers discovered drills on the way to go, catch the ball on their foot, steadiness it between their shoulder blades and dribble by cones in aggressive races. There have been scrimmages arrange for the gamers and every aim scored introduced with it the dream of it discovering the again of the web in a World Cup match.
They all had their groups they adopted and could be rooting for: the United States, Spain, Argentina, England, Mexico and Germany have been among the many extra generally talked about as favorites by gamers. Some had ties to the international locations. Some most well-liked the model of play a rustic employed. All deliberate to observe most of the video games—if not in particular person, then not less than on tv.
But that was for June. On this present day, there was soccer to be performed. As coaches directed them by stretching workouts whereas music from Queen performed over loudspeakers, the gamers counted off by a circuit of stretching and light-weight train.
Then they flooded the sphere—a colourful mosaic of cleats and shirts fanning throughout the inexperienced turf with soccer balls ready at every station.
Aubrey Valencia, 11, donned pink cleats and a black baseball cap to guard in opposition to a tough solar and located herself weaving by visitors throughout a scrimmage—deftly dribbling the ball between defenders and recognizing an open participant streaking to the aim.
Amgen supported the Grow the Game of Soccer clinics main as much as the World Cup this yr at California State University, Los Angeles. Photo: Stacy Gleason for Amgen
Her go hit the participant in stride and the ball landed at the back of the web.
“I like connecting passes,” she stated. “It’s why I like playing the middle.”
Valencia’s dad and mom, Claudia and Victor, stated she has all the time proven an intuition to be good with the ball on the sphere. And whereas soccer is her old flame, they’ve let her discover different sports activities as effectively. She enjoys them, however she all the time appears to come back again to soccer.
They sat within the bleachers watching her play—additionally scoring two objectives within the scrimmage—and stated that whereas they really feel pleased with her accomplishments on the sphere, it is watching her pleasure as she performs that retains their love of the sport alive.
They drove an hour from Orange, California to take part within the Grow the Game of Soccer clinic and stated occasions equivalent to this are constructing anticipation for the beginning of the World Cup.
“It’s exciting and feels like a big moment for the game here,” Victor stated. “We will all be watching.”
While the gamers went by their paces at every station arrange, the volunteer coaches took time to encourage and information the children by every of the drills.
Renata Simril, president and chief government officer CEO of The Play Equity Fund, stated that whereas rising the sport and the talents of the children was essential, it was additionally essential to get children engaged in exercising.
Children took time to play with a large soccer ball on the Grow the Game of Soccer clinics upfront of the World Cup coming to Los Angeles. Photo by Stacy Gleason for Amgen
According to The Play Equity Fund, 60% of U.S. youngsters had insufficient ranges of cardiorespiratory health, which places them at greater danger of continual illness and so they additionally discovered 66% of California youth train lower than the one hour of reasonable to vigorous train advisable by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control.
“Thank you for moving your body, calming your mind through soccer—or whatever sport you play—this is about you,” she stated. “This is about showing a brighter future and pathway though sports and play—particularly soccer—and make sure you have fun today.”
Edward Luna, 11, stated he preferred one of many dribbling drills arrange on the clinic and he imagined he was imitating his favourite participant, Bernardo Silva, who will play for Portugal. Weaving with the ball, avoiding defenders and ending with a robust strike was what made his day. Then there was a soccer recreation arrange that was a hybrid of flag soccer the place gamers needed to dribble and steal flags hooked up to opposing gamers. That was much more enjoyable,” he stated.
His father, Edward Luna Sr., stated what made his day was how the clinic was arrange and the best way it engaged his son and the opposite children by serving to them develop in different areas as effectively.
“The focus on growing self-esteem, control and listening,” he stated, ticking off the listing of constructive classes he noticed imparted all through the day.
Then he paused.
“OK,” he stated with fun. “And making the goals.”
Children got here collectively in Los Angeles for the Grow the Game of Soccer clinic as part of a sequence of occasions main as much as the World Cup. Photo: Stacy Gleason for Amgen
This web page was created programmatically, to learn the article in its authentic location you may go to the hyperlink bellow:
https://www.amgen.com/stories/2026/03/amgen-helps-bring-youth-soccer-clinic-to-greater-los-angeles-with-skills-drills-and-fun-amid-run-up-to-2026-world-cup
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This web page was created programmatically, to learn the article in its authentic location you'll…
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