As the United States prepares to host the 2026 FIFA World Cup, Sportika Labs is launching a nationwide initiative aimed at expanding access to quality youth soccer programs across the country.
Ahead of the tournament, Sportika Labs is looking for aspiring academy owners, parents, entrepreneurs, former athletes, community leaders, and soccer enthusiasts interested in building youth soccer programs in their local markets. Participants do not need previous coaching experience or an existing academy. The initiative is designed for anyone who wants to turn growing soccer demand into a structured community program or business.
Participants accepted into the initiative will receive special launch conditions, access to Sportika Labs’ training methodology, academy management platform, Business Tracker, and hands-on support from the company’s launch team. The objective is to help new academy operators launch quickly enough to benefit from the unprecedented growth in soccer interest expected around the 2026 FIFA World Cup and build sustainable programs that continue growing long after the tournament ends.
The initiative addresses a broader challenge facing youth soccer in the United States. Participation continues to grow, yet many communities still face shortages of qualified coaches, structured development programs, and accessible local academies capable of supporting new players. With the World Cup expected to generate a new wave of interest in soccer, Sportika Labs believes local infrastructure will play a critical role in converting that excitement into long-term participation.
“The World Cup will create an enormous wave of interest around youth soccer across the United States,” said Ruslan Bashirov, CEO & Founder of Sportika Labs. “Parents will be actively looking for quality programs, local clubs, and opportunities for their children to get involved in the game. Our goal is to help more academy operators launch quickly and ensure communities are ready to meet that demand both during and after the tournament.”
The initiative will be run as a nationwide application campaign through Sportika Labs’ World Cup program page: https://start.sportikalabs.com/worldcup
Applicants will be invited to share why they want to launch a youth soccer academy, what opportunities they see in their local community, and how they would help grow the game in their area.
Sportika Labs will review submissions throughout the campaign and select participants based on motivation, community impact, and long-term potential.
Selected participants will receive a discounted academy launch package, access to Sportika Labs’ academy management platform, European training methodology, and direct support from the company’s team, including launch guidance, coach education, business planning, and operational support designed to help new academy owners launch faster and build sustainable programs.
Additional questions about the initiative can be directed to: [email protected]
About Sportika Labs
Sportika Labs is an all-in-one platform for launching and operating youth soccer academies. The company provides academy management technology, European coaching methodology,
Business Tracker support, and operational guidance that helps partners launch, attract their first players, and build sustainable youth soccer programs.
