Press Release: America SCORES Bay Area and Airbnb Unveil New Soccer Pitch at Willie L. Brown Jr. Middle School

Funded through Airbnb’s FIFA World Cup 2026™ Host City Impact Program, this is the second of three mini soccer pitches to be refurbished in Bay Area schools.

[September 3, 2026] - SAN FRANCISCO, CA – Today, America SCORES and Airbnb unveiled a refurbished mini soccer pitch at Willie L. Brown Jr. Middle School in the Silver Terrace neighborhood of San Francisco. The refurbished pitch was made possible by a donation from Airbnb’s FIFA World Cup 2026 Host City Impact Program, which is helping to drive lasting local impact and ensure the benefits of the FIFA World Cup extend well beyond the tournament.

In May, Airbnb announced a $1.2M investment in San Francisco, Los Angeles, and Oakland communities to support the refurbishment of local soccer pitches across the state, including a $360,000 investment in San Francisco via America SCORES. This is the second of three refurbished mini-pitches to be unveiled by SCORES. The unveiling brought together Colin Schmidt, Executive Director of America SCORES, Danny Baldocchi, Public Policy Associate for Airbnb, and various community members to celebrate the new, safe, and accessible community space.

Airbnb is a standout partner in SCORES 11-field "Safe Play Spaces Initiative.” Other partners include the Herbst Family Foundation, the Playing for Keeps Foundation, San Francisco Unified School District, Count Us In, and school-site parent-teacher associations. All 11 projects will use TenCate’s Pivot Performance Turf, which has been designed for durability, low maintenance, and consistent playing quality. The system requires no crumb rubber infill, is engineered to mimic the feel and playability of natural grass, is made without PFAS and can be recycled through TenCate’s Turf Recycling Program at the end of its useful life.

“The FIFA World Cup 2026 reaffirmed the power of soccer to bring people together, and we’re proud to partner with Airbnb to create long-lasting, safe and accessible cornerstones of our communities where families and students play, learn, and engage with sport. Their investment in our local public schools have been invaluable in building up local communities who will use these resources for generations to come.” - Colin Schmidt, Founder and Executive Director of America SCORES Bay Area

“Airbnb is proud to extend the FIFA World Cup’s impact well beyond the tournament to the local communities who hosted games and visitors from across the globe, especially San Francisco. This city is woven into the fabric of our company, and it is only right that we give back in a way that strengthens neighborhoods, expands outdoor recreation access, and creates lasting memories for the community years after the tournament.” - Danny Baldocchi, Public Policy, US West, Airbnb

“Soccer fields are for more than games and tournaments. When I look at this new field at my school, I see the joy, pride, and confidence it brings to parents and students, and I see the deepening of our commitment in providing a rich academic environment where students and educators thrive. I’m deeply grateful to Airbnb and America SCORES for making this space possible and for investing in our students’ futures. Mayor Willie Brown was a champion of public works throughout our city, and I’m proud to uphold his values at his namesake.” - Malea Mouton-Fuentes, Principal of Willie L. Brown Jr. Middle School

About America SCORES Bay Area
Founded in 2001, America SCORES Bay Area is a nonprofit youth-development organization that combines soccer, poetry and service to help young people build confidence, teamwork and leadership. Its Field of Dreams program works with schools and community partners to transform asphalt and aging schoolyards into active sports fields. America SCORES Bay Area serves students across Bay Area school and community sites, with programming provided free to participating children and families. Learn more at www.americascoresbayarea.org.

About Airbnb
Airbnb was born in 2007 when two hosts welcomed three guests to their San Francisco home, and has since grown to over 5.5 million hosts who have welcomed over 2.5 billion guest arrivals in almost every country across the globe. Every day, hosts offer unique stays, experiences, and services that make it possible for guests to connect with communities in a more authentic way.

About the Airbnb Host City Impact Program
The Airbnb Host City Impact Program is a dedicated initiative associated with our partnership with FIFA. It includes $5 million in support for select projects in host cities that foster economic growth and enhance the event experience for residents and visitors. Previous donations have supported new soccer mini-pitches in New York and New Jersey, small businesses in Kansas City, the development of a new Green Corridor in Houston, and Official SeattleFWC26 Fan Zones across Washington.