Roots Futsal
futsal for the people, not the privileged: organizing free street soccer for everyone. portland has the fields, we’ve got the players, now let’s just put them together. roots futsal is all about promoting play by organizing pick-up games, tournaments, and competitive teams
Our Vision
We started small in the Summer of 2021, organizing pick-up games for kids and adults during the pandemic. In 2022 we expanded a bit, but this summer we are going big. Our vision is to see impassioned pickup games, multiple times a week, for all ages, at five different locations in the Portland metro area. Transitioning into the Fall, we would like to see futsal embedded into after-school programs throughout the area.
The Organization
Through generous donations, we are able to fund supervised futsal games for two age groups, twice a week, for all ten weeks of summer, at two locations. By April, we hope to secure funding to extend this to two more locations and begin to organize our after-school programs for the Fall. If you are interested in joining our team, contributing to our cause, or have any questions, please feel free to contact us.
Target locations
Northeast Portland, Gresham, and Hillsboro have a painful history of racism, oppression, and struggle, along with rich traditions that are Rooted in the vibrant Black and Latino Communities. Yet disparities remain. Research by Portland Metro indicates BIPOC and Latino/x populations in the region have a poverty rate that is nearly three times higher than white communities.
Youth athletics, particularly soccer, have become a pay-to-play boutique sport for the privileged but are often inaccessible for many students of color due to the high costs. Well-intentioned investments in these neighborhoods have included the development of needed recreational facilities, but lack the community engagement, and follow-through to create a system in which these facilities are utilized.
Soccer (or futsal) pickup games that occupy streets throughout the world and bring joy to millions of children and adults alike are almost non-existent in our city. "The beautiful game" is the sport loved and embraced by immigrant, refugee, and brown communities that live in Portland. Many youths from communities of color are unable to play because of the barriers created by a lack of finances and transportation.