PARTNERSHIP LAUNCHES COMMUNITY WORKSHOPS, OFFICIAL URBANBALL QUALIFIERS, AND A NATIONWIDE GRASSROOTS RANKING SYSTEM
NEW YORK, NY – Urbanball, the global 1v1 street soccer league and entertainment platform operated by EX Interactive Sports FZ LLC, has announced a strategic partnership with the Street Soccer USA (SSUSA) to expand grassroots street soccer opportunities, player development pathways, and Urbanball qualifiers across the United States.
The partnership marks the beginning of a long-term collaboration aimed at building one of the largest structured street soccer ecosystems in the country, connecting local communities and talented players to Urbanball’s growing international league platform.
As part of the initial 2026 rollout, Urbanball and SSUSA will launch a series of community workshops and activation events designed to engage youth players and local street soccer communities.
The first confirmed workshops and activations include:
● San Diego – June 21, 2026
● Philladelphia – July 3, 2026
● New York City – Between July 5–10, 2026 (exact dates to be confirmed)
The San Diego event will also serve as an official Urbanball Season 2 qualifier in collaboration with Street SoccerUSA,the leading sports-based national nonprofit that fights poverty and strengthens communities through soccer, featuring an eight-player tournament format where participants will compete for qualification opportunities into Urbanball’s global league structure.
The selected players from U.S. qualifiers will have the opportunity to advance toward Urbanball’s international finale event scheduled to take place in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia in August 2026.
“This partnership is about creating a real grassroots pathway for street soccer players across America,” said Sean Garnier, Co-Founder of Urbanball. “The vision is not just to organize events, but to build a long-term ranking ecosystem where talented players from local communities can rise through city rankings, national rankings, and eventually qualify into the global Urbanball league.”
“Street Soccer USA is about creating opportunities for youth in our communities. Working with Sean not only to inspire, but to offer concrete pathways and a unique one versus one format is exactly the direct impact work that we are dedicated to delivering across the country, said Lawrence Cann, Founder & President of SSUSA.”
Beginning in 2027, the partnership is expected to expand across SSUSA’s network of more than 26 locations and affiliated organizers throughout the United States.
Under the collaboration framework:
● SSUSA organizers will receive access to Urbanball tournament software free of charge
● Approved organizers will be able to host official Urbanball 1v1 qualifiers
● Players will participate in a connected national ranking system
● Urbanball will provide rewards, digital incentives, exposure opportunities, and qualification pathways into global competitions
The long-term objective is to establish recurring Urbanball qualifiers across the United States, with a target of up to two events per month per participating SSUSA location.
The partnership also aligns with Urbanball’s broader global expansion strategy and the upcoming launch of the Urbanballer app, which is designed to connect players, rankings, tournaments, and community-driven street soccer experiences worldwide.
More announcements regarding additional U.S. qualifier cities, workshops, and activation events will be released in the coming weeks.
ABOUT URBANBALL
Urbanball is a global 1v1 street soccer league and entertainment platform combining live events, digital rankings, creator culture, and competitive gameplay. Through its Urbanballer platform, Urbanball aims to build the world’s largest connected street soccer ecosystem, enabling players worldwide to compete, rank, and qualify into international competitions.
ABOUT STREET SOCCER USA
Street Soccer USA is a leading sports-based national nonprofit that fights poverty and strengthens communities through the unifying power of soccer by providing free, community-based programs, mentorship and supportive services that help marginalized youth and their families build life skills, confidence, and leadership. SSUSA delivers specialized outreach and inclusive programming designed to empower participants, helping them discover their strengths, achieve their goals, and expand opportunities.