Rec Sports
‘Like a second family’: Providence youth wrestling program kicks off winter season
Last month, over a dozen wrestlers from Beat the Streets New England’s Roger Williams Middle School program gathered on the mats for their first competition ahead of this winter’s wrestling season.
“The second they step onto the mat, you can see their whole mood change. That’s where they come alive. That’s where their confidence starts to grow,” Coach Maricruz Flores wrote in a message to The Herald. Many of the wrestlers from Roger Williams placed, “which was such a powerful moment for them.”
While victories on the mat are a highlight for many athletes, the cost-free nonprofit youth wrestling program aims to improve students’ academic readiness, self-esteem and mental health.
The Providence chapter of Beat the Streets New England was founded in 2013 by Brown wrestler Billy Watterson ’15. The program has since seen immense success and popularity, regularly partnering with the Providence Parks and Recreation Department and the Providence Public School District to serve hundreds of students each year.
“It’s really interesting to see where these kids take it,” said Silas Murray, the program director of the Providence chapter. “Some of them want to be a champion. Some of them want to do it for friends. Some of them want to do it because they’re getting bullied. Some of them just enjoy the space.”
“Wrestling itself has a lot of intrinsic benefits,” explained Brett Poirier, the director of operations for the program. “What our program really prides itself in is being able to take those intrinsic benefits and giving real-life experience that helps the kids use them.”
Students in the program do not pay for travel costs, registration fees, uniforms or food, according to Poirier. The program is funded through multiple sources, said Poirier and Murray, including donors and the Rhode Island Interscholastic League — a local youth sports league.
Typical Beat the Streets practices begin with 30 minutes of journaling, job readiness training or conversations around goal-setting, Murray said. Wrestlers also learn about financial management, including “saving money for college,” said Josiah Mazariego, a wrestler with the program at Nathanael Greene Middle School in the PPSD.
Mazariego said the program helps with his homework, and that he also reaches out to the coaches when he needs help with school.
Prins Santana, a wrestler at Nathanael Greene, added that the “program has helped me boost my confidence by winning … and has helped me with mental health (by learning to) think positive, focus on one goal and don’t quit.”
After this mental warm-up, the students then move to the mats, where they receive instruction, run through drills and play games. Each program holds two to three practices a week. Students also enter weekly competitions and attend national tournaments in the hopes of boosting the team’s ranking.
Flores also took part in Beat the Streets when she was a PPSD student. “I was dealing with a lot at home,” she wrote. “Beat the Streets became like a second family. It was the place where I felt safe, supported and understood.”
Now, as a coach, she aims to ensure that her role is more than “teaching wrestling techniques or passing down information,” Flores explained. “They come to you with everything, and you do everything you can to guide them. Coaching these kids isn’t just a job, it’s one of the most rewarding experiences I’ve ever had.”
On Saturday, wrestlers from Beat the Streets will compete in the Birchwood Tournament in North Providence. “The best teams and some of the best individual kids will be there, so (the kids) are very excited to put their skills to the test,” Murray said.
In January, Beat the Streets New England plans to host a regional tournament. Wrestlers from various Providence and Boston programs will be competing against each other to name each city’s champion, and a regional champion. Murray said his team has been planning the event for the past three months by getting donors and board members involved, “so these kids can feel exactly how they should: like superstars.”
Erick Mazariego, Josiah Mazariego’s father, explained that ranking in a national tournament could mean getting “exposed to coaches from different states that could provide a way to a prep school or a private school where they’ll reach out” with scholarship offers.
This trajectory can open the door to college-level wrestling. Past students from the Providence chapter of Beat the Streets are currently wrestling at Rhode Island College, American University and Johnson and Wales University, according to Murray.
By guiding students academically and supporting them personally, Poirier said that “we’re trying to make sure that our kids go forward in the best light possible.”
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Rec Sports
‘Horrible location:’ Proposed Eagle Costco sparks heated backlash and traffic concerns in a neighborhood meeting
Tensions flared as nearly 200 Eagle residents packed a gymnasium to oppose Costco’s plans, voicing concerns about traffic safety and community character.
EAGLE, Idaho — Nearly 200 Eagle residents filled the gymnasium at Eagle Academy High School on Thursday night to voice concerns about a proposed 160,000-square-foot Costco warehouse and fuel station at the intersection of Highway 55 and Hill Road.
The membership-only retailer wants to build on 27 acres that once housed the Masterpiece Quarry, which closed in 2003. The site has sat largely vacant since, though previous plans for a Village at Meridian-like concept never materialized. A for sale sign is currently on the property.
Highway 55 is one of Idaho’s most heavily traveled roads, and residents told KTVB traffic is already a major concern.
“There’s been a lot of development and a lot more traffic than it used to be,” said Greg Drabek, who lives near the intersection. “Eagle is not the little town it used to be.”
Erika Lunbeck, who lives just 500 feet from the proposed site, said she learned about the project only recently.
“48 hours prior to this meeting, I received a notice on my door that there was going to be a question-and-answer session here tonight,” Lunbeck said.
When the meeting turned out to be an informational open house rather than a group question-and-answer format, tensions rose among attendees.
“It’s a waste of our time to be here,” said Ray Gillenwater, who also lives near the project. “We get a three-minute spiel from a real estate developer, and then he says, now it’s an open house. Go and walk around. It’s like, well, no, we’re here to give you our feedback. We’re here to have a conversation.”
John Shaw, a director of real estate development for Costco, facilitated the meeting. He told KTVB this is the typical style of neighborhood meetings they’ve held in the past, and once a formal application is submitted with the city a public hearing opportunity would be held. He added that a neighborhood meeting is a requirement to hold before a formal application for the project to the city.
Residents could ask questions individually to engineers stationed around the room at different poster boards. The majority of people KTVB spoke to were against the project, mainly due to traffic concerns, while a few saw the project as a good economic opportunity for the area.
Engineers at Kittleson and Associates, who completed a traffic study for the project and submitted it to Ada County Highway District (ACHD), said they estimate thousands of vehicle trips to and from the Costco each day. They’ve drafted plans to widen roads and add roundabouts in the area to help with any concerns. The engineers said the traffic study could be modified before Costco submits a final application, with a traffic study to the city for consideration.
Costco is planning for approximately 900 parking spots at the location. Even with proposals for traffic improvements, residents still worry traffic will spill over into the nearby neighborhoods and roads.
“You put a business with that much volume right next to all these houses, and it just destroys the whole community,” Gillenwater said.
“It’s a horrible location,” Lunbeck said.
Lunbeck said the location is particularly dangerous because it sits across from the Optimist Youth Sports Complex.
“There are so many children crossing the streets. The amount of cars going through is astronomical, astronomical, and it’s only a matter of time before something seriously tragic will happen,” Lunbeck said. “It is a horrible location.”
She also raised concerns about local wildlife but said project members didn’t have many answers.
“We have prong horn on our street,” Lunbeck said. “We have golden eagles flying above it. These are supposed to be protected habitats, and I see no protections happening.”
Shaw did not indicate when Costco plans to submit land use applications to the city of Eagle.
Rec Sports
GEAR FOR GOOD INITIATIVE NAMES FIVE YOUTH SOCCER PROGRAM BENEFICIARIES TO HELP GROW THE GAME IN 2026
- Capitolo Youth Soccer Club (CYSC) – CYSC uses soccer as a vehicle to instill universal values of fitness, fun, sportsmanship, respect, community, access, and equality. CYSC has a unique approach and philosophy to teaching soccer, nurturing players’ passion by providing an atmosphere in which they are free to experiment, create, and fail, without fear of judgment, resulting in truly fine players and ambassadors of the Beautiful Game.
- Dr. Henry H. Davis School – The Dr. Henry H. Davis School in East Camden is named after a Camden physician, school board member, Camden’s first medical inspector, and first chief medical inspector. His work in the areas of school health and nutrition saved countless children’s lives in Camden City. Currently, the school houses Pre-Kindergarten through 8th grade for approximately 475 students of various learning modalities.
- Project Primacy – Project Primacy Foundation is a non-profit organization focused on youth soccer, particularly for Black and Brown children in inner-city Philadelphia. They aim to provide access to sports, mentorship, and other opportunities to support their development. The foundation has been involved in various initiatives, including free soccer clinics, and fundraising events like their “Dribble & Carry” Broad Street RUNdraiser.
- Safe-Hub Philly – Safe-Hub provides a physically and emotionally safe space for young people to access opportunities and support through soccer-based out-of-school-time programs that focus on personal development, health, education, and employment. Their goal is to bring high-quality sports programming and supportive services to families, providing a one-stop-shop for families to receive support through the stigma-free circumstances of coming to soccer practice.
- Youth Development United provides children from under-served communities with extracurricular opportunities, inspiring them to excel. Specifically, YDU provides children and their families with memorable after-school and weekend opportunities that increase their access to mentorship, wellness, and personal development through various sports and recreational opportunities.
Alan Bethke, Senior Vice President of Marketing, Subaru of America: “At Subaru, we believe in showing up for our communities in ways that truly matter. These organizations are already doing powerful work to support kids through the game of soccer, and we’re proud that Subaru: Gear for Good will help deepen that impact, especially as we head into 2026. Every piece of equipment collected and donated brings us closer to breaking down barriers and making the game more accessible for all.”
Each beneficiary was selected for its mission to support local youth through soccer, sports, and development programs. These organizations will receive brand-new gear from Subaru tailored to their specific programs and needs. Through partnerships with Major League Soccer’s Philadelphia Union and the youth sports nonprofit Leveling the Playing Field, Subaru is also collecting soccer equipment via its donation bin network, which includes 17 Subaru retailers and Subaru Park, the Union’s home stadium in Chester, PA. This gear will be distributed to more than 100 youth programs on an ongoing basis in coordination with Leveling the Playing Field and Philadelphia Parks & Recreation. Collection will continue through April 3, 2026, as Subaru works toward its goal of distributing at least 2,026 pieces of new and gently used equipment.
Susan Slawson, Commissioner, Philadelphia Parks & Recreation: “Philadelphia Parks & Recreation is proud to stand alongside Subaru, the Philadelphia Union, and Leveling the Playing Field in a partnership that puts our young people first. Every day, we see how access to sports can open doors—building confidence, community, and dreams for the future. As we prepare for the world stage in 2026, this initiative underscores Philadelphia’s commitment to giving every young person a chance to truly see themselves in the game.”
As part of the collection initiative, community members throughout Philadelphia and Southern New Jersey can donate new or gently used soccer gear, including cleats, goalie gloves, shin guards, soccer balls, and more, through April 3, 2026, for a chance to win a range of prizes, including a trip to the 2026 MLS All-Star Weekend. The Subaru: Gear for Good Sweepstakes (official rules) is open to legal U.S. residents at least 18 years of age who live within a 75-mile radius of Subaru Park.
Kaitlin Brennan, Chief Operating Officer, Leveling the Playing Field: “Partnering with Subaru in celebration of the global soccer heading to Philadelphia greatly amplifies our mission – to expand access and equity within the realm of youth sports. This effort provides children with the opportunity to get involved with sports at a young age, granting the chance to experience the holistic benefits of youth sports on their physical, mental, and emotional health.”
Charlie Slonaker, Chief Revenue Officer, Philadelphia Union: “At the Union, we’re committed to making the game accessible to every child who wants to play. The Subaru: Gear for Good initiative helps remove equipment barriers, so access is determined by passion, not resources. With the excitement of 2026 coming to Philadelphia, we’re proud to work with Subaru of America and Leveling the Playing Field to expand opportunities for youth across the area and help continue to grow the game.”
The Subaru: Gear for Good initiative will give even more kids access to the gear they need to join teams, stay active, and enjoy the game. Any surplus donated items will be shared with additional youth organizations throughout the collection period. For more information, including donation locations, eligibility details, and official rules, visit philadelphiaunion.com/SubaruGearforGood.
About Subaru of America, Inc.
Subaru of America, Inc. (SOA) is an indirect wholly owned subsidiary of Subaru Corporation of Japan. Headquartered in Camden, N.J., the company markets and distributes Subaru vehicles, parts, and accessories through a network of about 640 retailers across the United States. All Subaru products are manufactured in zero-landfill plants, including Subaru of Indiana Automotive, Inc., the only U.S. automobile manufacturing plant designated a backyard wildlife habitat by the National Wildlife Federation. SOA is guided by the Subaru Love Promise®, which is the company’s vision to show love and respect to everyone and to support its communities and customers nationwide. Over the past 20 years, SOA and the SOA Foundation have donated more than $340 million to causes the Subaru family cares about, and its employees have logged over 115,000 volunteer hours. Subaru is dedicated to being More Than a Car Company® and to making the world a better place. For additional information, visit media.subaru.com. Follow us on Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, TikTok, and YouTube.
About Philadelphia Union
The Philadelphia Union is an innovative, forward-thinking professional soccer club competing in Major League Soccer (MLS) and one of Philadelphia’s five major league sports teams. Driven by unprecedented fan support, MLS awarded the Philadelphia expansion franchise rights to Jay Sugarman in 2008 and the Union kicked off its inaugural season in 2010. The club has reached the finals of the Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup in 2014, 2015 and 2018, and has appeared in the MLS Cup Playoffs in 2011, 2016, 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022, and 2023. In 2020, the Union were awarded the club’s first Supporters’ Shield after finishing with the best regular season record in MLS. In 2022, the Union reached the MLS Cup Final for the first time in club history. In 2023, the Union reached the Eastern Conference semifinals, becoming the only Eastern Conference team to reach the semifinals in four of the last five seasons.
The Philadelphia Union is part of parent company Union Sports and Entertainment LLC, which also operates Philadelphia Union II, the Philadelphia Union Academy, Philadelphia Union Foundation and Philadelphia Union Youth Programs. With a commitment to developing youth, the Union has signed 25 academy prospects to homegrown player contracts.
The Union play at Subaru Park in Chester, PA on the banks of the Delaware River. The custom-built stadium is part of the Union’s unique waterfront campus, featuring a historic power plant rebuilt into a 400,000 sq. ft. creative office building, a state-of-the-art Training Complex, over seven acres of professional-grade practice pitches, and the newly announced WSFS Bank Sportsplex, a world-class, 365-day-a-year sports and recreation complex featuring indoor fieldhouse and seven outdoor fields. For more information about the Philadelphia Union, visit www.philadelphiaunion.com and follow @PhilaUnion on Twitter or Instagram.
About Leveling the Playing Field
Leveling the Playing Field (LPF) is a nonprofit organization committed to expanding access and equity in youth sports by redistributing new and gently-used sports equipment to under-resourced communities. Founded in 2013, LPF addresses the growing gap between those who can afford to participate in sports and those who cannot, recognizing the high cost of sporting goods as a major barrier.
Through a network of community donations and volunteers, LPF collects and sorts sports and recreational equipment, then supplies it to schools, community programs, and youth organizations across several regions. This philanthropic model not only provides gear but also empowers organizations to redirect limited budgets toward transportation, nutrition, staffing, and program expansion—making youth sports more inclusive and accessible for all.
With LPF’s support, youth programs are able to stretch their resources further. By removing the barrier of equipment cost, LPF helps create more inclusive and enriching opportunities for young athletes. Together, we’re building a future where every child has the chance to play, grow, and thrive through sports.
For more information, visit levelingtheplayingfield.org and follow us @lpfsports on Instagram.
Philadelphia Parks & Recreation
Philadelphia Parks & Recreation (PPR) advances the prosperity of the city and the progress of its people through stewardship of nearly 10,200 acres of public land and waterways, and management of 500 recreation buildings, 166 miles of trail, and 250 playgrounds. PPR offers safe, enjoyable recreation, environmental and cultural programs and events throughout Philadelphia’s parks and recreation system. PPR promotes the well-being and growth of the city’s residents by connecting them to the natural world, to each other, and to fun, physical, and social opportunities. More than 3,000 full-time and seasonal employees proudly serve Philly residents every day, ensuring the department remains a modern, equitable and exceptional parks and recreation system. Visit www.phila.gov/parksandrec and follow @philaparkandrec on Facebook or Instagram.
Diane Anton
Corporate Communications Manager
(856) 488-5093
[email protected]
Adam Leiter
Corporate Communications Specialist
(856) 488-8668
[email protected]
SOURCE Subaru of America, Inc.
Dec. 5, 2025, 6:01 a.m. ET
You’ve probably spotted the billboards around the region or seen the TV ads for Akron Children’s featuring the pediatric hospital’s latest campaign: More childhood, please.
We completely agree with this sentiment.
This clever trademarked slogan refers to the hospital’s mission of “protecting, preserving and enriching every moment in your child’s life – from birth to graduation day.” But to us, it also touches on an increasing societal concern.
These days, it seems, children and adolescents are being pushed to grow up faster than ever before.
We see the introduction of name, image and likeness deals at the high school level in Ohio as just another example of this concerning trend.
The Ohio High School Athletic Association announced last month that a referendum vote for name, image and likeness by high school principals passed 447-121, with 247 schools abstaining from voting. The vote comes after Ohio State commit Jamier Brown successfully sued to benefit from up to $100,000 in potential NIL deals.
Ohio is one of the last states to permit some form of NIL for high school student athletes with their parents’ permission. Only Alabama, Hawaii, Indiana, Michigan and Wyoming still prohibit it.
Granted, only a select few athletes will command six- or seven-figure deals, Thilo Kunkel, a Temple University professor who has studied NIL for a decade, told the Beacon Journal. And we understand why these elite athletes and their families would be hard-pressed to turn down opportunities for financial security.
But will more young athletes − even those who aren’t truly at an elite level − feel pressured by their parents or their peers to pursue NIL deals rather than simply enjoying their sport for the fun of it?
Several Greater Summit County athletic administrators expressed concerns last month in an anonymous survey conducted by the Beacon Journal.
“I am very concerned that parents will be expecting coaches to secure NIL deals for their students,” one administrator said. “It will be an unfair expectation on our coaches, who are already overburdened with unrealistic parental expectations and demands. Parents will ‘shop’ their students to the schools and coaches that can promise them NIL deals. Also, NIL has had a very negative impact on the NCAA model, and I am concerned that we will see the same effect at the high school level. It may not be Year 1, 3 or 5 … but eventually I believe we will regret having opened this Pandora’s box.”
“I understand and can appreciate an athlete earning money based on their athletic ability,” another said. “However, I believe earning revenue while still in high school violates the philosophy of amateurism and school-based athletics.”
One area athletic director said they fear NIL will become a distraction: “We want to maintain the educational and developmental focus of high school athletics, not let commercial opportunities overshadow the core values of teamwork and sportsmanship.”
Some young athletes already have been under increased pressure to pick their sport and specialize, training year-round in a single activity beginning as early as age 11 or younger. According to the American Orthopoedic Society for Sports Medicine, early specialization can hinder overall motor development, increase the risk of overuse injuries and lead to burnout.
“Youth often specialize early due to the influence of coaches and parents, but relying on these external pressures can hinder long-term engagement and elite success,” Drs. Joseph H. Guettler and Alexandria Chrumka wrote in an article on the topic.
At the same time, the prevalence of private club and travel teams is turning sports into high-stakes − and high-cost − ventures for some kids.
Researchers at Ohio State University and Vassar College found children who were born in the 1990s were about three times as likely to participate in private clubs and travel sports as those who were born in the 1950s, according to a study published in the Journal of Sport and Social Issues.
“For a lot of parents, there’s been a shift from sports as a way to have fun and get exercise to using sports as a way to position their kids for future success in college and beyond,” said Chris Bjork, a professor of education at Vassar College.
At least one Ohio lawmaker wants to prohibit high school and middle school students from profiting from NIL. Rep. Adam Bird, R-New Richmond, told the USA TODAY Network Ohio statehouse bureau that Ohio’s young athletes shouldn’t face the pressure of making money from their sport
“Sports should be about fun and learning and growing,” said Bird, a former coach and school superintendent. “It’s absurd to think that the athletes are going to now make more money than the coach or the referee or the bus driver that’s hired to bus them to the games.”
It’s a proposal worth further consideration.
In the meantime, let kids be kids.
Encourage them to try different activities and play sports for the fun of it − not for the pursuit of money or fame.
This piece was written by Akron Beacon Journal Executive Editor Cheryl Powell on behalf of the editorial board of the Beacon Journal. Editorials are fact-based assessments of issues of importance to the communities we serve. These are not the opinions of our reporting staff members, who strive for neutrality in their reporting.
Last Saturday evening downtown New Martinsville came alive with happy children and smiling parents. Once again, the annual Christmas parade filled the street with colorful lights, and twinkling bulbs. Parade floats decorated by skilled hands, shimmered with gold and silver garland.
Brightly colored fire trucks from most every community in the area were part of the parade. Three local bands played Christmas music as they marched proudly down the crowd lined street. The temperatures were in the 40s and felt like the 20s. Still, hundreds turned out to see the many decorated floats and vehicles.
Once again, the Wetzel County Chamber of Commerce and the city of New Martinsville along with the Wetzel County Commission teamed up to support the event and give the community a jump start on the Christmas Season.
Throughout the day on Saturday there was plenty to do and enjoy in downtown New Martinsville, as vendors set up and activities for kids took place in the upstairs of Stalders on Main St. It was an old time celebration where friends and families met to enjoy the day and festivities.
Once a year as the Holiday season rolls around, towns throughout the country turn to magic, and New Martinsville was no exception as they put on a wonderful day for all to enjoy.
The lineup for the parade started near Bruce Park, with floats from businesses, youth sports teams and local organizations prepared to converge on Main Street. With a 5:30 pm start time, you could feel the anticipation from those lining the streets. Within minutes of starting the parade didn’t disappoint as young and old fought off the chill and watched in wonder as music and magic filled the air.
Fallon Wiley of Sardis Ohio was handed a huge Teddy Bear from Matt Reusser of the VFW Post 9930 District 5 Motorcycle Group in Duffy Ohio. Fallon is the daughter of Scott and Lexy Wiley of Sardis Ohio and Jimbo and Joannie Wells of Sardis Ohio.
Santa Claus, waved and said it all with his booming voice echoing out loud, “Merry Christmas, Ho, Ho, Ho.”
The twinkle in the little ones eyes made it all worthwhile.
WASHINGTON – On Friday, the eyes of the soccer world turn to the United States capital as nations learn the identity of their group stage opponents for the 2026 FIFA World Cup, which will be co-hosted by the U.S., Canada and Mexico.
Many headlines from this draw, however, will likely be dominated by one man: U.S. President Donald Trump.
This, after all, appears to be an event World Cup organizer FIFA has constructed in his image and to his taste.
Alexi Lalas, the former U.S. men’s national team international and Fox Sports soccer analyst, calls Trump the “soccer president” and it is certainly difficult to recall any U.S. president who has taken such a shine to the sport; the most popular on the planet but sometimes fighting for relevance in the imagination of the American public.
FIFA had originally formulated plans for an all-singing and all-dancing draw in Las Vegas, replicating the event that preceded the 1994 World Cup, where there were star turns by Stevie Wonder, James Brown and Robin Williams. Yet as those negotiations with venues in Vegas advanced, FIFA’s most senior executives always kept open the option of the draw taking place in D.C., such was the desire for Trump to play a key role on the day.
Those Vegas plans were officially shelved when the administration suggested the president preferred the event to go somewhere much closer to home. Since his return to power, Trump and his allies have taken over the previously bipartisan board of trustees at the John F. Kennedy Center, the performing arts venue in D.C. As such, FIFA opted for the Kennedy Center.
Andrew Giuliani, son of former New York City mayor and Trump ally Rudy Giuliani, is the director of the White House FIFA World Cup Task Force, which is chaired by Trump. He has previously described Friday’s event as the “MAGA-FIFA World Cup draw,” according to the Associated Press.
This will be most obvious during the draw when FIFA awards its inaugural peace prize to Trump. FIFA president Gianni Infantino, who describes himself as a close friend of Trump, wrote on Instagram to say Trump deserved to win the Nobel Peace Prize, which instead went to Venezuelan democracy advocate Maria Corina Machado. According to multiple people familiar with FIFA’s preparations, all of whom will remain anonymous to protect relationships, the plan in recent days and weeks has been to invite Trump to receive his award and give an acceptance speech, which is slated to last a few minutes. FIFA is not expected to stringently enforce a time limit. Both FIFA and the White House declined to comment on the plans.
Trump and Infantino’s close relationship extended to a photo opportunity at a peace summit in Egypt in October. (Yoan Valat / Pool / AFP / Getty Images)
The event will also include several hallmarks of MAGA culture. The Village People, whose 1978 hit song “Y.M.C.A.” has been adopted by Trump as a personal anthem during rallies and campaign events, have been invited to perform at the draw. So too has one of his favorite tenors, Andrea Bocelli, who will open the ceremony. The Trump family were attending Bocelli concerts as far back as 2011 and the Italian sang for Trump in the Oval Office earlier this year.
Wayne Gretzky, the Canadian ice hockey legend, will assist in the draw formalities and was at Trump’s Mar-a-Lago Club in Palm Beach, Fla., on the night of the 2024 U.S. presidential election. Gretzky and his wife, Janet, also attended Trump’s presidential inauguration in January, along with Infantino.
Tom Brady, seven-time Super Bowl champion, is another draw assistant. He is a former golf buddy of Trump’s who served as a judge at Trump’s Miss USA pageant in 2002, while he was also in Trump’s suite during the Club World Cup final this past summer. Brady has previously insisted his closeness to Trump has been “mischaracterized” and stopped short of any political endorsement.
Earlier this year, FIFA took office space at Trump Tower in New York City, despite already having a U.S. office in Miami. “Our success is your success,” Infantino said, while thanking the president’s son Eric and the Trump Organization for their support.
At varying times, Trump has had both the Club World Cup and World Cup trophy in the Oval Office. Infantino even gave Trump a little hold of the World Cup trophy in August, explaining that only the FIFA president and presidents of countries who win the trophy can touch it “because it is for winners only, and you are a winner.”
While wearing a baseball cap that read ‘Trump was right about everything,” the U.S. president said: “Can I keep it?…That’s a beautiful piece of gold.” At the Club World Cup final in July, Trump joined Infantino to present the trophy to Premier League team Chelsea and then stayed in the middle of the players as they lifted their prize.
Trump joined Chelsea on stage for celebrations at the FIFA Club World Cup final (Jean Catuffe / Getty Images)
In the 1970s, Trump caught his first taste of elite soccer. “Many years ago, when I was young, there was a player named Pelé who played for a team called the Cosmos,” Trump told DAZN in July. “I went to see him play, and he was fantastic. So I may sound old-fashioned, but I’d say Pelé was more than excellent.”
Only last month, Trump hosted a modern day superstar when Cristiano Ronaldo, the Portugal forward, visited the White House on the same day Saudi Arabian Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman returned to D.C. for the first time in seven years. Ronaldo plays for Saudi team Al-Nassr, which is majority owned by Saudi sovereign wealth fund the Public Investment Fund (PIF).
More recently, Trump’s interest in soccer has been more strategic. The World Cup is a sporting event which attracts billions of eyeballs and Trump has always recognized a product which is a ratings hit. More than 20 million Americans now participate in soccer, which is more than the combined participation of flag, tackle, touch and 7-on-7 football.
Like many parents across the U.S., Trump’s awareness of soccer has also been stimulated by his children, most notably 19-year-old Barron, who had a soccer goal in the White House garden during Trump’s first term. He was once photographed on the White House lawn in an Arsenal jersey. When the former Manchester United player Wayne Rooney played for D.C. United in MLS, Rooney met up with a teenage Barron at the White House to offer advice, with Barron then playing in youth teams for Rooney’s club. The former England international then joined Trump on the golf course.
Trump’s interest in major sports has not been limited to soccer. In this term, he has attended the Super Bowl, UFC fights, the Daytona 500, the NCAA Wrestling Championships, the Ryder Cup and the U.S. Open men’s tennis final. Yet FIFA appears uniquely in thrall to the U.S. president, with Infantino taking more trips to the Oval Office than any world leader since January.
Jared Kushner (right) was heavily involved in the joint bid to land the 2026 World Cup. (Giorgio Viera / AFP / Getty Images)
Trump can also claim some responsibility for bringing the World Cup to the United States because he was the president when the U.S., Canada and Mexico jointly won their bid to host the 2026 tournament ahead of Morocco in 2018. Since beginning his second term, he has often repeated this claim in speeches. Certainly, Jared Kushner, Trump’s son-in-law, became a key contact in the White House for the bid and helped secure key votes. According to reporting by Vanity Fair, Kushner “directly asked” Prince Mohammed for his nation’s support as early as the summer of 2017 during a visit to the country.
Most people might have presumed he would either be re-elected in 2020 for a second consecutive term, or exit presidential politics, rather than returning for a second term in 2025. But Trump is in charge for the World Cup and perhaps Infantino was one of the few people who mitigated for this potential and nurtured the relationship.
After three visits to the White House during Trump’s first term, as well as golfing trips and a lunch at Davos, the pair remained in touch even during Trump’s period in the relative political wilderness. Then, when Trump was under scrutiny in his first term — such as the week the U.S. Senate introduced ground rules for Trump’s impeachment trial — Infantino described Trump as a “competitor…who says what many think.”
After Trump won last November’s election, Infantino visited him at Mar-a-Lago during the presidential transition. He invited Trump’s daughter Ivanka and grandson Theo to make the ceremonial first pick of the FIFA Club World Cup draw last December.
Infantino’s relationship with Trump has, at times, irritated his own colleagues in soccer. In May, Infantino arrived hours late for FIFA’s congress in Paraguay after he prioritized a visit to Qatar and Saudi Arabia with Trump. UEFA, the European confederation, accused Infantino of pursuing “private political interests” which “does the game no service”. Infantino subsequently apologised for being late: “I decided to spend the last two days in the Middle East, knowing the 2034 World Cup will be in Saudi Arabia and the 2022 World Cup was in Qatar. The 2025 Club World Cup and 2026 World Cup will be in the United States, Canada and Mexico. Some important World Cup discussions took place and I needed to be there to represent football and all of you. We had an issue with our flight, which made this delay happen — apologies, sorry, and I am looking forward to spending time with you here.” Infantino also joined Trump at a summit in Egypt in October as Trump and world leaders signed a declaration aimed at bringing peace to Gaza.
This all begs the question: why?
The men’s World Cup, which drives the vast proportion of FIFA revenues, still required White House assistance on multiple issues, most notably a $625million funding commitment on security which Trump signed off following intensive lobbying by the World Cup host cities. FIFA has also secured a concession because the White House signed off the FIFA Pass, which will allow ticket holders for the World Cup an expedited visa appointment. This is particularly important because wait times for visa appointments remain around a year in several nations who have qualified for the tournament. Trump continues to threaten host cities with relocating games if he does not deem them sufficiently “safe”.
Canada head coach Jesse Marsch has criticized Trump’s 51st state rhetoric. (Catherine Ivill / AMA / Getty Images)
Infantino’s position has been made more delicate by relations between Trump, Canada and Mexico, with trade wars and hostile rhetoric bubbling up in his second term. Jesse Marsch, the American coach of Canada’s national team, described Trump’s comments calling for Canada to be the 51st U.S. state “unsettling and frankly insulting.”
This week, Marsch told The Athletic: “Trump is a polarizing figure and he’s very outward about everything he does. I’m respectful of the presidency and I’m respectful of the draw more than anything. This is a big moment for every team that’s made it to the World Cup. I’m really hopeful just to have a very clean, uneventful draw where everybody can appreciate the experience of what the World Cup is going to be.”
The Canadians, whose Prime Minister, Mark Carney, will attend the draw, are being diplomatic ahead of the draw. In an interview with The Athletic, sports minister Adam van Koeverden said he was not prepared to speak about “hypotheticals” of what the draw might be like, when asked how he would feel about a MAGA-themed draw. Asked if the U.S. president deserves a FIFA Peace Prize, he said: ‘That’s not up to me…it is not my place to say.”
Others are expressing concerns. On Wednesday, Human Rights Watch organized a news conference which included speakers from many of the U.S.’s leading civil society organizations. Jamal Watkins, a vice-President of the NAACP, an American civil rights organization founded in 1909, described the relationship between Infantino and Trump as “too close for comfort.”
He said: “What we’re finding is that when Infantino aligns with Donald Trump, then you’re sending a signal not only to the United States, but to the world, that all the practices and policies coming out of this administration are OK or justified.”
Jamal Watkins, a NAACP vice president, raised concerns about the Trump-Infantino relationship. (Saul Loeb / AFP / Getty Images)
Jamil Dakwar, the director of the American Civil Liberties Union, said the Peace Prize is an “insult to the intelligence” of soccer fans. He questioned the transparency of the award, because FIFA has published no selection criteria. The Athletic this week reported that the FIFA Council and vice presidents had no consultation or awareness of the prize prior to it circulating in a FIFA press release in November. Dakwar said FIFA is at risk of becoming a public relations tool to “normalize an increasingly authoritarian U.S. government.”
FIFA appears to have fewer concerns. One senior FIFA official, speaking anonymously as he was not authorized to comment publicly on the matter, said on Thursday that the Peace Prize “can be bigger than the Nobel Peace Prize.”
“Look at football’s reach around the world,” they continued. “And look at the impact it makes to people’s lives. Why shouldn’t we recognize those that want to help bring peace to a divided world?”
When approached about plans for Trump to speak at the draw, White House spokesman David Ingle told The Athletic: “The United States of America has never been more respected or successful than it is now under President Trump’s historic leadership. America is the hottest country in the world right now, which makes us the perfect country to host one of the greatest sporting events in history – the FIFA World Cup 2026.”
Dec. 5, 2025, 10:36 a.m. ET
A woman and her ex-boyfriend convicted of defrauding the state of unemployment benefits have been sentenced, federal officials said.
Timeka Johnson, 44, and Ray Anthony Eddington, 45, were sentenced Thursday in U.S. District Court in Detroit, Jerome Gorgon, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Michigan, said in a statement.
Johnson, a former Michigan Unemployment Insurance Agency employee, was given 3.5 years in prison by a judge for aggravated identity theft and conspiring to engage in wire fraud, according to Gorgon.
Eddington was sentenced to three years for conspiring to engage in wire fraud, he said.
They were also ordered to pay $250,001 in restitution as part of their sentence, the U.S. Attorney General said.
“It is one thing to steal if you are hungry and can’t find a job,” Gorgon said. “But it is despicable to abuse your position of trust so that you can steal from a program needed to help the unemployed.”
Jason Palmer, director of the Michigan Unemployment Insurance Agency, said he was proud of investigators’ success in “bringing bad actors to justice, especially those who worked for the agency.”
“Timeka Johnson’s actions prove once again that crime doesn’t pay,” he said in a statement. “The UIA aggressively goes after anyone who thinks they can get away with stealing taxpayer money.”
Attorneys representing Johnson and Eddington were not immediately available for comment on Friday.
However, Johnson’s attorney, Ben Gonek, wrote in his sentencing memorandum to the court on her behalf that she has never denied responsibility for her actions.
He also said the single mother is a first-time offender with no criminal history and struggles with marijuana abuse.
“She is a lifelong caregiver, community mentor, and volunteer,” Gonek wrote in the memo. “Her record of service, which includes feeding the homeless, coaching youth sports, leading health and fitness programs, volunteering at church, assisting the elderly, and helping families in crisis, is not sporadic but continuous. She is alsothe sole emotional and financial anchor for her daughter, whose stability and development depend on her mother’s presence.”
Johnson’s daughter was fathered by her co-defendant, according to Vincent Toussaint, the attorney representing Eddington.
The lawyer said in a sentencing memo that his client “has accepted responsibility for his actions, has been introspective about his criminal activity and has shown genuine remorse for his actions.”
He also said Eddington’s mother was a victim of violence, and his father was incarcerated. His childhood didn’t become stable until after his mother remarried, the attorney wrote.
Toussaint also said in the memo that while his client was convicted of aiding and abetting in Mount Pleasant in 2003, he has been continuously employed since being discharged from parole in 2008, and most recently, has worked as a small film producer and director.
Isabella County Circuit Court records said Eddington was convicted in 2004 as a habitual offender of delivering drugs within 1,000 feet of school property and resisting arrest.
“Mr. Eddington is 45 years old and understands that his conduct must evolve,” his attorney wrote. “With regard to Mr. Eddington’s rehabilitative potential, there really should be no question that this has truly impacted his life.”
Authorities alleged Johnson used her employee access to the state’s unemployment benefits system to process fraudulent claims in other people’s names. They accused Eddington of withdrawing money from the claims from ATMs.
Federal officials said in court filings that the two ran their scheme from April 2020 through July 2021. They said the couple received more than $250,000 in fraudulent unemployment assistance payments from the state.
Johnson pleaded guilty to federal charges in May. She faced a mandatory two years in prison for aggravated identity theft and up to 20 years for conspiracy to engage in wire fraud.
Eddington pleaded guilty to charges in March. He faced up to 20 years in prison for conspiracy to engage in wire fraud.
The sentencings “demonstrate the Office of Inspector General’s commitment to investigate bad actors who defraud the unemployment insurance program for financial gain, particularly those like Timeka Johnson who abused her position of trust as a Unemployment Insurance Examiner,” Megan Howell, Special Agent-in-Charge of the U.S. Department of Labor’s Office of Inspector General for the Great Lakes Region, said in a statement.
Other Michigan residents have been charged with crimes involving the state’s unemployment agency.
In September, an Eastpointe woman and a former Michigan Unemployment Insurance Agency employee pleaded guilty to taking bribes to circumvent fraud prevention triggers. She is scheduled to be sentenced on Jan. 22, 2026.
The month before that, a Redford Township woman who worked for the Michigan Unemployment Insurance Agency pleaded guilty to federal bribery and identity theft charges. She is scheduled to be sentenced on Jan. 8.
In June, a Detroit woman who worked for the unemployment agency was sentenced to almost three and a half years in prison for taking bribes to process fraudulent unemployment claims during the COVID-19 pandemic.
cramirez@detroitnews.com
@CharlesERamirez
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