Thousands of spectators turned out for the 14th Annual Times Square Cup, representing the fifth year of collaboration between Street Soccer USA and BVB. The event also served as a featured stop on the newly formed BVB World Street Series presented by CSTS, a global street soccer platform that previously made stops in Los Angeles and Tokyo.
From morning through evening, Broadway between 43rd and 44th Streets featured a pop-up arena of two small-sided pitches prominently washed in BVB’s iconic Black and Yellow colors. Over 300 youth ages 8–18 from across New York and New Jersey competed in fast-paced 4v4 matches during the BVB Youth Cup, giving young people the opportunity to play on one of the world’s most iconic stages. Prior to the awards ceremony and trophy presentation, a special Berlin Philharmonic performance took place alongside a 100-person choir from the New Jersey Youth Chorus. Together, they performed the “triumphmarsch” by Giuseppe Verdi, a piece traditionally played at BVB’s home stadium before matches – bringing a beloved Dortmund tradition to New York City.
Following the youth competition was the Women’s Cup and the SSUSA Open Cup, with BVB legend and former German international Patrick Owomoyela leading a team featuring artists, athletes, influencers, and others such as Calle y Poché (Colombian creator couple), Mark Ambor (singer/songwriter), Stephen Farrelly (wrestling star), Leah Lamarr (comedian/podcast host), iTekkers (soccer content creator), Sidney Rivera (pro footballer), and more.
The evening culminated with a special Top Baller one-on-one competition, showcasing some of the region’s most promising rising players.
More than a tournament, Saturday’s event demonstrated how soccer can turn a public space into a place of community, connection, and shared opportunity. By prioritizing youth at the center of the experience – Street Soccer USA and BVB gave both players and fans a platform to witness sport’s power to unite when the world’s game is brought directly to the people, without barriers.
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