Words: Micah, Toronto
Every weekend in parks, schoolyards, and empty lots across the city of Toronto, you’ll find kids with big dreams chasing a ball until the streetlights come on. For them, soccer isn’t just a sport, it’s an escape, a hope, and a chance to make something of themselves and give back to the people they love.
But talent doesn’t always get you through the door. If you don’t have money, the game can shut you out before you even get started. Between club fees, travel costs, and equipment, playing for a good academy can cost thousands of dollars a year, money that many families simply don’t have. So what happens? Players who could be tomorrow’s stars get left on the sideline while those who can afford it move forward. It’s a cycle that has nothing to do with how good you are and everything to do with how much is in your parents’ bank account.
Take Gian for example, a kid who grew up in the Jane and Finch neighborhood. A place where, for many, the odds feel stacked against you from the jump. “Growing up in a place like Jane and Finch, you already feel like you have everything against you,” Gian says. “But at the end of the day, the goal is simple: make your family proud.”
That’s the part people forget, this isn’t just about soccer. For kids like Gian, the dream is bigger than them. It’s about being a role model for younger siblings, helping their parents, showing their community where you come from doesn’t have to decide where you end up.
So many kids have the talent, the hunger, the mindset. They stay late after practice, they run laps on their own time, they juggle part-time jobs to help at home, but no matter how much they give, they still can’t buy their way onto the right teams or get in front of the right scouts. They miss out on scholarships, showcases, and connections that could change everything. It’s frustrating, unfair, and heartbreaking, because talent is everywhere, but opportunity isn’t.
When money decides who gets to play, we lose more than just potential players. We lose leaders, stories of hope, and proof that your circumstances don’t have to hold you back. No kid should be punished for being born into the wrong postal code. No parent should have to choose between putting food on the table and paying a club fee. And no dream should be priced out before it has a chance to grow.
If we really want to see the beautiful game at its best, we need to open the doors wider. We need to make sure the Gians of the world get their shot, not just for them, but for everyone who dares to believe that hard work and heart should be worth more than a dollar sign.
Micah is a Toronto-based participant in Youth Media Forward: meet the Toronto participants here