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Major League Soccer unveils new mini-pitch, urban futsal league at Mt. Airy Boys and Girls Club in St. Paul – Twin Cities

When the Major League Soccer All-Star Game landed in St. Paul on Wednesday, it came bearing gifts. MLS Commissioner Don Garber joined St. Paul Mayor Melvin Carter the day before to unveil a new mini-pitch in Valley Park, outside the Mt. Airy Boys and Girls Club at 690 Jackson St.

Also on hand was Shari Ballard, chief executive officer of Minnesota United, as well as dozens of kids invited to attend a skills challenge and lunch event sponsored by Target.

The $205,000 mini-pitch, funded by contributions from Major League Soccer, Minnesota United, Target and St. Paul Parks and Recreation, will host five-on-five soccer games known as futsal. It will also provide a new playing field for the Sol of the Cities Futsal League, a youth league that launched last year based out of Johnson High School on St. Paul’s East Side.

“This is a publicly accessible amenity available for anyone to use,” said Liz McDonald, a spokesperson for St. Paul Parks and Rec.

Also announced Wednesday, in partnership with Sol of the Cities, MLS and Minnesota United will help train more than 300 coaches for the “Urban Soccer Diploma,” a collaboration between United Soccer Coaches and the US Soccer Foundation to prepare coaches to work in underserved communities and non-traditional settings.