It started with a kneel. Some 170 Black players and coaches in Major League Soccer assembled at the MLS Is Back Tournament in the bubble, and in solidarity, formed a coalition that created a protest, a platform and a purpose.

Five years after its inception, the organization continues to champion Black voices and vision, transforming its partnership with Major League Soccer into tangible, systemic change for marginalized communities.

Major League Soccer (MLS), RBC Wealth Management and Black Players for Change (BPC) today announced the 2025 MLS Hometown Heroes—four Austin-area community leaders who exemplify innovation, resilience, and service.

Juneteenth isn't merely a day to commemorate a pivotal moment in history; it's a powerful reminder of the ongoing pursuit of equality and the profound impact we can achieve when united by an unwavering vision of equality and justice.

In partnership with the Black Players for Change, Greenwood Chamber of Commerce, Greenwood Rising, and community leaders, FC Tulsa announces Greenwood Night, presented by Bank of Oklahoma, taking place on Saturday, May 31 at 7:30 p.m. during home match against Birmingham Legion FC at ONEOK Field.

When New York City FC coach Pascal Jansen was 14 years old, he took four, one-hour round-trip bus rides from Zaandam to Amsterdam, unbeknownst to his mother, to try out for the Ajax Youth Academy in 1987. It wasn’t until Jansen was selected for the U-14 team that he told his mother of his whereabouts.

10 youngest to debut in MLS, six are Black, including four in the top 5. Hall is third on that list, accompanied by Adu, Alphonso Davies, Axel Kei, Matai Akinmboni and Nimfasha Berchimas. 

COS founder and program director Shawn Williams collaborated with his four-person staff to create the Opportunity Cup — a five-day Black soccer festival to build opportunity equity for Black boys and girls.

Black Players for Change, Black Women’s Player Collective, and Mikyle Covington received the 2024 Briana Scurry Ally Award which is presented each year to an athlete or ally who helps drive positive social change by leveraging their platform as a force for good in support of under-resourced and marginalized communities.

'The headwinds are real' - Black Players for Change has made a tangible impact on Major League Soccer, and the non-profit intends to keep fighting for equality through sports