Blacks in Soccer: African American Leaders in the Game

ICYM the memo, Black Americans are fans of football, the global version, that is. Off the pitch, supporters comprise a vibrant and growing Black soccer community, and in the game, leaders and barrier breakers are working to make the sport more accessible to people of color, and ensure there is representation on and off the pitch.

So before we close out Black History Month this year, I wanted to draw attention to some of the executives, athletes, former athletes, advocates, journalists and educators who are inspiring more interest in the beautiful game in the buildup to the 2026 North American World Cup.

And since this list is far from comprehensive, I invite you to add names to this post in the comments. Let’s grow and enrich the community!

Tyler Adams, midfielder, U.S. men’s national team: The 24-year-old, native of Wappingers Falls, NY, made history this past November when he became the first Black player to captain the U.S. men's team throughout a World Cup. Adams is currently playing with Leeds United in England’s Premier League.

Sophia Smith, forward, Portland Thorns F.C.: After being named the 2022 NWSL regular season and Finals MVP, this past January Smith was named Women’s Soccer Player of the Year by U.S. Soccer, thus becoming the first black woman to win the award in its 38-year history.

Sola Winley, Executive Vice President, Commissioner’s Office & Chief Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Officer, Major League Soccer: His role includes leading efforts to increase diversity, equity, and inclusion among MLS employees, vendors, and partners, and drive access and participation in soccer in underserved communities.

Winley is one of several executive-level leaders in MLS that also includes – Ali Curtis, Senior Vice President, Major League Soccer; Jasmine James, (Chief of Staff for the Houston Dynamo and Houston Dash);? Danita Johnson (President, Business Operations, D.C. United); Dr. Jamil Northcutt (Senior Vice President of Player and league Advancement at Major League Soccer);?Dionna Widder (Chief Revenue Officer, Houston Dynamo FC).

While this next set of names will be familiar, these folks have now become known in soccer circles. Kevin Durant, James Harden, Serena Williams, Mark Ingram II, Russell Wilson and Ciara, Naomi Osaka, and Ken Griffey Jr., all belong to ownership groups for teams in Major League Soccer and the National Women’s Soccer League.

Quincy Amarikwa, Founder and Executive Director, Black Players for Change: Amarikwa, a former MLS Cup Champion, mental strength coach and entrepreneur. founded Black Players for Change (BPC), in 2020, to take on the racial injustices that have limited Black people from having an equitable stake in the game of soccer and society. It now boasts more than 170+ players, coaches and staff of MLS, and a historic partnership with the National Black Bank Foundation. www.BlackPlayersForChange.org?

Brianna Scurry, former U.S. Goalkeeper, two-time Olympic Gold Medalist, and World Cup Champion: As one of the first African American professional female players Scurry paved the way for a generation of diverse athletes. She bares her heart and soul in her bio, My Greatest Save: The Brave, Barrier-Breaking Journey of a World Champion Goalkeeper. She spends her post-playing days advocating for concussion awareness. https://www.briscurry.com/?

Tim Howard, Analyst, Premier League: Howard is a former U.S. men’s national team, MLS and Premier League goalkeeper. He earned more caps (121) than any other U.S. keeper and was a key part of the team’s 2010 and 2014 World Cup campaigns. Howard became a pundit after retirement, and also heads the Tim Howard Foundation, which provides resources, experiences and opportunities for youth facing challenges in their families or communities. https://www.timhowardfoundation.org/?

Ed Foster-Simeon, President & CEO of the U.S. Soccer Foundation: With more than three decades of experience at the local, state, and national level of the game, he is a champion of soccer as a vehicle for youth development and social change. Foster Simeon has been an active member of the U.S. Soccer Foundation’s Board of Directors since 2004. https://ussoccerfoundation.org/?

Kely Nascimento-DeLuca, activist, ?lmmaker: The director of Warriors of a Beautiful Game, a feature documentary, that was part of a global multi-platform initiative to promote women’s sports and gender equality, Nascimento has dedicated her life to bringing awareness to the inequalities that exist within sport. The eldest daughter of the late Pelé, she is also president of the Nascimento Foundation, dedicated to using sports as a tool for diplomacy and connecting football with sustainable impact and development. https://nascimentofoundation.org/?

Irv Smalls, Executive Director, FC Harlem: Founded in 1991, FC Harlem has offered access to free football/ soccer instruction and mentorship programs for more than 10,000 underserved youth of color in NYC ages 5-19. The organization has received international acclaim for its work with inner-city youth and the formation of future leaders on and off the soccer field. https://fcharlem.org/?

Aaron Dolores, founder of Black Arrow (FC): The entrepreneur, consultant and speaker launched the Black Arrow (FC) in 2014 as a lifestyle brand focused on the intersection of soccer and black culture. The platform uses soccer as the medium to tell impactful stories and create cultural experiences targeted toward an African-American audience. https://www.blackarrowfc.com/

Edward G. Robinson III, Manager, Black SoccerLab:? Last March, HBCU Morgan State launched Black SoccerLab, a think tank with the mission to share the narratives of the Black soccer community and showcase its development around the world. Professor Robinson, Director of the School of Global Journalism & Communication, Center for the Study of Race & Culture in Sports, Morgan State University, leads the project.

Danielle Slaton, U.S. women’s national team veteran, Analyst for Fox Sports and the San Jose Earthquakes, Director, U.S. Soccer Foundation: Slaton currently works as the Director of the Coaching for Life Academy at Santa Clara University where she teaches coaches, athletes, and parents about how to integrate life skills development through sports. She played soccer for the U.S. Women’s National Team from 2000-05, earning a silver medal at the 2000 Olympic Games and a bronze at the 2003 FIFA Women’s World Cup.

Christopher Busey, PhD, Vice President of Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Community Impact, USL: Beginning next March, Busey will work across the United Soccer League’s ecosystem to develop, execute, and amplify the organization’s diversity, equity, inclusion, belonging and community initiatives, both internally and externally.

And finally, fellow football journalists and storytellers to follow:

Sylvia and Skye, co-hosts of Shea Butter FC, a podcast by, for, and about Black women in soccer (@SheaButterFC); Donald Wine II, who writes for SB Nation’s Stars & Stripes FC, and serves on the board of the American Outlaws, managing more than 200 chapters (@blazindw); Horizon Starwood, founded Horizon United Football Club using storytelling for the overlooked, misrepresented and underrepresented identities, cultures, traditions and issues in the football/soccer community (https://www.horizonsunitedfc.com/); Drake Hills Soccer reporter at Tennessean,? covering Nashville SC and Major League Soccer (@LiveLifeDrake).

Keep this list going – add names of anyone I missed!

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Tracey Savell Reavis is a veteran sports journalist, currently supporting clients with communication strategies and storytelling to enhance their brands and build engagement. Check out recent projects of The Savell Group:

MLBBro.com; Tokyo Paralympics–World Wheelchair Rugby

Twitter: @tsavellreavis