Kimberly Cazares

The World Cup 2026 is underway, and across the U.S. and Canada, SCORES poet-athletes are walking onto the pitch as player escorts, watching matches in their communities, and reflecting on it all through poetry.

SCORES has partnered with Telemundo Station Group to launch Atletas Poetas, a national youth poetry celebration uniting soccer and spoken word in seven cities ahead of the FIFA World Cup 2026.

Ahead of the 2026 World Cup Draw, FOX Sports broadcaster and U.S. soccer legend Alexi Lalas returned to Marie Reed Elementary, where his mom, poet Anne Woodworth, helped launch the Poet-Athlete Movement. Today, SCORES serves 15,000 kids across 13 cities, including eight World Cup host cities, combining soccer, poetry, and service.