Amgen Helps Bring Youth Soccer Clinic to Greater Los Angeles with Skills, Drills and Fun Amid Run-up to 2026 World Cup

In December of 2025, Amgen was named the Official Biotech Partner by the Los Angeles Sports & Entertainment Commission (LASEC) and Los Angeles World Cup 2026 Host City Supporter ahead of FIFA World Cup 2026™. This story highlights one of the many community activities made possibly by Amgen's sponsorship.

Long before former professional soccer player Cobi Jones ever put on the uniform for the United States and well before he ever stepped foot out onto the pitch at the Pasadena Rose Bowl in 1994 to represent the United States in the FIFA World Cup™, he was just a kid having fun playing the beautiful game in local youth leagues.

"It was just-go out and play," he said. "You're just thrown in with the team and you do a little bit here and there. It was going out and enjoying the time with friends."

Now, more than 30 years removed from those matches in the World Cup, Jones-along with fellow World Cup and professional soccer veterans Mia Hamm and Julie Foudy serving as Los Angeles World Cup Community Ambassadors-are helping to keep promoting soccer as teams from around the world come to Canada, the United States and Mexico to compete in the 2026 FIFA World Cup. (Note) Jones, who agreed to an interview with Amgen at a press conference announcing the kickoff of Fanfest and a subsequent series of upcoming events leading up to the 2026 FIFA World Cup in Los Angeles, is not affiliated with Amgen.

One of those events before the World Cup in June is through a series of soccer clinics called Grow the Game.

Supported by Amgen and through a collaborative effort between the Los Angeles World Cup 2026 Host Committee and The Play Equity Fund, the Grow the Game of Soccer Clinic Series is a way to inspire youth to embrace soccer while learning or improving upon basic skills of the game.

The first Grow the Game of Soccer youth clinic was held Feb. 28 at the stadium on the campus of California State University, Los Angeles and was attended by about 150 players whose ages ranged from 6 to 12. Another Grow the Game of Soccer clinic will be held May 9.

It wasn't far removed from what Jones remembered when he was six and growing up in Westlake Village, California, a 10-minute drive near Amgen's headquarters, playing AYSO soccer and in local clubs and clinics: A lot of fun and a chance to learn more about the game.

"The clinics are fantastic for the kids," he said. "It got us out playing and got us out being active and moving and being outdoors and learning about the sport."

Getting a Kick Out of It

The field was divided into stations where players learned drills on how to pass, catch the ball on their foot, balance it between their shoulder blades and dribble through cones in competitive races. There were scrimmages set up for the players and each goal scored brought with it the dream of it finding the back of the net in a World Cup match.

Her pass hit the player in stride and the ball landed in the back of the net.

"I like connecting passes," she said. "It's why I like playing the middle."

Valencia's parents, Claudia and Victor, said she has always shown an instinct to be smart with the ball on the field. And while soccer is her first love, they have let her explore other sports as well. She enjoys them, but she always seems to come back to soccer.

They sat in the bleachers watching her play-also scoring two goals in the scrimmage-and said that while they feel proud of her accomplishments on the field, it's watching her joy as she plays that keeps their love of the game alive.

They drove an hour from Orange, California to participate in the Grow the Game of Soccer clinic and said events such as this are building anticipation for the start of the World Cup.

"It's exciting and feels like a big moment for the game here," Victor said. "We will all be watching."

Goals and Goals

While the players went through their paces at each station set up, the volunteer coaches took time to encourage and guide the kids through each of the drills.

Renata Simril, president and chief executive officer CEO of The Play Equity Fund, said that while growing the game and the skills of the kids was important, it was also important to get kids engaged in exercising.

His father, Edward Luna Sr., said what made his day was how the clinic was set up and the way it engaged his son and the other kids by helping them grow in other areas as well.

"The focus on growing self-esteem, control and listening," he said, ticking off the list of positive lessons he saw imparted throughout the day.

Then he paused.

"OK," he said with a laugh. "And making the goals."