Kicking It to 2026! The Docuseries Kicking Off Local Stories to the Global Game
It is official.
The countdown of countdowns has begun with the Friday, December 5 FIFA World Cup 2026™ draw and the release of the match schedule this weekend. For the first time, three countries — the United States, Canada and Mexico — will host 48 nations competing in the biggest international sporting event on Earth.
And as Alex Lasry, FIFA World Cup 26 NY/NJ CEO, said, this tournament is poised "to set the tone for what these mega sporting events over the next 10 years are going to look like.” It signals the start of a decade of global games in the United States, including the LA Olympics in 2028, the Women's World Cup in 2031 and the Salt Lake City Winter Olympics in 2034.
Lasry notes that studies project the tournament will generate $3 billion in economic impact for the New Jersey–New York region and more than $30 billion nationally, attracting an estimated 6 million international visitors.
Exciting, right?
As the Director of Communications for the Statewide Hispanic Chamber of Commerce of New Jersey, I am thrilled knowing what this means for the businesses we represent in tourism and hospitality, especially the restaurants that serve up so much of New Jersey's culture, local flair and fun.
As a documentarian and media professional, I am equally eager to shine a lens on the stories that matter to communities: the legions of fans and local soccer clubs, the electric rivalries, and the restaurants and watch-party venues where people will gather to cheer, often scream and celebrate their home teams.
Kicking It to 2026: The Countdown to the Game is, in many ways, my own kickoff to the type of stories we rarely see, the ones that reveal the why behind the world's passion for the game. I am inspired to tell local, human stories with the same fervor, authenticity and vibrant cultural flavor and energy that bring soccer to life in the 16 host cities.
This independently produced docuseries, which will stream on YouTube, marks my fifth soccer-related project. I should also advise that Kicking It to 2026! The Countdown to the Game is not affiliated with FIFA.
My journey began as a producer on Voices of DreamTown, the award-winning documentary directed by Betty Bastidas. The film follows three Afro-Ecuadorian players from El Valle del Chota, a community that produced many of the athletes who helped Ecuador reach its first World Cup in 2002, each playing for their dreams at different points in their careers. Their stories immersed me in the humanity of the game: not just talent, but universal themes that touch our souls, such as the undefeated spirit on a quest to rise above poverty and set out on a mission to help their families secure a better future.
Living in New Jersey, where one of the country's biggest soccer fan bases lives and breathes the sport, fills me with awe and a sense of responsibility. Here, fans do not simply cheer — they scream at the top of their lungs, cling to their superstitions and ride every play as if they were on the field themselves.
Now, I have the chance to take those stories even further. Alongside a select group of journalists and fellow documentarians, we are hitting all 16 host cities to capture the heart and voices of communities as they prepare to welcome the world.
Our producing team includes executive producers Julia Carias-Linares and Meling Macias-Toro of Freedom Studios, Inc.
Stay tuned. We’re just getting started.
