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As the World Cup Enters Its Final Stretch, Can We Kick It? Asks What America Will Do With the Moment
As the 2026 FIFA World Cup moves toward its final matches, the spectacle has delivered what many expected: packed stadiums, global attention, national pride, international stars, and the kind of energy only the world’s game can create. But Can We Kick It? is interested in what comes next. The feature documentary uses soccer as a lens to examine culture, access, Black history, identity, and America’s complicated relationship with the world’s most popular sport. With the World Cup on North American […]
A CWKI voice joins Andscape’s World Cup conversation on the challenges and promise of African football. As the World Cup spotlight turned toward African nations including Cape Verde, Senegal and Ivory Coast, Andscape featured Reggie’s perspective in a conversation about both the challenges and the long-term potential shaping football across the continent. The piece looks beyond tournament headlines to the larger realities surrounding African football—development, infrastructure, visibility and opportunity—while also recognizing the depth of talent, culture and possibility that continues […]
By CWKI Press Room July 6, 2026 The World Cup has entered the stage where the tournament stops being a celebration and becomes a reckoning. The group-stage noise is gone. The opening-round stories are gone. The teams left now are no longer just representing countries. They are representing systems, histories, identities, investments, failures, and ideas about what soccer is supposed to look like when the world is watching. That is why this moment matters for Can We Kick It? As […]
The Charlotte Post featured Can We Kick It? as the film prepares for its Charlotte screening, connecting the documentary’s national conversation to Akbar Majeed’s hometown roots. The article highlights Majeed’s journey from Charlotte to the creation of a film that explores the history, growth, and cultural impact of Black soccer in America. From historic figures like Joe Gaetjens and Howard University’s championship legacy to the modern rise of Black players in the game, Can We Kick It? brings a deeper […]
Andscape’s William C. Rhoden featured Can We Kick It? in a national conversation about U.S. soccer, access, development, and the future of the game in America. The article includes commentary from Akbar Majeed, co-founder of Concrete2Green and creator of Can We Kick It?, on why the sport still has not fully connected with Black and urban communities — and what the game could become if those communities were truly built into the system. For Can We Kick It?, this coverage […]
The World Is Here For one month, the world gathers around a game. Different languages. Different cultures. Different histories. Different flags. Ninety minutes at a time. The FIFA World Cup has a unique ability to bring people together. Families gather in living rooms. Friends crowd into bars and restaurants. Children pick favorite teams and players. Entire cities come alive with anticipation. For many Americans, this summer will be their closest experience yet with the global culture of football. And that […]
Winner. One word. Years of work. Hundreds of conversations. Thousands of miles. Countless hours of filming, editing, questioning, refining, and believing. Can We Kick It? was recently named Best Documentary at The People’s Film Festival in Harlem. We are grateful for the recognition. But awards were never the destination. The goal was always the conversation. To ask a simple question: What would soccer in America look like if more people saw themselves in the game? The answer is still unfolding. […]
Before the stadiums fill. Before the global headlines. Before the world arrives for the 2026 FIFA World Cup, the conversation begins in Harlem. For generations, Harlem has existed as more than a neighborhood. It has been a cultural force — shaping music, art, fashion, politics, literature, and Black expression far beyond New York City. From the stages of the Apollo to the streets that inspired generations of creativity and reinvention, Harlem has long influenced the world before the rest of […]
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE CAN WE KICK IT? TO PREMIERE IN HARLEM AS OPENING NIGHT FILM OF THE PEOPLE’S FILM FESTIVAL Independent Documentary Explores Soccer, Culture, Access, and Opportunity Ahead of the 2026 FIFA World Cup HARLEM, NY — As the United States prepares to host the 2026 FIFA World Cup, a new independent documentary is bringing a different conversation about the future of soccer in America to one of the most culturally influential communities in the world. Can We Kick […]
Can We Kick It? To Open The 15th Annual People’s Film Festival 2026 April 20, 2026 The People’s Film Festival (TPFF), presented by The People’s Media, Music & Arts Foundation, announced today that “Can We Kick It?” A documentary directed by Akbar Majeed will open the 15th Annual People’s Film Festival, along with 3 additional independent short films, on Thursday, May 28, 2026, in Harlem, NY, at the AMC Magic Johnson Theater. Can We Kick It? Is a feature documentary exploring the disconnect between Black communities in the United States and the world’s most popular sport […]
Harlem, NY — Can We Kick It? (CWKI), the upcoming cultural documentary exploring access, opportunity, and the future of soccer in America, has officially been selected as an Opening Night film for the 15th edition of The People’s Film Festival”, in Harlem, New York The screening will take place in Harlem at the iconic AMC Magic Johnson Theater during one of the most important cultural moments leading into the 2026 FIFA World Cup. For the CWKI team, this is more […]
While soccer—or football to the rest of the world—is often called the “beautiful game,” its beauty has yet to fully reflect the rich tapestry of this country. Now, the game becomes even more beautiful with Harlem’s own FC Harlem—a youth football club in NYC—joining the newest competition tier of MLS NEXT. This gives FC Harlem the opportunity to participate in the United States’ elite youth soccer development pathway-to-pro system. To those outside of soccer—a vast number we’re working to decrease— […]
Photo Credit: Howard University The HU Bisons defeated 3rd seeded Fairleigh Dickinson University 2-1 to clinch the 2024 NEC Championship Title. The lady Bisons had additional reasons to celebrate as team members earned five of the six NEC’s 2024 Women’s Soccer Awards: Defensive Player of the Year junior Rachel Suttle; Midfielder of the Year sophomore Samantha James; Goalkeeper of the Year sophomore Trinity Knox; Rookie of the Year freshman Gabriella Garcia-Terrell; and the NEC Tournament’s Most Valuable Player was senior […]
Photo Credit: SWAC The Southern University Jaguars defeated Texas Southern 1-0 to claim the 2024 SWAC Tournament Championship Title. The Jaguars’ winning goal was put in the back of the net by Taylor Henry from an assist from Midfielder Alyssa Romero who also took home the Tournament MVP honors. The Southwestern Athletic Conference (SWAC) is considered one of the premier HBCU conferences in the country and currently ranks among the elite in the nation in terms of HBCU alumni playing […]
Photo Credit: USS In November 2024, Howard University celebrated a golden milestone in its rich history—a weekend honoring the 1974 men’s soccer team, the first Historically Black College/University (HBCU) to win an NCAA Div I national championship. Fifty years ago, this extraordinary team shattered expectations and left an indelible mark on both soccer and the broader narrative of Black excellence in sports. The festivities culminated on November 3rd with an elegant banquet at Howard’s Blackburn Center, where the remaining team […]
Photo Credit: Getty Images Last summer’s Copa America tournament hosted in the United States for the first time was a grand spectacle, showcasing some of the finest soccer talent from across the Americas. Yet, amidst the thrilling matches and vibrant fan celebrations, a significant opportunity was overlooked. The US Men’s National Team’s (USMNT) performance, which was kicked off with a humbling Friendly match 1-5 loss to Colombia at FedEx Field in Prince George’s County in Landover, Maryland, was not just […]
The current record holder for the most saves in a World Cup match, is now a member of the 2024 Soccer Hall of Fame Class. Tim Howard is one of the greatest goalkeepers in U.S. soccer history. His extraordinary career, marked by incredible saves, leadership, and unwavering dedication, has left an indelible mark on the sport. From his early days in MLS to his iconic performances in the Premier League and on the international stage, Howard has consistently raised the […]
Photo Credit: The Analyst As we close out an incredible year of global football, one event captured the hearts of football fans worldwide: the 34th edition of the African Cup of Nations (AFCON), which kicked off on January 13, 2024, where 24 nations came together in a celebration of football, culture, and talent, culminating in a thrilling finale on February 11th. The host nation, Côte d’Ivoire, claimed a historic 2-1 victory over Nigeria’s Super Eagles in the championship match, delighting […]
Concrete2Green (C2G) partners with Morgan State University’s School of Global Journalism and Communication to launch the Black SoccerLab (BSL), a think tank focusing on the sport in Black America and the African diaspora. BSL seeks to transform how Black communities in the U.S. engage with soccer—through research, media programming, and education. Read Full Article: Charlotte Observer