Thanks to Florida Council 100 South Florida’s World Cup Moment Belongs to Its Next Generation
When the FIFA World Cup arrives in South Florida today, the world will be watching.
Millions of fans, global brands, athletes, executives, and visitors will turn their attention to a region that has spent the past decade transforming itself into one of the world’s most dynamic centers for business, culture, innovation, and investment.
But the true legacy of this moment will not only be measured by the matches played or the global spotlight earned.
It will be measured by who gets to be part of it.
Through a generous contribution from Florida Council of 100 members Ken Griffin, CEO of Citadel, and Stephen Ross, CEO and Chairman of Related Ross, the Florida Council of 100 Foundation is donating 1,200 FIFA World Cup tickets to youth served by Boys & Girls Clubs across Florida’s Gold Coast, including Miami-Dade, Broward, and Palm Beach counties.
The initiative will give hundreds of young Floridians the opportunity to experience one of the world’s most significant sporting events firsthand.
A Global Moment Becomes a Local Legacy
But this initiative is about far more than attending a soccer match.
As Florida Council of 100 Foundation Chair Eric Silagy noted, “This is about more than soccer.”
That simple statement captures the deeper meaning behind the donation.
He continued, “The World Cup represents the very best of what Florida is becoming. It is a global event that will bring people, ideas, and opportunity from around the world to our state. We want young Floridians to be part of that experience and to see firsthand that the future being built here belongs to them as well."
The World Cup represents global exposure, an opportunity for young people to see their own community connected to the world stage. It represents aspiration, a reminder that the future is not something happening somewhere else, but something being built around them It represents belonging, the idea that South Florida’s growth story includes the people who have called this region home long before the global attention arrived.
And it represents possibility.
For a student walking into a World Cup stadium for the first time, the experience is not simply about watching the world’s best athletes compete. It is about seeing what happens when a region believes in its own potential.
"As Chair of the Miami Host Committee, I've seen firsthand the tremendous impact the World Cup will have on our community," said Rodney Barreto, Vice Chairman of the Florida Council of 100 and Chairman of the Miami FIFA World Cup Host Committee. "This event will showcase South Florida to billions of people worldwide. Making sure young people from our communities have the opportunity to experience it firsthand is incredibly important. These are memories that will last a lifetime and inspire the next generation of leaders, entrepreneurs, and citizens."
South Florida’s Rise Includes the Next Generation
South Florida has become a magnet for investment, entrepreneurship, and talent. Companies are relocating. New industries are emerging. Global leaders are increasingly looking toward the Gold Coast as a place where the future is being built.
But long-term success is not only about attracting businesses or capital. It is about ensuring that the next generation has the opportunity, confidence, and vision to participate in that growth.
That is the broader mission behind efforts like the Florida Council of 100 Foundation’s Gold Coast and Ambition Accelerated initiatives, strengthening Florida’s future by expanding opportunity, developing talent, and creating pathways for the leaders of tomorrow.
The World Cup will introduce South Florida to the world.
This investment ensures that South Florida’s young people are not just watching that moment happen, but they are inside it.
"Florida is attracting extraordinary investment, talent, and opportunity," said George LeMieux, Chairman of the Florida Council of 100. "As business leaders, we have a responsibility to ensure that the next generation benefits from that growth. We want these young people to see what is possible in their own communities and understand that they have a place in Florida's future. Thanks to the generosity of Ken Griffin and Steve Ross, hundreds of students will have the chance to be part of a truly historic moment for our region."
The Legacy Is the Inspiration Left Behind
The greatest impact of a global event is rarely limited to the event itself.
It is found in the conversations it sparks, the ambitions it creates, and the young people who begin to imagine what might be possible. The World Cup will be a historic moment for South Florida.
"The World Cup is an incredible experience, but it's also a reminder of how much opportunity is being created across South Florida and throughout our state," said Mike Simas, Chief Executive Officer of The Florida Council of 100. "This donation reflects that same belief. We want these students to experience the excitement, energy, and global attention coming to our region and understand that they can be part of what comes next."
Thanks to this investment, hundreds of students will not simply witness that history, they will become part of it. Because the most meaningful legacy of a global moment is not the attention it receives.
It is the future it inspires.
