As the World Cup nears its conclusion, one Fort Worth youth sports organization says the tournament’s impact is extending far beyond the matches. Diamond Hill Northside Youth Association says youth soccer participation has increased by 100% over the past year. The organization added soccer to i ts programming after the last World Cup, and Executive Director Roxanne Martinez said growing excitement over North Texas hosting more World Cup matches than any other city has helped drive interest. The program gives children ages 4 to 18 in Fort Worth’s Northside community an opportunity to play the sport while also supporting their physical and mental well-being. With the rising cost of youth sports, the organization has focused on making soccer more accessible for families. It has also created opportunities for high school and college athletes to mentor younger players. “This year we’ve waived 75% of registrations to make it easy for youth in community to participate in the sport that they’re watching,” Martinez said. “It feels absolutely amazing that we can offer this. To every child in our neighborhood that wants to play regardless of income or any other barriers.” Martinez said the majority of children in the program are able to participate at no cost. She also said the organization is looking for more volunteer coaches to help meet growing demand and continue serving families in the neighborhood. This story was originally reported for broadcast by NBC DFW. AI tools helped convert the story into a digital article, and an NBC DFW journalist edited it again before publication. ...read more read less