The programme is expected to bring students together in teams to explore how sport can improve city life. Their ideas reportedly include better access to football, greener public spaces and transport systems capable of moving tens of thousands of supporters efficiently.
Other discussions will examine video assistant refereeing, artificial intelligence, the globalisation of sport and the wide range of careers behind the modern game.
Sandra Escamilla-Davies, commissioner of New York’s Department of Youth and Community Development, said: “O SYEP é sobre ajudar jovens a verem o que é possível para seu futuro, especialmente em sua cidade.”
That outlook gives the project its strongest identity. The World Cup is being treated not simply as an event to watch, but as a practical case study in design, technology, public policy and community development.
Students are reportedly receiving guidance from professionals connected to New York City FC and educators at New York University’s School of Professional Studies. Proposed projects include a stadium concept, a digital platform linking communities with sporting opportunities and climate-resilient recreational spaces.
The challenge also matters because access to the sports industry is often shaped by personal networks. Bringing professionals into the classroom can make less visible careers feel attainable, from event operations and data technology to coaching, infrastructure and community work.
The initiative is expected to form part of a wider municipal programme around the tournament, including expanded youth access to pitches and free football activities. Its long-term value, however, will depend on what follows the summer.
If the reported plan becomes an annual pathway into internships, paid experience and lasting employment, New York’s World Cup legacy could begin well before the opening match.