The proposed centre follows the foundation’s reported $10 million investment in a 300,000-square-foot turf field and dome at Conway Rec Center.
That project gives the new development a clear foundation: substantial facilities, year-round access and a focus on participation rather than elite performance alone. The report says Sanneh’s organisation spends more than $500,000 annually staffing the Conway venue and delivering free public programmes.
The women’s centre would add another significant pillar, creating dedicated space for girls and women while strengthening football’s place in the local community.
Sanneh’s community work carries extra weight because of the career that preceded it. He was part of the United States team that reached the 2002 World Cup quarter-finals, a landmark run for American men’s football.
The report says Sanneh played all 450 minutes across five matches in that tournament and was never substituted. Memories of seeing family members wearing his No. 22 shirt remain central to his recollection of that campaign.
His induction into the National Soccer Hall of Fame added formal recognition to a career now increasingly defined by what came after the pitch.
The foundation’s wider work reportedly includes:
That mix explains why the centre matters beyond its construction cost. It would give Sanneh’s football story a practical continuation: using the sport that opened doors for him to create more opportunities at home.
The next milestone is the reported autumn groundbreaking. If delivered, the women’s centre could become the clearest expression yet of Sanneh’s long-term vision for football, access and community in St. Paul.