The China Mail - Kicking off: New York football enthusiasts defy pitch shortage

Responding to the demand, Mayor Zohran Mamdani -- a passionate Arsenal supporter -- has announced five free, illuminated pitches open overnight across the city for the duration of the tournament.

But once the FIFA cavalcade rolls out of town, New Yorkers will have to look elsewhere to flex their footballing muscles.

"Finding an available field at a good time can honestly be one of the hardest parts, we're usually trying to play either early or late to avoid leagues with permits," said avid player and website designer Scott Benson, 29.

"There are a lot of different leagues in NYC all competing for field permits."

While the city's iconic Central Park has several grass turf soccer fields, availability is patchy elsewhere in the city where astroturf and concrete surfaces are common.

Still, many require permits that are snapped up by for-profit leagues.

Lacking space, some pitches have popped up inside warehouse buildings like one in Brooklyn, wedged between a trash-strewn highway and a pawnbroker.

Each week thousands of footballers, many Latin or Caribbean migrants, flock to the astroturf pitches that serve the Crown Heights area, which has few other options.

Lucas Matuszewski, manager of the Socceroof site, said it's crucial to have the playing space as these immigrants "are kind of like the heart that keeps things pumping around here."

"We're in a kind of a hotspot for both of these backgrounds, which is really great, because we're able to provide indoor space for people come to New York, come to Crown Heights and they are looking for a slice of home."

"In the winter time, when the weather's bad, that's kind of when we thrive... We're open 365 days a year," said Matuszewski, who described how the World Cup had galvanized interest in soccer.

- 'A joy' -

Some purist footballers are particularly irritated by a lack of grass fields, as they offer a different playing experience to the artificial turf or concrete surfaces most common in New York.

"Some grass fields might be nice, the majority of the fields here are turf. However, the times I've played on grass it's usually pretty bumpy and hard," said Benson.

"I think they'd be a great addition if well maintained, but more important is increasing the amount of playable field space overall."

Responding to demand, four restored astroturf soccer fields recently opened at a reported cost of $5 million at Randall's Island Park nestled in the East River off Manhattan.

The New York City Soccer Initiative, a collaboration between the city, NYC FC, and corporate sponsors is also building 26 mini soccer pitches at local schools.

Football coach Kemar Darby said that excitement for the game had exploded among local youngsters on the back of the World Cup, fired in particular by star players like France's Mbappe and Desire Doue.

"Kids are very engaged, because of the World Cup," said Darby, 26, originally from Jamaica, noting the importance of providing space for them to have a kick about.

"It's just giving kids the opportunity to play and enjoy the game the right way. Some will get a scholarship. To see the improvements, week in, week out -- that's a joy."

W.Tam--ThChM