From Aug. 17-22, the Premier League, the most-watched soccer league in the world, hosted a week-long summit. The event included a NEXGEN Coach development program, which brought youth soccer coaches together at Sofive Soccer Center in Carlstadt, New Jersey, as well as several clinics for hundreds of young soccer players to attend at community fields across the region.
The summit comes as part of the Premier League’s three-year partnership with the U.S. Soccer Foundation and the State of New Jersey. The collaboration was initially announced in July 2025, prior to the Premier League’s Summer Series being held at MetLife Stadium.
Soccer was at the forefront of the Meadowlands over the past year, with the 2026 FIFA World Cup coming to the region. The partnership established the Meadowlands’ place as a top destination for fans of the sport, hosting some of its biggest matches, including the final match of the FIFA World Cup, which is estimated to have brought in over a billion viewers. Even though the tournament has come to an end in the region, the impact that it has left on the sport in the Garden State is still being felt, including this partnership.
As part of the summit, Premier League legend, Jonás Gutiérrez, made an appearance, providing coaches with valuable insights from someone who has played the sport at the highest level. Gutiérrez spent seven seasons with Newcastle United, where he played as a midfielder and built his legacy with the team.
“It has been a great experience to come and meet the coaches on the Premier League NEXTGEN Coach course in New Jersey,” said Gutiérrez. I have been lucky enough to have some brilliant coaches throughout my career, so it was nice to get involved in the activity and talk to the group about the impact managers had on me as a player. I hope that those taking part in the course will be able to take the skills they have learned back to their communities and enhance the way they deliver football sessions.”
The summit provided youth soccer coaches across the Garden State with the opportunity to learn from a legend of the sport, as the region continues to show its love for soccer. With the partnership just over a year into its three-year collaboration, there are still many different ways for the sport to continue growing in the state.