Global FC (Global Futbol Community) began as a community development initiative during a time when refugee resettlement was becoming a major focus of public discourse both in the U.S. and around the world. Launched in Kansas City, Global FC was created to address this challenge by using the power of sport to bring together diverse cultures and build just, inclusive communities—places where every individual is fully known, fully loved, and empowered to pursue their God-given purpose and potential.

At its heart, Global FC was inspired by one family’s deeply personal journey of displacement and adaptation. Founder and Director Mariya Dostzadah Goodbrake draws from her own experience as a former refugee—her family fled war-torn Afghanistan, lived as displaced persons in Iran and India, and eventually resettled in Canada in search of safety and opportunity. Growing up at the intersection of Afghan Muslim heritage and Western culture, Mariya wrestled with questions of identity and belonging—struggles familiar to many refugee youth.

In 2013, after relocating to Kansas City, Mariya encountered a growing refugee population in the Historic Northeast community. A year later, she traveled to Jordan to visit Syrian refugees in the border town of Al Mafraq, just outside the Zaatari refugee camp. There, she witnessed firsthand the traumatic impact of war on children—who now make up over half of the world’s displaced population. Amid the hardship, she also saw how soccer served as a powerful tool for healing and hope, helping restore a sense of normalcy and joy to children’s lives.

Inspired and moved, Mariya returned to Kansas City determined to listen deeply to the needs of refugee youth in her own community. What she found went far beyond academic or extracurricular support. At the core, these young people longed for belonging—for a place to be seen, valued, and understood.

That longing became the foundation of Global FC’s vision: to use soccer as a vehicle not only for engagement and support, but for restoring identity, dignity, and connection in the lives of resettled youth.

In a country overwhelmed by programs, a small group of committed individuals set out to build something different: a true community. They recognized the need for a meaningful, unifying tool—a common language. Soccer, with its global reach, became that tool. It would serve not just as a sport, but as a catalyst for connection, transformation, and impact. That’s how Global FC began.

Since our founding, a small, dedicated staff and a large team of incredible volunteers have worked together to support underserved youth. We provide access to quality soccer experiences—facilities, leagues, and tournaments—while going far beyond the game. Our year-round education and mentoring programs help youth navigate challenges and realize their full potential.

Global FC takes a holistic, relationship-driven approach to community development. By understanding the social, economic, religious, and cultural dynamics of those we serve, we build authentic, lasting connections that empower long-term impact across diverse communities.

Our mission is fueled by a shared vision: to cultivate a just community where every member is fully known, fully loved, and free to pursue their God-given purpose and potential.

We aim to inspire lasting HOPE:
Hope in PLAY. Hope in SELF. Hope in a brighter FUTURE.

Welcome to the Global Futbol Community.

Soccer is not only the great equalizer, it is a universal sport and language that speaks into the hearts of people around the world. Soccer plays a crucial role that supports youth in various ways and connects communities that share different beliefs, languages, nationalities, and religions. It is used in refugee camps to inject life and a sense of normality for displaced youth, it assisted in the healing process to transform child soldiers back to children in post war Rwanda and Sierra Leon, and the United Nations recognizes soccer as “…..the most effective sport in the international development field. Sport has become a world language, a common denominator that breaks down all the walls, all the barriers. It is a worldwide industry whose practices can have a widespread impact. Most of all, it is a powerful tool for progress and development”

-Secretary-General of the UN Ki-moon (2011).