In the heart of downtown West Palm Beach, City Soccer has become a meeting point for Latin American football fans — a place where players, friends, and families gather to play, eat, and watch matches from around the world.

“I started this project in 2011,” said Boris Jofre, founder and owner of City Soccer. “I was born in Santiago, Chile, and came to the United States when I was ten years old. When I first arrived in Daytona Beach, there was no football at all. I had to stop playing because there were no teams. I only started again when I moved to Palm Beach.”

Photo courtesy of City Soccer.

The idea for City Soccer came years later, during a trip to Germany for the 2006 World Cup. “I went to see England vs. Paraguay, and one day we visited a waterfront place that had a small open-air football field next to a bar and a nightclub,” Jofre recalled. “I told my friend, ‘We need to build something like this in West Palm Beach.’ That’s where the dream started.”

Five years later, that idea became reality. “We opened the first City Soccer in 2011, and we were the first indoor soccer facility in the area,” he said. “Since then, it’s become a hub that everyone knows. Now we also have one in Port St. Lucie, another one open in Uruguay, and we’re finishing one in Santiago, Chile.”

Photo courtesy of City Soccer.

A Gathering Spot for the Latin Community

For many in South Florida, City Soccer is more than a place to play. It’s where local Latinos gather to watch national teams during the South American World Cup Qualifiers, creating an atmosphere similar to being back home.

“We call it the third half,” Jofre explained. “After playing, people want to eat, drink, and talk. Every City Soccer location has that space — a bar, a kitchen, big screens to watch games. Here in West Palm, we have seven or eight giant screens showing three or four matches at once.”

During Argentina, Chile, or Colombia games, the venue fills up with fans wearing their colors, watching on multiple screens, and sharing food and drinks together. “It’s a community space,” he said. “Most of our customers come every week at the same time. They play their match, then stay after to talk and watch football together. That’s what keeps us all mentally healthy.”

Photo courtesy of City Soccer.

Playing Against Inter Miami — and Messi in the Stands

City Soccer’s impact goes beyond its indoor fields. The club also competes in the UPSL, a semi-professional 11-a-side league in the United States.

“We’ve built a very good team,” Jofre said. “Last year we played against Inter Miami’s academy in the quarterfinals — and Messi was there watching the game.”

He described how the encounter unfolded: “Mark González, a Chilean player who was with me and used to play for Liverpool, is a friend of Messi’s. He introduced me to him before the match. Messi watched City Soccer play against Inter Miami and gave us a good review of the team.”

That moment was one of several milestones for the club. “We also played the UPSL final at Inter Miami’s stadium two weeks before Messi arrived,” Jofre added. “And with our five-a-side team, we’ve represented City Soccer in tournaments around the world — in China, Qatar, South Africa, Germany, and Brazil.”

Photo courtesy of Mark González.

Looking Ahead

City Soccer continues to expand both as a sports venue and as a community brand. “We’re opening in Chile soon, and next week we play the third round of the U.S. Open Cup,” Jofre said. “We’re bringing in Nicolás Castillo — the Chilean striker who took a penalty right after Messi in the Copa América final in New York. We’re also working on signing another big name from Chile for next year’s million-dollar tournament.”

With its mix of competition, culture, and camaraderie, City Soccer has become a Latin American football landmark in South Florida — one that even caught Lionel Messi’s attention.

To keep up with City Soccer’s latest tournaments, initiatives, and community activities, follow @citysoccerfc on Instagram, or visit their official website www.citysoccerindoor.com to learn more.