The Miami Museum of Contemporary Art of the African Diaspora recently unveiled a new exhibit dedicated to honoring Black soccer players who have been gamechangers in championing change, equality and inclusivity in the sport.
Titled “Overtown Pitch: Game Changers,” the mural was created by artist Stefan Smith in celebration of the upcoming 2026 FIFA World Cup and is located at the Carver Building in Miami, FL. The Carver Building itself is steeped in Black history, as it was a hub for Black visitors in the 1950s and 1960s.
Through the mural, visitors can access interactive features that allow them to play a digital Soccer Shootout game. Accessed through QR codes located on the artwork, the Soccer Shootout game has participants take part in a quick 30-second game that has them score as many goals as possible.
The available QR codes also give insight into the history behind the artwork, including the stories of the figures featured. The mural features two global athletes: soccer players Crystal Dunn and Kylian Mbappé.
Dunn, who can play in a wide range of positions, has made a name for herself as the winner of the Hermann Trophy and the NCAA Championship. Dunn was also part of the U.S. Women’s National Team that won the Women’s World Cup in 2019. Alongside soccer, she has been active in fighting for equal pay for women soccer players as well as for combatting racism in the sport.
As for Mbappé, the French soccer player became the first teenager to score in a World Cup final since Pelé scored in 1958. Since his rise to fame, he’s been vocal about representation in the sport and for providing a path for young children to make it in the sport themselves.
“We are pleased to welcome another Miami MoCAAD interactive mural in Historic Overtown. As public art, these vibrant murals excite our community by showcasing color, movement, and culture,” said Overtown Southeast Parkwest (SEOPW) Community Development Agency’s Executive Director James McQueen. “This mural brings the global presence of futbol to Overtown in anticipation of the 2026 World Cup.”
Although they are not featured, the interactive mural was inspired by the Miami Edison High School Girls Soccer Team. The young soccer players have been having a breakout season and most recently won their first GMAC championship.
The group is part of the Little Haiti Football Club. Founded in 2014, the non-profit youth soccer club helps train 175 kids from BIPOC communities, particularly from Little Haiti, as part of their free program.
The club’s participants range from eight to 18 years old and regularly compete in leagues and tournaments held by the Florida Youth Soccer Association.
“Minority status, low household income, high neighborhood density, and single-parent households all correlate highly with low participation in youth soccer in America,” said the founders of Little Haiti F.C. “Despite limited after-school opportunities for organized soccer clubs in Miami’s Haitian-American neighborhoods, demand remains exceptionally strong due to the sport’s popularity and following among the Haitian immigrant community here.”
