parks
As youth soccer grows in the Bay area, some kids still struggle for opportunities to play
By Tejal Wakchoure and Katharine Lee at NBC Bay Area (KNTV, NBC)
· July 6, 2026
· 8 min read
Neha Ma was 7 years old when she arrived in the United States from a refugee camp in northern Thailand. She only knew three English words at the time, she said.
Soccer became her lifeline in America, where everything from the language to the culture was new, she said. The sport connected her w...
Key takeaway She only knew three English words at the time, she said.
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Original reporting by NBC Bay Area (KNTV, NBC) . The San Francisco surfaces reporting from trusted publishers and adds local editorial context so readers can quickly understand what a story means for their community. We attribute every source, link to the original report, and follow a documented editorial standards policy. To understand how stories are selected and reviewed, read our about page .
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Category: parks ·
Published: July 6, 2026 ·
Source: NBC Bay Area (KNTV, NBC) ·
Reading time: 8 min
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Frequently asked about this story
What is this story about? Neha Ma was 7 years old when she arrived in the United States from a refugee camp in northern Thailand. She only knew three English words at the time, she said.
Soccer became her lifeline in America, where everything from the language to the culture was new, she said. The sport connected her w...
When was this published? This article was first published on July 6, 2026 by NBC Bay Area (KNTV, NBC) and curated for The San Francisco readers.
Who reported this story? This story was reported by Tejal Wakchoure and Katharine Lee at NBC Bay Area (KNTV, NBC). To learn more about how The San Francisco selects and reviews stories, see our editorial standards .
Where can I find related coverage? See more parks coverage from The San Francisco, or browse our daily briefing and topic hubs .
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