Our Vision.
Bringing Urban Soccer Culture to America!
Our vision is to establish American Panna as the leading force in urban culture, transcending boundaries and uniting people from diverse backgrounds. Through innovative events, engaging content, and unparalleled experiences, we aim to nurture the growth of street soccer nationwide and create a lasting legacy that inspires future generations to celebrate the joy, passion, and transformative power of our dynamic culture.
What is Panna?
At American Panna, we live and breathe street soccer including its wide array of dynamic variations, each with its own unique history, form, and appeal to distinct target groups. As the only organization in America catering to all popular variations like classic street soccer, panna, teqball, freestyle, and more, we offer a comprehensive urban sports experience.
Our name, American Panna, highlights our main strength and the values we uphold. Panna's bottom-up creation and rich cultural background infuse all aspects of our work with urban sports and culture.
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But, what is Panna?
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Panna is a captivating and accessible form of street soccer that traces its origins to Surinamese immigrant communities in disadvantaged urban neighborhoods in the Netherlands. Requiring only one ball, two players, and a small playing area, panna emphasizes creativity, adaptability, and close ball control. The objective is to score more goals than your opponent within three minutes, using any makeshift goal markers like walls or chalk lines. However, a single "nutmeg" or putting the ball through your opponent's legs instantly wins the game, regardless of the current score.
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Integrating urban soccer culture into the American soccer landscape can revolutionize the development of soccer skills and foster a more inclusive environment for players of all backgrounds. Panna's focus on individual creativity and technical proficiency complements traditional soccer training, inspiring players to explore new techniques and hone their abilities. By embracing urban soccer, we can cultivate a more skillful American soccer scene, nurturing talent and fostering a greater sense of unity and passion for the beautiful game across the nation.
Who Are American Panna?
The story of American Panna is a testament to the founders' deep-rooted passion for soccer and their commitment to bringing its unique urban form of the game to the United States. Daniel, Nick, and Kevin all grew up playing street games and futsal, forming strong bonds with from an early age.
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After playing collegiate soccer, they set out on a mission to create more opportunities for play in their local areas, launching a project called La Liga Urbana in Sonoma County and a Southern California chapter. This project brought together a diverse community of players from different backgrounds and cities, united by their love for the beautiful game and was their first experience with organising urban happenings.
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As they continued to explore the culture of Panna, traveling to national and international competitions, crafting their skill and attending the World Championships in the sport, the team has extended their worldwide network and knowledge of the culture to a level not seen before in America. This experience helped them to deepen their understanding of the game and its potential to revolutionize the development of soccer in America and foster a more inclusive environment for players of all backgrounds.
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In 2019, American Panna was born with a mission to spread the street soccer culture witnessed by the founders to the United States. It started by hosting Americas first world championship qualifier and worked in local, national and international contexts.
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By showcasing different methods of playing the game, including Panna, street soccer, teqball, and other variations, we aim to create a unique, urban experience that fosters social connection, movement, and inclusivity. American Panna achieves this through national tournaments, local workshops, and private events, offering a fresh and thriving urban culture experience to its community. Work with us today!
