Tony Sanneh came back to St. Paul this spring with a fresh line on his résumé and the same old mission. Fresh off his National Soccer Hall of Fame nod, the former U.S. national‑team defender is still focused on turning Conway Community Center into a full‑blown, year‑round neighborhood hub, running free camps and backing local investments that keep kids playing straight through winter. These days, Sanneh has stepped away from the pro pitch into full‑time community work, measuring success in minutes and opportunities for kids rather than medals. With the United States gearing up to host the 2026 World Cup, his East Side projects now sit against a national backdrop, even as his attention stays tightly locked on one neighborhood.
From World Cup Pitch to Hall of Fame
Sanneh was elected to the National Soccer Hall of Fame’s Class of 2026, a capstone on a playing career that featured 43 full internationals and a standout run at the 2002 World Cup. According to the National Soccer Hall of Fame, he was one of just three U.S. players who went the distance in every minute of the Americans’ five‑match push to the quarterfinals.
A Year‑Round Hub on the East Side
The Sanneh Foundation has funneled major resources into the Conway Community Center complex, including the adjacent fields, to carve out winter playing space under an inflatable dome. As reported by the Star Tribune, the upgrades added up to roughly $10 million in improvements to the park and rec center. The city’s Conway Park page lists the community site at 2090 Conway Ave. and notes the Sanneh Foundation’s key role at the location.
Programs, Partnerships and a New Women's Center
Sanneh has told reporters that the foundation runs free after‑school programs, free summer camps and a winter soccer league inside the dome, giving kids a place to go when the weather is not exactly soccer‑friendly. As reported by FOX 9, the nonprofit “spends $500,000 plus a year” to staff and operate those offerings and is planning to break ground this fall on an $11 million women’s athletic center. “Live with intention,” Sanneh said at his Hall of Fame induction, a short motto he uses to tie his playing days directly to his philanthropy.
What the Foundation Runs and Where
The Sanneh Foundation’s own site outlines a mix of programs centered on nutrition, mentoring, academic support and free camps, and it identifies the organization’s offices on University Avenue in St. Paul. For families trying to sort out schedules and sign‑ups, the foundation keeps detailed program pages and contact information on its website.
Looking Ahead: World Cup and Local Legacy
Sanneh says he plans to cheer on the U.S. at the 2026 World Cup but keeps emphasizing the grind that keeps kids in the pipeline to maybe reach that stage one day. The national attention generated by his Hall of Fame honor and the foundation’s investments has thrown a spotlight on a model built to keep sports and support services accessible in a single neighborhood while the country hosts the world’s biggest soccer event.
City Leaders' Take
Local officials have publicly praised the collaboration between St. Paul and Sanneh’s nonprofit as a way to expand programming and amenities in a part of the city that has needed them for years. The Star Tribune quoted Mayor Melvin Carter calling the Sanneh Foundation a “vital partner” in reinvesting at Conway and broadening the resources available to children and families on the East Side.
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