TOMA EL JUEGO BY NIKE

PHOTO SHOT BY LISANDRO MARTINEZ

Nike brought soccer culture back to Los Angeles for one night only at their biggest event of the year, where fans from all over LA gathered to watch eight teams go head-to-head in a 4v4 cage-style street tournament. Over the past month, 64 teams from across the greater Los Angeles area competed for a chance to secure one of the final eight spots — and Nike was there every step of the way, rolling out a massive marketing campaign. Toma El Juego, which translates to “Take the Game,” was the name of Nike’s campaign, which not only brought street soccer back to the city, but also gave the new generation of players a reason to take the game to the streets.

SHOT BY LISANDRO

PHOTO SHOT BY LISANDRO MARTINEZ

Nike brought the perfect exchange of fútbol, music, fashion, and culture to the city that has produced some of the best ever in each. The City of Angels is undoubtedly one of the premier soccer cities in the United States and is set to host a wave of major sporting events in the coming years. From Roberto Baggio in ’94, to Mia Hamm and Brandi Chastain, and now Botafogo beating PSG just last month in the FIFA Club World Cup, LA has long been in soccer’s spotlight. Nike Toma LA added another cultural landmark to that legacy — a powerful moment in the sport and yet another beautiful chapter in the story of this city’s deep roots in music, fashion, culture, and the beautiful game. With how bright the future of soccer in Los Angeles is, it’s beyond debate that Toma LA will stand as a memorable stepping stone in the city’s growing, yet storied, street soccer history.

PHOTO SHOT BY LISANDRO

After RSVP tickets sold out weeks in advance on Nike’s SNKRS app and website, fans showed up early to secure their spot. They showed off their love for the game, repping the energy of street football through music, fashion, and culture. Not only were people in jerseys, but this being a fashion-driven city, fans pulled up in retro and vintage kits paired with some of Nike’s most iconic kicks. The night also featured some of LA’s biggest names in music, sports, and fashion. The three main hosts — hip hop star Travis Scott, Real Madrid and Brazil baller Vinícius Jr., and Latin pop star Young Miko — brought the energy and the drip, each showing out in full Nike style.

PHOTO SHOT BY LISANDRO MARTINEZ

The eight teams that hit the cage were VBFC, La Comunidad, InSains, Toque, House of 626, Tiki Taka, and Culture FC — and every squad brought fire to the court. Along with 4v4 matchups, the event featured 1v1 face-offs where players were juking, megging, and flexing on each other in front of a crowd that circled the court, raising the intensity with every move.

PHOTO SHOT BY JONATHAN ORTEGA

PHOTO SHOT BY JOSEPH HERNANDEZ TORREJON

But the night wasn’t just about soccer and stars — it was also about street culture. Local soccer-lifestyle vendors like Paisaboys and Badfriend showed out, setting up booths with football art, limited drops, and pieces that blended the energy of the city with the spirit of the game. Not only did the Los Angeles soccer community come together int he heart of LA but so did many other recgoninable names such as San Diego FC an Mexican international Chucky Lozano and even Latin artist Dannylux. The night was filled with stars and excitment and to close out the night, rising DJ ZULAN turned the caged court into a dance floor, throwing down an afterparty set that had fans rushing in to celebrate and dance the night away.

PHOTO SHOT BY LISANDRO MARTINEZ

Nike didn’t just throw a soccer event — they created a cultural moment, one that brought together fashion, music, community, and the beautiful game. The Receipt Magazine and Midtable Talk were honored to be part of soccer history this night and we can’t wait to see what they do next.

PHOTO SHOT BY JAKE VON

Written by: Joseph Hernandez Torrejon and Jonathan Ortega Photos shot by: Lisandro Martinez, Joseph Hernandez Torrejon, Jonathan Ortega, and Jake Von

Recap Video Shot and Edited by: Joseph Hernandez Torrejon: