Miami Art Exhibition Celebrates Africa's Soccer Legacy During World Cup

A new art exhibition in Miami is celebrating Africa’s deep connection to soccer during the 2026 World Cup. Titled “Art and the Beautiful Game: Africa on the World Stage,” the showcase opened ahead of the tournament and features over 50 artists from 25 nations. The collection traces soccer’s role in Africa’s history while honoring influential figures from Pelé to Kylian Mbappé, displayed alongside a replica of the FIFA World Cup trophy and vibrant flags of all 10 African nations competing in the tournament.

Organized by AfriKin, a foundation dedicated to African and diaspora art, the exhibition was curated by Alfonso D. Brooks, a former sound engineer who spent about six months putting the event together. “This is what art is about,” Brooks said. “Art has always been a platform to foster peace and understanding and give voice to those that can’t speak for themselves.” The exhibition includes a special tribute to Cape Verde, the small West African nation that earned a historic draw against Spain in its World Cup debut. AfriKin plans to honor Cape Verde with a ceremony before its group stage match against Uruguay in Miami.

With tens of thousands of fans flocking to Miami for the World Cup, organizers aimed to create a dedicated space for the African community to gather and celebrate. “Miami is a huge melting pot,” said artist Tasanee Durrett, a 31-year-old Orlando-based architect whose acrylic pieces highlight Black women in soccer. “We have the Latin, we have Haitian and the Caribbean, we have so many different influences. And so now that we have this voice, we have this platform, why not speak to it?”

The exhibition also features works by artists like Bamazi Talle, a Togolese painter who uses images of calabash gourds—symbols of community and hospitality in Africa—floating against World Cup nation flags. “Calabash became one thing that united all of us,” Talle said. “And this cup, this World Cup is, I think, this celebration of all of us coming together.” Through paintings, photographs, and acrylic pieces, the exhibition reflects soccer’s ability to unite people across differences, as Brooks noted the sport’s roots in Africa require “nothing but a beautiful spirit.”