OUR
MISSION
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We believe that football is not only a collective effort, but a public service, respectable profession, a democratic ideal, and most importantly a human right.
Our mission is to serve as California’s governing body for fútbol—from youths to professionals, offering alternative certification programs for coaches and referees, supporting community-based clubs, and establishing a robust professional league system.
We envision a golden professional league founded upon ascensión, a Californian born international team, a California State open cup, and above all an egalitarian system of football that benefits and is accessible to all Californians.
"I was born on the border and I tell the story that I grew up in two cities, Tijuana, Baja California, and San Diego, California which are, still, really like West and East Berlin used to be. My family would drive down I-5 and cross over into Mexico twice a month and it was there we bought gasoline, bread ,coffee, and other staples with Pesos I studied closely with their multi-colored designs of Hidalgo, Morelos, and Cuauhtémoc. It was where my brother and I got our crewcuts, and it was there, when I was twelve, in 1970, on Avenida de Revolucion I saw a sudden impromptu parade of Mexicans celebrating, honking horns, waving flags, and setting off fireworks. ' What happened?" I asked my pocho padre. He asked someone in Spanish, (he only spoke Spanish on that side) and he told me, shouting over the ruckus "Mexico has defeated Belgium 2-0 in the World Cup!" And that was it, I was hooked for life.
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Fast forward to 2017. I watched in horror as the seconds ticked away to 90 minutes plus, the whistle blrew and the USA crashed out of World Cup Russia to Trinidad and Tobago 1-2. All I could think of was 'whom will I support now?' It was there and then the idea of a California National Team was born. I put together some designs for California shirts, scarves, and caps and, presto, the gear was created and produced. Only afterwards did I learn of the existence of alternative competitions organized by CONIFA, the Confederation of Independent Football Associations for countries and territories not recognized by FIFA and asked myself out loud 'Why not us? Why not California?" And there we are, now you know. Please join us, help build and support this idea, this team, this nation-in-waiting, cheer, chant, and sing for us, and wave the Bear Republic Flag when our boys run out of the tunnel to play their first ever international fixtures this year."
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Sven Serrano, CFF-FFC Founder and President
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