Larger Than Life: Young Athletes Score Feature in TDECU + HTX Soccer Billboard
By Francis Page Jr.
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June 6, 2026 (Houston Style Magazine) — Houston Style Magazine is shining a proud community spotlight on two young athletes whose dreams are now larger than life — literally.
For 9-year-old soccer standout Sophia Miranda, seeing herself towering above one of Houston’s busiest highways was not just exciting; it was the kind of moment that makes a young athlete stand a little taller, smile a little wider, and believe a little deeper.
“It’s so big, and I can’t believe everyone can see me up there!” Miranda said after being featured in a new billboard campaign for TDECU and HTX Soccer. “I’m really thankful for this chance. Wow, I never imagined I’d be on a billboard. I love playing soccer, learning new things, and having fun with my coaches and teammates.”
The billboard, located along the northbound lanes of I-45 near the University of Houston, also features Bryana Molina, a junior at Conroe High School and fellow HTX Soccer athlete. Together, the two young players represent more than a marketing campaign. They represent Houston’s growing soccer culture, the power of youth sports, and the beautiful truth that big dreams often begin on neighborhood fields.
The campaign is part of an ongoing partnership between TDECU, Houston’s largest credit union, and HTX Soccer, one of the region’s leading youth soccer organizations. TDECU has announced its role as HTX Soccer’s official banking partner through the 2027 season, with support that includes jersey branding on thousands of HTX Soccer uniforms and sponsorship of recreational programming. HTX Soccer describes its mission as providing youth soccer opportunities for all ability levels across the Greater Houston community.
For Molina, the moment carries special meaning.
“I’m honored to represent HTX Soccer and TDECU in this campaign, and proud to share this experience with Sophia,” Molina said. “Being a role model for younger players is something I never take for granted.”
Now that is the kind of leadership Houston loves to celebrate: young, humble, driven, and already passing the ball forward.
The billboard debuted in early June, just as Houston welcomed an energetic wave of soccer excitement tied to major international competition and the city’s broader momentum as a soccer destination. That timing could not have been better. Houston is preparing for a major soccer moment as the 2026 FIFA World Cup brings global attention to the region, including scheduled matches at NRG Stadium and community investments aimed at expanding access to the sport.
With the message “Make Life Goals Happen,” the TDECU + HTX Soccer campaign scores on and off the field. It reminds families that success is not built overnight. It is built through practice, encouragement, coaching, teamwork, and institutions that invest in young people before the world knows their names.
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Crystal Harris, Vice President of Community Development & Partnerships at TDECU, said the initiative reflects a deeper commitment to community empowerment.
“Our partnership with HTX Soccer is about more than just financial support. It’s about empowerment,” Harris said. “By supporting youth programs, TDECU is helping athletes build teamwork, discipline, and leadership skills that will serve them long beyond the game.”
That message lands powerfully in Houston, a city where diversity, determination, and opportunity have always played on the same team. HTX Soccer serves thousands of boys and girls across the region, helping players from early childhood through elite levels grow in skill, character, and confidence.
As the billboard remains on display throughout the summer, Sophia Miranda and Bryana Molina are giving Houston drivers more than a reason to look up. They are giving families a reason to dream bigger.
And somewhere, a young soccer player sitting in the backseat may look out the window and say, “That could be me.”
In Houston, it just might be.
For more information, go to: tdecu.org
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Kierra LeeKIELEESTYLE@GMAIL.COM4096658446