A Football Museum Lands in Pilsen

The Footy Museum LLC — a Chicago-based organization that curates exhibitions on the design and visual history of global football (soccer, for the uninitiated) — registered a business license at 2233 S. Throop St. in Pilsen on April 1, 2026. The license, issued under a Limited Business License covering graphic design, multimedia services, and commercial consulting, places the organization inside the Mana Fine Arts building, one of Pilsen's anchor arts spaces. The city's business license data shows the license active as of April 1.

What the Footy Museum Actually Does

Founded in 2022 by Maria Van Dyken Li and Justin Witte, The Footy Museum produces adaptable, traveling exhibitions focused on football crests, club history, and the visual culture of the sport. Think less trophy case, more design museum — the kind of thing that would fit comfortably in a contemporary art space. The organization also produces a podcast and digital content on soccer history, tifos, and crest design. Its exhibitions are portable, meaning the Pilsen address functions as a home base rather than a fixed gallery.

The World Cup Factor

Here's the thing: Chicago is a confirmed host city for the 2026 FIFA World Cup, with matches scheduled at Soldier Field. The Footy Museum formalizing its Chicago presence right now — in a neighborhood with deep Mexican roots and a passionate soccer culture — is either the most perfectly timed business registration in recent memory or a very happy coincidence. Pilsen's connection to Mexican football fandom is real and deep; this is not a random location choice.

Why Pilsen, Why Now

Mana Fine Arts at 2233 S. Throop has long been a hub for artists and creative organizations in Pilsen. The Footy Museum's presence there fits the building's profile and the neighborhood's identity as a center for arts and culture on the Southwest Side. With the World Cup less than two months away, expect this to become a lot more visible — and a lot more relevant — very quickly.