INWOOD — A youth soccer program sponsored by one of the world's premiere teams is kicking off its first U.S. program in Inwood Friday — thanks in part to a World Cup-winning player who has worked to promote the sport uptown.

InterCampus, which is sponsored by Italy’s famed franchise Inter Milan, was founded in 1996 and has helped youth in economically disadvantaged communities in 29 countries, including Brazil, Tunisia and Israel. The New York program, which officially launches with a tournament in Inwood Hill Park Friday, represents InterCampus’s first American venture.

InterCampus chose to focus on Inwood due to the organization’s relationship with Youri Djorkaeff, a member of France’s 1998 World Cup-winning team who also played for Inter Milan and later for the New York Red Bulls.

Through his Youri Djorkaeff Foundation, he had been working with the Uptown Soccer Academy, a low-cost training program for children in Washington Heights and Inwood. He helped forge a partnership between InterCampus and the Uptown Soccer Academy, organizers said.

About 70 local children ages 6 to 13, who have been training with the InterCampus model for about 6 months, are signed up to participate in the Inwood program, organizers said.

Ray Selvadurai, manager of InterCampus’s New York program, said one thing that sets InterCampus apart from other youth soccer programs is the training model.

“The actual training the kids have taken to very well. It’s more structured than other programs,” he said. “I would also say that there is an identification with Inter Milan. The kids feel like they are part of something larger, which really drives the program and sense of commitment.”

InterCampus programs are free for all children thanks to partnerships with private businesses that help cover program costs. Pirelli Tires, which is a sponsor of Inter Milan and the international InterCampus programs, is the main sponsor of the New York program.

InterCampus is promoted by the UN’s office of Sport for Development and Peace because the program also provides opportunities for social change.

In Romania, for example, soccer is used to promote the social inclusion of orphaned and abandoned children, according to InterCampus's website. In the Middle East, InterCampus has used the sport to bring Israeli and Palestinian children together. And in Morocco, the program has encouraged girls to get involved in athletic pursuits.

Selvadurai said organizers are still working on developing an educational component for the New York program, but for now are focused on promoting healthy habits.

“Childhood obesity in the U.S., especially in certain areas, is very high,” he said. “The concept of exercising and playing is very important.”

Selvadurai said that Djorkaeff is also very involved with the program.

“Youri comes to practices whenever possible,” he said. “He develops relationships with the kids and is a role model to them. It’s not often that a kid from Inwood gets to play with a World Cup champ."

Friday's launch event will include a presentation of game jerseys by Djorkaeff and a soccer tournament.