The Future of US Soccer Is Doomed 

I never knew about the whole "discovery" thing. That is absolutely ridiculous.

Pay for play is the worst, my little brother just started playing for a team and the money we pay is ridiculous. We are pricing so many good kids out of the game. The inly reason he was able to play is because thankfully we have a good tight nit community and helped him out with fees but it's crazy

The whole pay to play thing is by design from the federation. They don’t want kids from poor communities getting a chance cause they want US soccer to continue to be an “old boys club” where they can pick and choose which kids are good enough to represent the US on the world stage.. and the ones they choose always just happen to be the kids who have family in USSF, family who are former players or comes from very rich communities. Soccer in America is simply a rich kid, nepotism sport and they want it to stay that way. They don’t actually care about wanting to win.

I don't give a crap if the national team is good as long as the sport is growing in love here in America, I've even been turning my family into fans and even a few days ago my Grandpa asked me to help him pick a premier league team to support!

I have never agreed with a video on the USA’s issues when it comes to the game SOOO many of us here love. Thank you SO MUCH for making this content, keep it up pls! You’ve got a new subscriber, right here.

This is very true. I play ECNL for the Dallas Texans 2012 Academy ECNL and we have to pay a fee of $3600.00 a year but our uniform is covered. Pretty much in the USA its Pay to Play hopefully yall understand❤

This video is so true and I swear espn makes it seem like the U.S.A. National team can beat Argentina 💀 They can barely beat Bolivia 😂.

It’s also the nature of that player pool…rich suburban kids usually don’t have that fire to be a pro player.

I'm a US Soccer fan since 2010, and I demand a complete 180. This to me is not American to accept mediocrity. I demand excellence from a national team in the biggest sport on the planet. I'm this close to just switching national teams.

We've got similar problems in Australia, our professional clubs have academies but not domestic transfer fees, and we haven't had promotion/relegation since the late 80s

Canada is not as good at hockey as we used to be because its too expensive for most families to play at a high level. I remember public rinks, pond hockey etc was really popular as a kid in the 80's, 90's now its non existent. you could be gretzky but if your arents aint got the 7000 a year for equipment, travel, team exenses etc your never gonna make it. thats why russia iss getting better, most poor people play hockey in Russia in the winter, skates and a stick is all you need to play 8 hours a day, 7 days a week as a youth

Honestly, the USMNT have had more successful runs in World Cups than Japan for instance which is insane when you think about it.

The first fundamental problem with US soccer is the USSF, an organization riddled with corruption, incompetence and indifference. The second basic issue is capitalism and how it infects the pay-for-play profit-making priority over creating soccer talent. Soccer is really just a cash cow for kids and their parent s being milked for every dime. The third and most vital crisis revolves round the culture of football, which in this nation has no resemblance to that in the rest of the world. Here it is suburbanized, homogenized and compartmentalized into a commercial package with no difference from McNuggets, Range Rovers and WeedWhackers.

This aged like a fine wine. Bravo - well said!

The last 50 years?!? The US has been attending the world cup since the first one in 1930 so try 100 😂 we do have the first ever WC win and the first ever world cup game clean sheet tho, so we have some roots to work on 💪🔥 btw love your videos, just discovered you today and I already subscribed. Keep it up.

its funny that they break so many records in sports like swimming golf tennis etc still can't belive the usa lost 5-1

This is how pissed people were with Berhalter before his latest huge fail in Copa.

U.S. Soccer was doomed the moment The Berlin Airlift succeeded and the Soviet Blockade failed.

Wow THIS IS SHOCKING. Great video amigo

As an academy coach I have seen sooo much talent fall through the ranks cause how expensive it is

Pay to play is the biggest issue, and the MLS only benefits the development of the players they import from other countries.

Dude took 45 seconds to bring up 1776, poor form.

This is a great informative video, I find any time I find an American footy fan they're usually the opposite of you 😂 they have very high regards for mls comparing it as a top 5 league and the US national team is apparently one of the best in the world. Its good to see how honest you're, other American influencers are much more drink the Kool aid types

Uruguay population 3.4 mil - TWO world cup wins. US population 342 mil. Estimated total number of youth in soccer development academies in Uruguay at U14 -- 79 thousand; for USA at U14 -- 2.4 million. It's the quality of training, not the number of youth being trained. We need to focus on recruiting socioeconomically disadvantaged youth--we owe it to them and these youth have much more ambition/drive. MSL/USSF needs to comply with FIFA RSTP solidarity payment guidelines, so that US youth soccer development can shift from the short-term goal of extracting fees from parents to the long-term goal of actually developing youth skills/knowledge (This actually will make $$$$$$$$$ in the long term). USSF can also get a real manager for the men's team. Jurgen Klopp is out there!

It has not been that many years since USA has picked up soccer as its sport. It is not the main sport in the country. Therefore, U.S. struggles against in the world competition.

Missing the 2018 World Cup did irreparable damage to the sports growth here.

I know I probably already have 5 comments on this video, but I wanna pay attention to a comment I made on another YT video (not by your channel) on how US DOMESTIC soccer is fine (not national team) These are the reasons the MLS is completely fine. 1. The Salary Cap. Could it be a bit higher, yes. But this is the one thing that stops clubs to overly spend on players. It keeps every team competitive and ensures every team actually has a real chance of winning. Just look at how many teams in the NHL, NFL, MLS, and MLB have switched winning teams over the years. A team may win 2-3 times in a row but that's it. 2. No promotion/relegation. The reason I say this is for 2 key reasons. Firstly, it would be hard for a smaller club to be able to even play in the MLS due to the Continent-wide travel that you don't have to deal with in England, which makes change really hard to adapt too. Secondly even with divisions, having too many like 4 isn't an option as Traveling the Mississippi river is way different than traveling the entire 38th parallel. Plus, the fact each state could be considered a country. It also makes sure nobody tries to spend SOOO much just to collapse after failing to be promoted or getting relegated. It's happened more often than you think 3. The way the USL is set up now. With the MLS being a relaxed league, an experience like no other is offered in the USL. Changing the setup with Pro/reg would hurt either USL or MLS teams a lot. Plus, the fact teams in the 2. USL are semi-pro and college. It wouldn't make sense at least right now to change the system when the players in the 2. USL wouldn't be ready for the USL and how the USL and MLS clubs would be dwarfed by one another due to the league culture practically being opposites. The change at least for now, doesn't make sense. Plus, the fact it makes more sense for the circumstances in comparison to other leagues in America. RFA could be somewhat like discovery rights. So, the one place US soccer excels, is the ability to be immortal to collapse.

😂 you must be kicking yourself how accurate this is post Copa loss

You think the US plays bad? Wait until you see the Vietnam National Team

Pay for play doesn't bother me. People get what they accept.

USA's current crop of players is their best ever, but it's still just average at best, especially when you look at their defensive players, which are key to going on any kind of run in a tournament. Look at 2022 World Cup, USA got a 1-1 draw with Wales, then a 0-0 draw with England, a game which England treated as a rest day, and then barely beat Iran 1-0, the same Iran side that England dismantled 6-2 for fun. Then USA gets easily and comfortably dismantled by a good Netherlands side 3-1, they were cruising the entire game. USA doesn't have anything special, they supposedly have a great attack, which is just average at best, and they don't have a good defense at all. They can get draws against average team's or good teams that aren't trying, and when they play a good team in a game that actually matters, USA is second best from start to finish.

Just wait 15 years

I dont understand why they are USMNT and not just USA. Where people confused that they are men? Should every country do this?

in the US everything is a potential cash cow! that's why the game won't grow the way it could or should

For me, I'm fine with the USA's MLS and how it's set up (the draft is fine and all, it's a closed league, and discovery rights is kind of like a franchise tag in NFL or RFA in NHL, so by the U.S. standard it's fine. The difference between America in Soccer and other sports is because of how strong the league is to others. The NFL and NHL are the biggest leagues in the world of their sport, and the U.S. believes in more competition and capitalism, which is why the top teams win the league in suspenseful ways, and the bottom get their own suspense in the draft (Connor Berdard in NHL, and Caleb Williams in NFL), I believe the academies they could be good only if they stop the way they have their youth system set up, and it's way worse in other sports. I play hockey for example, and the better the team is, the more you have to pay. Skaters may have to pay $500 a year on equipment alone, and for me as a goalie, it's more like $1500 on my part. And the fact that playing for your average single A team could be $2.5K a year, (which is worse because this is tiered, so they make more money) AA could pay $5K a year, and AAA Could pay $7K a year, Juniors is worse depending on the league. So in overall, the MLS is only really doing bad because it isn't the best in the world. If you say the other leagues don't have competition the NHL has the European Counterpart (It's smaller but still 13 countries+Russia, and Russia is big on Hockey) The NFL a lot less, and talking about academies, since Soccer is a such smaller sport, paying for an academy is better. As Americans we do love playoffs though. So To end my thoughts, the MLS would not have this problem if they had the biggest league and attracted others, which would also help the national team as well. (Partially why I want to play hockey in Sweeden or Finnland is because they pay me instead of my family playing them) Hope this helps, be free to ask me any questions if my choice of words was a bit unclear

We played this 5-1 loss in DC…our nations capital….in front of 55K fans….and I’m sure 75% of the fans were Colombia supporters. US Soccer will think they were empty seats in Commanders Stadium as gullible as they are. If the fans not turning up and had enough of this guy (and not paying the stupidly expensive tickets I might add) isn’t your first clue? Then we’re doomed even before 2026 gets here…😢

I mean you have some points. But those same players that are playing in the top 5 leagues made some awful turnovers. Thts not a berhalter issue. I don’t care for his tactics, but, there are at least 3 other major sports leagues in the us that have been a major focus for decades, long before soccer. Until the top elite talent chooses soccer, we will continue to perform the way we do no matter who the coach is. I mean the guys we have now aren’t really the elite athletes in our country. Great yea….elite? No. I do agree that MLS needs to change their academy strategies and make it more affordable to all the players. That would definitely help. Good video though.

The only thing I disagree with is your comparing your US youth soccer experience, or lack thereof, to how every other person experienced the sport. It really all depends on the state you were raised in. I was raised in Maryland/DC/VA, and the Washington Diplomats and the Cosmos were everywhere and everything to entire generation of pre-corporate paytoplay.

Which American sport would Messi have played? Or Modric? These smaller athletes have always been available to US soccer, as the physical size requirements are not as extreme as American football, basketball or even baseball. In fact, for some positions smaller size can be an advantage. Therefore this notion of other sports stealing the best athletes from soccer has always been a bit weak to me, and an excuse for US Soccer to hide behind. It’s our system that sucks. If Messi or Maradona grew up in the US, they likely would have played soccer but would not have become world class in our system.

This video aged like fine wine 😂

I’ve been watching on and off for about since I was 10 . Favorite team is Chelsea bc I had a Fernando Torres jersey from Ross . I don’t know how people can talk about nepotism with bronny James and not talk about the nepotism in us futbol. It’s absurd

Also… Cricket isn’t shown on tv nor (embraced) and the US is dominating.

8:24 golden chance missed to put a eagle screech over this

We clearly have the ability to produce players in top leagues, but that only does so much for team cohesion. 1st: No MLS garbage coaches should be allowed to manage a team of european players. So first things first we need more forward thinking leaders starting with the manager and USSF. We need a manager thats going to play a consistent style of play and start playing that way at U17, 19, 21, 23 etc. levels so when these guys step in the first team for the US there's no tactical recalibration. 2nd: USSF needs to stop being happy being comfortably #1 in CONCACAF. Sure we win most Gold Cups and Nations leagues, but those are mickey mouse trophies and we'll end up stagnant like Mexico as a big fish in a small pond with that type of thinking. Unless we push to be in a better confederation, I think we will always be trapped in the top 10-20 places like happened to Mexico over the last 50 years. CONCACAF provides 1 or maybe 2 (recently) tough opponents in between World Cups in competitive games. USSF should really be leading the charge to try and merge with CONMEBOL to make some sort of Pan-American federation and do more tournaments like the 16 team Copa America where we'd play Argentina, Brazil, Colombia, etc on a regular basis in World Cup Qualifying and Copa America.

MLS next is coming

BRILLIANT SIR - YOU ARE SO RIGHT

Our pure talent in the country is better than any other country. By like 10 times. It's not even close. Imagine Le Bron on the pitch since he was 5 yo.

Love the video! I know this is a quick hitter video, but man you could have gone even harder at GGG and the Federation for how poorly they are performing with this generation of talent. Great video overall. Thanks!

Indian/usa cricket team.

The reason usa will never be good is because of the basic roots of the game.You knyhow many good players yall have missed out on bc they couldn’t afford the team they are playing on?

A league where teams encourage to finish LAST? And somehow i can imagine there are clubs who called dibs/discovery rights on every human being on the planet 😂 or can you called dibs on the super draft players too? What a joke 😂

Down with pay to play

We are literally a top 8 to 12th-ish country in the world. Saying “we suck” is hugely inaccurate. We’re a good coach away from being a 5th to 8th best team in the world.

Do one on Mexico please

Speaking of promotion, relegation, and the American lower leagues, consider doing a video about the OVPL and how Northern Kentucky Nitro was founded.

Sudamérica and Europe are the best in fútbol

Canada football going up ⚽️

In before usa fans coming in celebrating their 1-1 win with Brazil 😂

hey we didnt lose to brasil

I'm sure the US will get even better at soccer/football at some point, but we still have a LONG way to go lmao. Even for our standards, that 5-1 loss against Colombia was just unacceptable and there needs to be change in order for us to become a competent team. All I'm hoping for right now is that if we lose against Brazil, we can at least lose in a dignified manner lol.

who here after we just tied brazil 1-1. oh and one bad result doesn’t make us bad were ranked #11 on the world

I’m hopeful that the USA will win at least one World Cup in my lifetime 🇺🇸🏆

Could not have agreed more with you

since 1776 HAHAHAH

answer: its football

this...aged like milk left out on the counter during summer

I wish the usa best of luck in the copa america❤

Futbol

W

Well for starters, we can call it by its actual name…. Football

You're spot on. Hopefully somebody in the U.S. Soccer Federation is watching.

We beat Mexico!!!

Pay for play is the worst, my little brother just started playing for a team and the money we pay is ridiculous. We are pricing so many good kids out of the game. The inly reason he was able to play is because thankfully we have a good tight nit community and helped him out with fees but it's crazy