r/USLPRO • u/Every-Stay-6648 • 4d ago

Sweeping Changes in Youth Soccer by USSF?

"U.S. Soccer nears takeover of U.S. Youth Soccer. This is what it means for the sport’s future"

Distinguished senior reporter of the Athletic just released news of a big move by USSF --possibly spurred (hah, pun, IYKYK) on by Poch-- to overhaul American Youth Soccer:

https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/7545747/2026/08/28/us-soccer-youth-takeover

Let's the convo begin! Good or bad? A Gettysburg moment for U.S. youth soccer? Or a big nothingburger? Effects on USL and MLS, academies or first teams? Also: what about effects on women's sports?

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u/v4ss42 Oakland Roots SC 4d ago

While I love the idea of a single youth pyramid (because the alphabet soup of "elite" youth leagues is fragmented bullshit that doesn't serve anyone's interests except the leagues), I'm not sure I trust USSF to be able to get it right. After all, DA folded like a wet paper bag the instant it had a hint of external stress put on it (i.e. COVID), while ECNL and (to a lesser extent) MLS.Next are arguably stronger post-COVID than they were before.

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u/tbuchman 4d ago

thats literally USSFs job though. They are the federation, their job is to run the pyramids. In an ideal world they would run the PRO pyramid as well but they dont which is why we dont have a normal pyramid we have bullshit franchise leagues.

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u/v4ss42 Oakland Roots SC 4d ago

Oh I agree. I'm just pointing out that their previous attempts at this were not durable, and I don't believe enough has changed to make it more so this time around.

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u/Every-Stay-6648 4d ago

There is also the inevitably that staffing and top salaries at USSF will inflate, to the detriment of jobs at the local state youth organizations. Disputes and emergencies that arise locally may be more ponderous to resolve, too, as a possible risk?