America’s early departure from the 2026 World Cup raised a question that arises every four years: What would it take to produce a global soccer superpower in the United States?

America’s early departure from the 2026 World Cup raised a question that arises every four years: What would it take to produce a global soccer superpower in the United States?

Youth soccer in America reflects some of our worst national systems.

When a U.S. soccer team loses, fingers are aimed at the USA's "pay-to-play" soccer system. Other countries also pay, but they pay less. How could the USA make up the gap?