I think the US is going to get better, but I don’t think they’ll be challenging any of the global powerhouses. Soccer / futbol is getting more and more popular over time. And, typically, when a country hosts the world cup, 10-15 years later there’s a new group of players who were inspired by the tournament and who have spent the time since then focusing on it.
American athletes generally are multi-sport players when younger, and tend to follow the best money. The players who have the best chance at being star soccer players simply end up playing football or basketball. The sport being less popular than at least 4 other sports in America is a huge problem for developing homegrown talent for the national team.
soccer/football seems to be the only sport that our state uni in my area has as a legit sports team, and msot of them want to be part of AN EU team after graduation anyway, they likely know the US one isnt very lucrative or very good at getting them to level of the EU, BRAZIL,etc. they only go for other sports if a specific university has the teams for those sports like FOOTBALL , or basketball.
I mostly mean before college. There is definitely a path for american soccer players, but its not in America like you say. World class players still “retire” and then go play in America, which says a lot.
I think the US is going to get better, but I don’t think they’ll be challenging any of the global powerhouses. Soccer / futbol is getting more and more popular over time. And, typically, when a country hosts the world cup, 10-15 years later there’s a new group of players who were inspired by the tournament and who have spent the time since then focusing on it.
American athletes generally are multi-sport players when younger, and tend to follow the best money. The players who have the best chance at being star soccer players simply end up playing football or basketball. The sport being less popular than at least 4 other sports in America is a huge problem for developing homegrown talent for the national team.
soccer/football seems to be the only sport that our state uni in my area has as a legit sports team, and msot of them want to be part of AN EU team after graduation anyway, they likely know the US one isnt very lucrative or very good at getting them to level of the EU, BRAZIL,etc. they only go for other sports if a specific university has the teams for those sports like FOOTBALL , or basketball.
I mostly mean before college. There is definitely a path for american soccer players, but its not in America like you say. World class players still “retire” and then go play in America, which says a lot.