The United States men's national team suffered a 4‑1 defeat to Belgium in the Round of 16 of the 2026 World Cup, a result that highlighted lingering doubts about the depth of talent in American soccer.
Stan Collymore, a former England international, has seized on that performance to point out a structural problem he believes is holding the nation back.
He argues that the United States cannot become a football superpower while the pathway to the professional game remains dominated by expensive, privately run youth leagues.
The Cost Barrier in American Soccer
In England, junior football teams are often started by parents for free, and the cost to play is minimal, making the sport accessible to all.
In the United States, junior leagues are private enterprises that charge high fees, making it difficult for poor but talented children to participate.
Collymore highlights that the US equivalent of the Football Association offers no grassroots football or affordable coaching badges, leaving many promising players without a viable route.
His solution is straightforward: the US Federation should organize affordable junior leagues, ban profiteering, and provide cheap coaching badges to make football accessible to all.
If the sport’s governing bodies embrace these reforms, the next generation of American talent could finally break through on the world stage.