Now that the World Cup is over and Spain has thwarted Argentina’s dream of back-to-back titles, we fans can go back to rooting for our version of football: the NFL.
The 2026 World Cup was a blast, with the passion of countries from all around the world and watching some of the most gifted players ply their craft, from the Group stage to the Knockout stage to the Cup final.
However, is there a future for USA soccer? In a word, no.
Don’t get me wrong: There will always be some kind of pro soccer in this country, although Major League Soccer (MLS) in the USA will never be as huge as Europe’s Premiere League, Spain’s La Liga, Germany’s Bundesliga, or South America’s Copa America.
Money is the reason. USA soccer could never get a David Beckham or Lionel Messi in their prime to play here because the MLS is not on par with those major leagues.
To build soccer in this country, you have to start on the grassroots level, but that level here is all about making money for the coaches and youth leagues. Soccer in America is a country club, suburban enterprise.
The beautiful game, as the great Pelé called it, has always been an inner-city sport. It is tough and relentless. The USA’s version of gritty soccer is expensive shoes, home and away uniforms, smart-looking sports bags, and hiring various trainers to bring out the best in the kids.
A video showed kids in a Brazilian favella playing futbol on a concrete basketball court — in their bare feet. USA kids don’t have that kind of toughness. If Christian Pulisic is the face of USA soccer, then I’m Michael Jordan.
If you want to find the next Lionel Messi or Kylian Mbappé, you’re going to have to look to America’s inner-city parks and playgrounds. That’s where the talent is.
At the recent Home Run Derby during baseball’s All-Star Game in Philadelphia, 24-year-old Jordan Walker of the St. Louis Cardinals captured the title. He hoped to be a beacon for more Black kids to play baseball. Nice thought, but the youth baseball ship sailed out of the inner cities long ago. After playing for fun at the Rec level, there’s the travel level and the elite travel level above that. Plus, there’s the cost of the equipment. Guess who’s paying for the travel and hotel stays and food and gas?
When my youngest was playing travel baseball and soccer, the costs shocked me. When I told him I’d buy him a new metal bat for an upcoming out-of-state tournament, I made sure he didn’t see the bat under lock and key that cost $500 — and that was 10 years ago. Travel soccer is the same, with tournaments all over involving hotel stays and food, expenses, etc., that put parents on the hook.
However, soccer is a very lucrative sport. For instance, 41-year-old Cristiano Ronaldo of Portugal made $300 million this year; $235 million on the pitch and $65 million off. The billionaires footing the bill for the future of USA soccer better start throwing money toward the creation of inner-city teams/academies across the country. Then you’ll find and develop the next Messi and Mbappé right here. If not, we will become delusional fans every four years, rooting for a team that has no chance of ever capturing a World Cup.
Saying “Just Do It” or “We’ve Got Now” are nice marketing ploys, but jingles don’t score goals.
