World Cup 2026: Why U.S. Soccer leaders say the American youth system is broken

The U.S. men’s national team is making a historic World Cup run. But behind the scenes, the American youth soccer system is “broken.” Why expensive pay-to-play models are leaving talented kids behind, and how U.S. Soccer plans to fix it.

SANTA CLARA, Calif. — When Mauricio Pochettino was hired to coach the U.S. men’s national soccer team in 2024, he took over a team that had never been a serious contender. Undaunted, Pochettino, a 54-year-old Argentine, conjured up a motto he hoped would boost confidence ahead of the 2026 World Cup. He began repeating the phrase to players, the public and even President Donald Trump: Why not us?

Limited time: Save 25% on NBC News subscription

Get exclusive reporting, live Q&As and ad-free reading.

Just a moment.

We are getting your experience ready.