Modern State of U.S Soccer

The U.S has widespread, strong youth soccer leagues. These leagues began to form in the 1960's and 1970's on a pay-to-play dynamic. In other countries, soccer had developed into the premier sport. Club teams at the professional level began to fund youth teams as a way to funnel talent into the major leagues. In 1960's, the major soccer league in the U.S at the time was the NASL. The NASL was not financially stable enough to have teams procure and fund youth talent, so they marketed youth soccer as a product. Parents seek out soccer for their children, and you pay to play the sport. The way that youth leagues are today has not changed, and cost is generally the biggest barrier to playing soccer. To take a local example, NCFC Classic club fees start at $1,800 for a single season. This price does not include team fees, travel cost, jerseys etc. Soccer in the U.S today is generally seen as the sport of the suburbs, a middle class and lacking diversity sport that has a high cost of entry.