World Cup 2026

[Jockey]

Men's soccer needs to develop players at the college level. Use it as a minor league like the top 3 sports do.

Women's soccer does this, but the men have mostly resisted it.

It's not necessary in the rest of the world where soccer is the dominant sport, but here they are in competition with several other sports- not for dominance, but to be #4.

The women recognize this and use college sports to build the vast majority of their team.

[jesmu84]

Men's soccer needs to develop players at the college level. Use it as a minor league like the top 3 sports do.

Women's soccer does this, but the men have mostly resisted it.

It's not necessary in the rest of the world where soccer is the dominant sport, but here they are in competition with several other sports- not for dominance, but to be #4.

The women recognize this and use college sports to build the vast majority of their team.

The women are a completely different scenario.

The US has greatly benefitted from having girls/women's sports before that was a thing across the globe

[BM1090]

I sort of alluded to this earlier, but its part of the reason when friendlies can be so hard to gauge (both good and bad).  I had pretty low expectations for the US (and Poch) due to the friendlies and other matches.  But once the rosters/lineups came out and we saw the first matches (both Senegal in the final warm up and Paraguay), it was a completely different mentality and realization of level.

So some of it is indeed eye test, but also assessing data/results with context.  For example, the US lost 4-0 to Switzerland last year with a starting 11 that featured 1 player (Berhalter) that got meaningful minutes in the WC.

This. And they lost to Belgium the first time with about half the starters sitting and playing a different formation. And Turkey they rested 9 starters.

The first four games of the world cup were incredibly impressive. They were dominating teams in a way that's usually reserved for the elite programs. Unfortunately, they looked completely unready for the moment against Belgium. I don't think it was a talent or tactics thing, they just looked like a team that'd never been there.

[The Sultan]

Men's soccer needs to develop players at the college level. Use it as a minor league like the top 3 sports do.

That may work to develop players for MLS, but that most certainly isn't going to work to develop a stronger USMNT.

[The Sultan]

This. And they lost to Belgium the first time with about half the starters sitting and playing a different formation. And Turkey they rested 9 starters.

The first four games of the world cup were incredibly impressive. They were dominating teams in a way that's usually reserved for the elite programs. Unfortunately, they looked completely unready for the moment against Belgium. I don't think it was a talent or tactics thing, they just looked like a team that'd never been there.

Yeah...and I kinda feel like Poch has escaped some criticism for this.

[BM1090]

Yeah...and I kinda feel like Poch has escaped some criticism for this.

Yeah, I think he earned some leeway with how good they were before the Belgium game. But everyone is to blame for that disaster, including Poch. I'd still bring him back though if he's interested.

[tower912]

Pulisic broke his leg.

[panda]

Pulisic broke his leg.

Bone bruise  is a micro fracture - if the us won I doubt he would be able to play for the rest of the tournament but will be available for the start of club season.

Highly misleading to say he broke his leg

[MUBurrow]

Yeah...and I kinda feel like Poch has escaped some criticism for this.

Yeah, which I think says more about how atrocious the vibes have been since the Bob Bradley years than anything.

[Jockey]

That may work to develop players for MLS, but that most certainly isn't going to work to develop a stronger USMNT.

Yes. We should keep doing what we have been doing. Extremely successful.

Our population is 60 times that of Norway - yet they are much more successful in the sports they compete in. The 'process' is the reason.

[MU Fan in Connecticut]

We're kind of like UWM when playing Brazil in soccer.

[Billy Hoyle]

This. And they lost to Belgium the first time with about half the starters sitting and playing a different formation. And Turkey they rested 9 starters.

The first four games of the world cup were incredibly impressive. They were dominating teams in a way that's usually reserved for the elite programs. Unfortunately, they looked completely unready for the moment against Belgium. I don't think it was a talent or tactics thing, they just looked like a team that'd never been there.

They dominated weak teams though. Bosnia and Herzegovina is 61 in the FIFA rankings (the 6th lowest in the entire tournament), Paraguay 41, Australia 27 and Turkey 33. It's like a Georgetown non-conference schedule - they beat the teams they should have but got exposed against a better team.

[JWags85]

Bone bruise  is a micro fracture - if the us won I doubt he would be able to play for the rest of the tournament but will be available for the start of club season.

Highly misleading to say he broke his leg

Yes, but its also relevant to the relative severity for everyone who is saying Pulisic "quit" or is acting like he just rolled his ankle and gave up cause he's a wimp.  He's not above criticism, looked off his game every since he got the knock in the Paraguay match, and was too aloof in his post game interview...but people were comparing him and this injury to Dempsey breaking his nose for gods sakes. 

Yes. We should keep doing what we have been doing. Extremely successful.

Our population is 60 times that of Norway - yet they are much more successful in the sports they compete in. The 'process' is the reason.

No, you're asking the US to keep doing what they've been doing.  You have no clue about high level international soccer and its painfully obvious yet you keep doubling down.  Until 15-20 years ago, good teenage players in the US played HS soccer and club in the offseason.  Then they played in college and if they were really good, they left school early and got a pro contract.  So the majority of US players started playing soccer full time in their early 20s.  Meanwhile the rest of the world had their best players playing full time soccer since their early teens. 

The US finally started to adopt more of global approach with their best players and the US has seen their best performances and rankings ever on a regular basis.  But yea, sure, screw McKinnie and Richards and Pulisic and Adams, guys that were starters in top European leagues in their early 20s, at that age they should be developing at Indiana and UNC and Stanford playing with/against a bunch of guys who are a year or two away from working in an office.

Oh also, because you're fully drunk off of being an uninformed know-it-all...

"Our population is 60 times that of Norway - yet they are much more successful in the sports they compete in"

This is the first time Norway has qualified for the World Cup in 28 years.  The US has made the Round of 16 more times in the last 20 years than Norway has made World Cups...in their history.  The US hasn't lost to Norway since 1990. 

Norway made the quarterfinals cause they have the best striker in the world who is a generational talent.  This is the equivalent of whining about 20 years ago about Davidson being a "much more successful program" than Marquette cause of their E8 run with Steph Curry.

[BM1090]

They dominated weak teams though. Bosnia and Herzegovina is 61 in the FIFA rankings (the 6th lowest in the entire tournament), Paraguay 41, Australia 27 and Turkey 33. It's like a Georgetown non-conference schedule - they beat the teams they should have but got exposed against a better team.

They did, although I'd argue none of the teams they played in group were weak. No argument on Bosnia.

And yes they didn't beat anyone elite, but when has the US ever dominated teams to the extent that we saw against Bosnia, Paraguay, and Australia. They controlled all three of those games from the start. That's a rarity for us.

[panda]

Yes, but its also relevant to the relative severity for everyone who is saying Pulisic "quit" or is acting like he just rolled his ankle and gave up cause he's a wimp.  He's not above criticism, looked off his game every since he got the knock in the Paraguay match, and was too aloof in his post game interview...but people were comparing him and this injury to Dempsey breaking his nose for gods sakes. 

No, you're asking the US to keep doing what they've been doing.  You have no clue about high level international soccer and its painfully obvious yet you keep doubling down.  Until 15-20 years ago, good teenage players in the US played HS soccer and club in the offseason.  Then they played in college and if they were really good, they left school early and got a pro contract.  So the majority of US players started playing soccer full time in their early 20s.  Meanwhile the rest of the world had their best players playing full time soccer since their early teens. 

The US finally started to adopt more of global approach with their best players and the US has seen their best performances and rankings ever on a regular basis.  But yea, sure, screw McKinnie and Richards and Pulisic and Adams, guys that were starters in top European leagues in their early 20s, at that age they should be developing at Indiana and UNC and Stanford playing with/against a bunch of guys who are a year or two away from working in an office.

Oh also, because you're fully drunk off of being an uninformed know-it-all...

"Our population is 60 times that of Norway - yet they are much more successful in the sports they compete in"

This is the first time Norway has qualified for the World Cup in 28 years.  The US has made the Round of 16 more times in the last 20 years than Norway has made World Cups...in their history.  The US hasn't lost to Norway since 1990. 

Norway made the quarterfinals cause they have the best striker in the world who is a generational talent.  This is the equivalent of whining about 20 years ago about Davidson being a "much more successful program" than Marquette cause of their E8 run with Steph Curry.

Yes- totally agree. I will never criticize an athlete's handling of an injury in the moment as you truly have no idea. My criticism was directed at the poster saying he "broke his leg" which is wildly misleading and flat out incorrect.

[The Sultan]

Yes. We should keep doing what we have been doing. Extremely successful.

Our population is 60 times that of Norway - yet they are much more successful in the sports they compete in. The 'process' is the reason.

The reason that college works as a training ground for football and basketball is that the United States is the country where those sports have had a history of growing and excelling. Many college coaches have had access to the latest and greatest in teaching and training.

College soccer is a non-revenue sport, oftentime coached by low-paid individuals who have little access to modern techniques and strategy. It simply would be awful to retroactively lean on college soccer to train future USMNT players when it has a track record of not doing that.

Working with MLS to develop a more robust identification and training system, and making it more accessible financially to people, is the way to go here. Getting our best over to Europe where they can play at the highest levels is the way to give them more experience. 

[Jockey]

Regarding Pulisic, the problem people (players, coaches, officials, etc.) have with him is almost entirely about the people he surrounds himself with.

[Billy Hoyle]

The reason that college works as a training ground for football and basketball is that the United States is the country where those sports have had a history of growing and excelling. Many college coaches have had access to the latest and greatest in teaching and training.

College soccer is a non-revenue sport, oftentime coached by low-paid individuals who have little access to modern techniques and strategy. It simply would be awful to retroactively lean on college soccer to train future USMNT players when it has a track record of not doing that.

Working with MLS to develop a more robust identification and training system, and making it more accessible financially to people, is the way to go here. Getting our best over to Europe where they can play at the highest levels is the way to give them more experience. 

Another big problem with college soccer is the limited time for training. 20 hours/week for 14 weeks during the fall. The coaches have been pushing a year round model for years and this legislative cycle it was finally moved forward to where it is actual submitted legislation. Meanwhile, in the overseas academies kids are training full-time and year round.

[The Sultan]

Another big problem with college soccer is the limited time for training. 20 hours/week for 14 weeks during the fall. The coaches have been pushing a year round model for years and this legislative cycle it was finally moved forward to where it is actual submitted legislation. Meanwhile, in the overseas academies kids are training full-time and year round.

Excellent point.

[MU82]

I'm not the biggest futbol fan, but I have to admit that hearing the Telemundo guys call a goal is one of the more fun things in all of sports.

[JWags85]

The reason that college works as a training ground for football and basketball is that the United States is the country where those sports have had a history of growing and excelling. Many college coaches have had access to the latest and greatest in teaching and training.

College soccer is a non-revenue sport, oftentime coached by low-paid individuals who have little access to modern techniques and strategy. It simply would be awful to retroactively lean on college soccer to train future USMNT players when it has a track record of not doing that.

I also have no interest in overly crapting on college soccer in the US, but its also tactically so far away from the global game.  College soccer is a lot of long balls, send and chase, not a ton of possession/build up play.  There is a reason why even very good college players often can struggle adapting to even MLS, and its not just a skill gap issue.

[The Sultan]

I also have no interest in overly crapting on college soccer in the US, but its also tactically so far away from the global game.  College soccer is a lot of long balls, send and chase, not a ton of possession/build up play.  There is a reason why even very good college players often can struggle adapting to even MLS, and its not just a skill gap issue.

And I am not crapting on them either. College soccer has its own goals and objectives. And at times, those are in conflict with the goals and objectives of the development of the USMNT, and that is absolutely fine.

[JWags85]

And I am not crapting on them either. College soccer has its own goals and objectives. And at times, those are in conflict with the goals and objectives of the development of the USMNT, and that is absolutely fine.

Completely, I more caveated it because I was loudly against college soccer having any influence/impact on the USMNT (and frankly on MLS if they want MLS to continue to improve as a league) earlier in the thread.  There is absolute value and awesome opportunities in college soccer as a stand alone.

Frankly, I think a shift to a more global approach to soccer/academies/youth development would only benefit college soccer.  A lot of people don't realize the downside of the academy culture in the UK/Europe, for example.  Kids/teens going all in to play at a top club academy only to wash out and not cut it for any number of reasons (early development in either physicals or skills that everyone caught up to them, immaturity/attitude, or simply burn out).  In the UK, most of those guys end up playing in the low leagues for little to no money and find some other side jobs.  They still went to school while playing for the academy, but they weren't focused on A-Levels and trying to get into universities in the UK cause that was a very different/non-athletics path.

But the US, those same "wash outs" would be very valuable and top tier college recruits compared to their peers playing high school/lower level club soccer.  They can keep playing soccer, get paid for it (scholarship and/or NIL), and have a secondary track as opposed to the thousands of former academy guys in the UK who are construction workers or retail workers while playing for 8th Division Duckhead United cause they failed at Fulham when they were 16.  Its already a path that a non-insignificant amount of European players take, but would be all the more easy, seamless, and natural for domestic talent.

[forgetful]

Men's college soccer is more likely to decline, and would never be organized enough to be a major benefit.

With most Universities heavily bankrupted by changes in athletics (i.e. pay for play), they are looking to cut programs and cut funding in most sports.

Women's soccer has worked because they invest in it to for Title IX reasons.

[Billy Hoyle]

Men's college soccer is more likely to decline, and would never be organized enough to be a major benefit.

With most Universities heavily bankrupted by changes in athletics (i.e. pay for play), they are looking to cut programs and cut funding in most sports.

Women's soccer has worked because they invest in it to for Title IX reasons.

There are only 212 Men's Soccer programs at D1 schools compared to 351 Women's programs.