College Soccer’s Foreign Influx Hurts U.S. Talent Development

“The U.S. Men’s National Team was supposed to break through at this summer’s World Cup. Every ingredient for success was there: co-host status, a roster more seasoned in European competition than any generation before it, a proven manager in Mauricio Pochettino … yet the team failed to advance past the round of 16. Worse, its performance during its 4-1 loss to Belgium has been roundly blasted as inept.

The autopsy since has been thorough. Commentators have pointed to a lack of accountability at U.S. Soccer’s leadership level, to a youth sports culture that prices out talent and rewards early specialization over development, and to the USMNT’s lack of composure, even a dearth of heart. Given all the promotion and promises, the criticism is fair.”

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