Pitch Invasion

In two weeks, viewers in the U.S. will be able to tune in to ESPN and watch the future of American soccer. Almost a year after its founding, the US Soccer Development Academy — consisting of 64 teams from across the country — will showcase its best eight teams at U-18 and U-16 levels in front of the television cameras for its inaugural national finals. How has this new venture fared in its first year?

Ivan Gazidis, Major League Soccer’s Deputy Commissioner, was interviewed by USSoccerPlayers.com this week, and there were lot of interesting nuggets in there. His views about changing the development of American youth soccer chime with what we’ve been discussing here recently as well. And in fact, the problems he addresses are shared with numerous countries, including […]

Over at Chicago Sports Weekly, I take a look at a Chicago-based organised pickup soccer club (Windy City Wanderers F.C.) who have grown from nothing to over 1,000 members in a little over a year. Their founder, Matt Rosine, discusses their plans for the future, which includes a partnership with Calle Soccer out of Utah, […]

Youth soccer is huge in America. Simply huge. MLS isn’t. TopDrawer soccer considers why St. Louis might be the best choice as MLS’ sixteenth franchise, by putting the two together for the good of the American game. Meantime, the other candidate, Philadelphia, has a hold-up.