“USYS members took a historic step to make the game more affordable and accessible to kids and their families across the country.”— Tina Rincon, US Youth Soccer’s Chair of the Board, on Saturday’s announcement that the state associations of the country’s largest youth soccer organization approved a move to integrate into U.S. Soccer. When the […]
youth
U-20 Women’s World Cup: USA aims for first title in 14 years
Coach Vicky Jepson’s team aiming to win the USA’s first U-20 World Cup title since 2012 is the most experienced American squad ever at that age group. Eight members play in the NWSL and three of them are in their third season of the world’s strongest women’s pro league. They’ll be tested in group play by Japan, which reached the last three finals, Italy (Sept. 6 opener) and New Zealand.
Young U.S. prospects score and assist in MLS. Plus: An Olympic hopeful impresses in Poland
For U.S. youth national team players, it has been a banner week for impactful performances, particularly in MLS, where teenagers delivered an impressive wave of goals and assists. In Europe, opportunities for young Americans have been slower to materialize, but with preseason ending across most of the continent, we should soon get a clearer picture […]
USYNT: Eight NWSL players on U-20 Women’s World Cup squad
Eight pros and 13 collegians comprise Coach Vicky Jepson’s U.S. team for the 2026 U-20 Women’s World Cup in Poland (Sept. 5-27). The USA last won the biennial championship in 2012. Three players are in their third NWSL seasons: Kennedy Fuller, Ainsley McCammon and Emeri Adames.
What They’re Saying: Vicky Jepson
“We’re very fortunate that we have a manager of the women’s national team that is very much invested in our youth talent pathway. Every camp I do, I have a list of players that Emma Hayes wants to see, and we do high-potential reports on those to present to Emma, Denise Reddy and Lisa Cole. In terms of a game methodology … we’re very aligned. It needs to be age specific, but the principles of play — how we want to press and build and create opportunities is — very much similar to what Emma is doing.”
— Vicky Jepson, coach of the U.S. U-20 women’s national team that’s headed to the U-20 Women’s World Cup in Poland. Six players from the 2024 U-20 World Cup team, which finished third under coach Tracey Kevins, have earned USWNT caps.
Jepson also addressed UEFA’s threats to boycott the tournament
SA Archives: The launch of U.S. Club Soccer (2001)
Twenty-five years ago, columnist Paul Gardner interviewed Derek Armstrong, Bill Sage and Roy Rees about the launch of an American youth soccer governing body that would serve as an alternative to U.S. Youth Soccer. What the founders originally called the National Association of Competitive Soccer Clubs (NACSC) soon became U.S. Club Soccer.
USA falls to Mexico in Concacaf U-20 Men’s Championship final
Mexico beat the USA, 2-0, before 36,000 fans at Azteca Stadium in Sunday’s 2026 Concacaf U-20 Championship final to qualify for the 2028 Olympics. The victory marked Mexico’s second straight regional U-20 crown in the biennial competition after the USA had won three straight titles in 2017, 2018 and 2022.
Concacaf U-20 Men’s Championship: USA beats Costa Rica in semifinals
The USA advanced to its fifth straight Concacaf U-20 Championship final with a 2-0 semifinal win over Costa Rica on Friday at Mexico City’s Azteca Stadium. Coach Gonzalo Segares‘ team, which had already secured a berth at the 2027 U-20 World Cup with its 3-1 quarterfinal win over Guatemala, finished with 79% of the possession […]
YOUTH SOCCER: U.S. U-17 women will hold final camp before team picked for World Cup
Ciara Crinion will look at 24 players in Fayetteville before she names her roster for the 2026 U-17 Women’s World Cup in Morocco.
USYNT: USA routs Cuba in U-20 World Cup qualifying
A 5-0 win over Cuba earned the USA the No. 1 seed in the knockout stage of the Concacaf U-20 Championship. Coach Gonzalo Segares’ team can clinch a spot in the 2027 U-20 World Cup win a quarterfinal win on Tuesday.
