When the 1994 World Cup came to town, Major League Soccer did not exist, and there were questions as to whether soccer would succeed in this country. Fast forward to United States men’s national team for the 2026 World Cup, and while there is still room for growth, with stars such as Lionel Messi again A son Heung-Min who plays in Major League Soccer, The United Soccer League is preparing to start promotion and relegation in their league, while American fans show their love for football by watching football and being there, it is clear that football will always be there.
Major League Soccer commissioner Don Garber admits it’s been a year since MLS announced it would move to a European format, but there’s a lot more to come for the country’s premier soccer league.
“The world has never seen anything like what the World Cup will be like in 2026. This is Super Bowls every day for over a month, and I think the world will see everything we know in the soccer world in North America, that the game is important here,” Garber said when he spoke at the league’s press conference in December.
“People care about it a lot, there is a change going on where sports are more popular than anyone else, that is proven by the things that are happening in our league, what is happening in the women’s game, what is happening in the different organizations that are being built, what is happening in the communities that are hosting the games, all the watch parties will happen but he has loved this game for 30 years, and it will continue for another 30.”
The impact of the World Cup
When you look at how the league can continue to develop at such a rapid pace, you have to examine what the World Cup can bring to American football. Since there is no new league coming this time, there are many exceptions to the following. While the USMNT’s performance is a sign of a strong World Cup, it is a better indicator of short-term success than long-term success. The performance of the national team can encourage others to want to play football, but so can things like seeing representation in their own backyards.
The Algerian national team has been one of the most interesting stories of the World Cup so far, as they are based in Lawrence, Kansas, and during community training, the national team played football with children in the community. Those are moments that will stay with those children and impact society for years to come. It’s part of the beauty of spreading base camps, so these players are really in the community and bring the World Cup to a level beyond the 16 host cities where the games are played. Just ask the people who came out of Chattanooga, Tenn., to see Spain’s Lamine Yamal.
And there is no telling how encouraging it can be, despite the current obstacles. Top travel teams and other MLS schools require people to pay to play or travel long distances to get into soccer. There may be financial assistance available at times, but only when it is available Clint Dempsey He stopped playing youth football for a while so his parents could spend that money elsewhere, it shows how fragile this system is.
If you’re good enough, you’re old enough as the famous saying goes Manchester United team Matt Busby, but in the United States, it can be changed to, if you’re good enough and you’re good enough, you’re old enough, and that’s something that needs to change. Football may not be able to overtake football and basketball to become America’s top sport, but in a country of about 350 million, it doesn’t have to, as there is plenty of talent to develop youth programming if it is accessible to them.
The role of FIFA and US Soccer in accessibility
Speaking to Soccer America, they recognize that pay-to-play is something that needs to be addressed, and by innovating to grow, there is a plan being made to make soccer more accessible to all. That program was able to build a new center with the support of FIFA Forward. FIFA Forward is a program that gives money back to member organizations to raise the standard of football while also exercising oversight to ensure that those funds are spent properly.
With still in Haiti To qualify for the World Cup, those funds were used to provide security and help with development. Cabo Verde again Curacao they have used FIFA Forward money to improve infrastructure in their countries, and it is quickly showing the results of first-time qualifiers and those returning to the World Cup after a long absence. By the end of 2026, FIFA expects to invest 5 billion in this program
“Even in the difficulties that some of them have to go through in terms of the state of the country, for example, Haiti, unfortunately it is going through a difficult time as a country and it is difficult to organize football at the domestic level on the island due to the lack of security at the moment, so there is a general committee established by FIFA that has done a great job there in such a way that sometimes we focus on it, the national teams and the opportunity to give these girls and boys training places,” said the Director of FIFA Member Members Associations Americas, Jair Bertoni.
Sometimes they have to go abroad to do it safely, but these are the kinds of things that can make football more accessible around the world. Depending on the needs of each country, in the United States, FIFA Forward support has helped US Soccer increase innovation in their markets, financing around 27 projects. And the purpose they have is to make it easier to play football because the settlement is something that is known in this country and prevents growth to the level of other countries.
“It’s a complex problem. It’s not going to be a one-size-fits-all solution for everyone. So, being able to direct funding to them to prepare solutions that really make sense in their communities and make sense in the underserved communities they’re trying to reach is one way,” said Melissa Radke, director, member strategy at USSF. “And like US Soccer, again, we recognize that there’s more work to be done. We have some programs that we have going on, we’re working very closely with our members, including the professional leagues, on that. If we look at the different paths that players have, whether they want to go to more competitive or pre-professional areas or stay recreational, whatever is best for them, and where they want to improve. moving forward, there will be more to come out of that.”
There has been progress in the American coaching system, but this piece is the one that could be important in changing the future of football in America as the World Cup is here for the second time. If US Soccer can use the inspiration that the 2026 World Cup will bring to the United States, the sky may be the limit for the next tournaments for the United States and the teams that represent this country.
