Pay-to-Play Model Stifles U.S. Soccer Dreams

Price tag hampers American soccer

There is a long tradition in soccer of great players coming from extremely modest backgrounds. Pelé, one of the greatest players in history, was famously a shoe-shine boy before becoming a soccer star. Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo, two modern superstars, also came from humble origins. Messi’s father was a steel factory worker, and Messi signed his first contract on the back of a napkin.

Ronaldo’s family struggled financially; his mother has spoken about considering abortion due to poverty, and his father was a alcoholic war veteran. Ronaldo has shared that he used to beg for fast food leftovers after training.

Missing Talent

This theme — players from disadvantaged backgrounds rising through talent and grit — is a recurring part of soccer history. In Europe and most of the world, scouts visit both high schools and private clubs to find talent. In the United States, however, scouts often focus almost exclusively on private or travel teams, which require substantial financial commitment — often around $1,000 a year per player.

I learned this unfortunate reality several decades ago while taking a soccer coaching course. Several coaches in the course discussed the dilemma of the American Olympic…