The Future of Youth Soccer in America: Costs, Coaching, and Creating World-Class Players (Soccer 7/16)

The Future of Youth Soccer in America: Costs, Coaching, and Creating World-Class Players (Soccer 7/16)

From Call It What You Want: A CBS Sports Golazo Network Podcast by CBS Sports, USMNT, U.S. Soccer, MLS, World Cup, UCL, Americans Abroad

July 16, 2026 · 1h 27m

About this episode

The episode discusses the challenges and opportunities in youth soccer in America, focusing on accessibility, coaching standards, and player development.

How do you make soccer more accessible for every child in America while building a system capable of producing the world's best players? Chris Wittyngham, Jimmy Conrad, Charlie Davies, Tony Meola, and Benny Feilhaber tackle the biggest questions facing youth soccer, from pay-to-play and coaching standards to U.S. Soccer's role in shaping the next generation of talent. Plus, FC Dallas head coach Eric Quill reflects on helping develop Chris Richards and explains why the game needs more selfless, qualified coaches, and Chelsea's Grassroots Coordinator Terry Bobie offers an insider's perspective on how young players are developed in the English system. And the crew reveals the one change each of them would make to American youth soccer if money were no object. Call It What You Want is available for free on the Audacy app as well as Apple Podcasts, Spotify and wherever else you listen to podcasts.  Follow the Call It What You Want team on X: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@JimmyConrad⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ , ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ @CharlieDavies9⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ , ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@TMeola1⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ For more soccer coverage from CBS Sports, visit ⁠ https://www.cbssports.com/soccer/⁠ Subscribe to ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Paramount+⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Visit the…

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