U.S. soccer needs a true superstar (easier said than done)
NBC Sports • • sports
Key Points:
- U.S. soccer needs a global superstar—an exceptional talent with a long career and prolific goal-scoring ability—to elevate the sport nationally and internationally.
- Developing such a superstar hinges on attracting the best young athletes to soccer early, which requires increasing youth participation and competition levels.
- The growth of soccer in the U.S. is fundamentally cultural, needing a shift in which sports kids naturally play, moving from traditional favorites like football, baseball, and basketball to soccer.
- The 2026 World Cup could serve as a catalyst for more American children to start playing soccer casually, potentially leading to greater organized participation and talent development.
- Over time, as soccer becomes a mainstream youth sport, it will produce more good players and eventually true superstars who can compete and dominate on the world stage.
