America's Pro Soccer Landscape Reimagined through an 8-Tier Utopian Lens
American soccer players have a problem.
A big problem.
As of May 2023, we have 101 professional soccer clubs. Assume each club has 25 registered players. That’s a total of 2,525 pros. We’ll ignore the percentage of American players in these leagues, which would further weaken the number of pro players.
As an American youth soccer player, your odds of playing professional soccer in the USA are 131,578:1.
Granted, we’re not a soccer-first nation (we love the other football), but based on our nation’s population, those are the odds.
Turn to England, admittedly a football-first nation, and the odds are 5,400:1. Not too bad.
But let’s address the fact that soccer has fierce competition in the USA. Rather than basing our ratio off of the total population, let’s go off of total soccer players and their odds of playing pro.
In England, the FA estimates that 1.8 million males play in official leagues. That’s 1 in 175 male players enjoying a career somewhere in the top 8-tiers. In the USA, the number of total male participants climbs to 6.9 million. That’s a 1 in 2,728 chance of an American male playing for a domestic professional club.
That’s a major problem.
ChatGPT’s Utopian 8-tier American Professional Pyramid
Let’s dream up a utopian professional soccer pyramid with the help of ChatGPT.
We’re going to preserve the current structure (think club placement) as much as possible while generating more leagues and clubs with a clearer pathway to the first team. Note that this system assumes promotion/relegation, a novel concept in the top-down American sports landscape.
MLS owners have paid hundreds of millions of dollars to found their clubs. USL has multi-million dollar expansion fees as well. To start a club in the USA, you start with money and facilities, not players and an organic grassroots movement. We have to account for that fact in the model.
Respecting the investment of MLS, USL, and NISA owners, we’ll give their franchises priority placement in our utopian 8-tier system. In fact, to preserve the value of recent owners, we’ll even give them a 10-year grace period within their league. Tepper Sports Group paid $325 million to start Charlotte FC. Since their first year of play was 2022, they may not get relegated to the 2nd division until 2032. After ten years, game on.
Finally, with only 101 pro teams in the mix and five leagues, we have to invent soccer’s future…a lot of it. I’ve prompted ChatGPT to create not only new leagues, but also identify prospective new clubs based on limiting travel within USA’s challenging geography, accounting for population density, and putting America’s youth soccer landscape to work as the foundation of the project. The lower the division, the more localized the league.
Let’s take a look at the prompt and response.
Prompt: Let's build an 8-tier professional soccer system in the USA. We want to use the current professional soccer landscape, placing them in the respective tiers. Once they are placed, fill the gaps with missing significant markets, large US youth soccer clubs, and a combination of geographic distances and populations with a minimum of 10k residents to build the remaining clubs. You will have to invent some clubs.
Here Are the Guidelines for Building out the 8 Tiers
1st Division: 40 teams. Current and planned MLS teams plus remaining large markets that are missing
2nd Division: 20 teams each. Current USL Championship teams + best USL League 1 teams
3rd Division: 20 teams each. Remaining USL League 1 teams + NISA teams
4th Division and below: 20 teams each. Start with USL League 2 teams, then add NPSL and UPSL clubs. Invent clubs to the remaining leagues focusing on missing markets with large youth club programs.
Number of Leagues and Geographic Area
1st Division: 1 League. The whole country
2nd Division: 2 Leagues. Split the country into western and eastern conferences
3rd Division: 4 Leagues. Split the country into quarters
4th Division: 8 leagues. Split the country into 8ths
5th Division: 16 leagues. Split the country into 16ths
6th Division: 32 leagues. Split the country into 30ths
7th Division: 46 leagues. Split the country into 46ths
8th Division: 60 leagues. Split the country into 60ths
In the response, please list each division and the clubs competing in them.
ChatGPT’s Verdict
ChatGPT
Sure, I'd be happy to help you build an 8-tier professional soccer system in the USA. Here are the clubs that could compete in each division:
1st Division (40 teams)
Atlanta United FC
Austin FC
Chicago Fire FC
FC Cincinnati
Colorado Rapids
Columbus Crew SC
D.C. United
FC Dallas
Houston Dynamo FC
Inter Miami CF
Los Angeles FC
LA Galaxy
Minnesota United FC
Montreal Impact
Nashville SC
New England Revolution
New York City FC
New York Red Bulls
Orlando City SC
Philadelphia Union
Portland Timbers
Real Salt Lake
San Jose Earthquakes
Seattle Sounders FC
Sporting Kansas City
St. Louis City SC
Tampa Bay Rowdies
Toronto FC
Vancouver Whitecaps FC
Charlotte FC
Las Vegas Lights FC
Louisville City FC
Memphis 901 FC
Oakland Roots SC
Phoenix Rising FC
Pittsburgh Riverhounds SC
Queensboro FC
Sacramento Republic FC
San Diego Loyal SC
Tampa Bay Mutiny FC (Expansion)
2nd Division (20 teams each)
Eastern Conference
Birmingham Legion FC
Charleston Battery
Charlotte Independence
Hartford Athletic
Indy Eleven
Miami FC
New York Red Bulls II
North Carolina FC
Pittsburgh Riverhounds SC
Tampa Bay Rowdies
Loudoun United FC (Expansion)
South Carolina United Bantams (Expansion)
Atlanta United 2
FC Tulsa
Louisville City FC
Memphis 901 FC
St. Louis CITY2 (Expansion)
New England Revolution II
Philadelphia Union II
DC United 2 (Expansion)
Western Conference
El Paso Locomotive FC
Las Vegas Lights FC
New Mexico United
OKC Energy FC
Orange County SC
Phoenix Rising FC
Sacramento Republic FC
San Antonio FC
San Diego Loyal SC
Tacoma Defiance
Austin Bold FC
Colorado Springs Switchbacks FC
FC Tucson
LA Galaxy II
Oakland Roots SC
Rio Grande Valley FC Toros
Utah Royals FC
San Francisco Glens SC (Expansion)
Central California Aztecs FC (Expansion)
Salt Lake City United FC (Expansion)
3rd Division (20 teams each)
Northeast Conference
FC Tucson
Greenville Triumph SC
Forward Madison FC
Union Omaha
Chattanooga Red Wolves SC
North Carolina Fusion U23 (Expansion)
Michigan Stars FC
New Amsterdam FC
Rochester Rhinos (Expansion)
Western Mass Pioneers (Expansion)
Hartford City FC (Expansion)
Syracuse FC (Expansion)
New York Athletic Club (Expansion)
Brooklyn Italians SC (Expansion)
Ocean City Nor'easters (Expansion)
New Jersey Copa FC (Expansion)
Seacoast United Phantoms (Expansion)
Kingston Stockade FC (Expansion)
Boston City FC (Expansion)
Philadelphia Lone Star FC (Expansion)
Atlantic Conference
Detroit City FC
Maryland Bobcats FC
FC Buffalo
Cleveland SC
Pittsburgh Hotspurs SC
Erie Commodores FC
West Chester United SC
FC Monmouth
Atlantic City FC
Greater Lowell Rough Diamonds SC
Virginia Beach City FC
Electric City Shock SC
Buxmont Torch FC
Maryland Bobcats FC U23 (Expansion)
Northern Virginia United FC (Expansion)
AC Connecticut (Expansion)
Danbury United SC (Expansion)
South Conference
Greenville FC
Chattanooga FC
Miami United FC
Asheville City SC
Georgia Revolution FC
Inter Nashville FC
New Orleans Jesters SC
Pensacola FC
Savannah Clovers FC
Southern Soccer Academy (Expansion)
West Florida Flames (Expansion)
ASC San Diego (Expansion)
Florida Roots FC (Expansion)
Jax Armada U23 (Expansion)
Florida Elite SA (Expansion)
Gulf Coast Texans SC (Expansion)
LSA Athletico Lanier (Expansion)
Memphis City FC (Expansion)
Real Central NJ FC (Expansion)
Central Conference
Madison 56ers
AFC Ann Arbor
Milwaukee Torrent
FC Wichita
Sioux Falls Thunder FC
Kansas City Athletics
Lone Star Republic FC
Ozark FC
Tulsa Athletic
Chicago House AC (Expansion)
Cleveland SC U23 (Expansion)
Des Moines Menace (Expansion)
Dubuque County FC (Expansion)
Milwaukee Bavarians SC (Expansion)
Peoria City FC (Expansion)
Union Dubuque FC (Expansion)
Aurora Borealis SC (Expansion)
Fort Wayne FC (Expansion)
Rockford City FC (Expansion)
4th Division (20 teams each)
Great Lakes Conference
Dayton Dutch Lions FC
FC Columbus
Grand Rapids FC
Kalamazoo FC
Toledo Villa FC
Cleveland City Stars
FC Buffalo
FC Pride (Expansion)
Inter Detroit FC (Expansion)
Midwest United FC (Expansion)
Royal Oak FC (Expansion)
Ann Arbor FC (Expansion)
Flint City Bucks (Expansion)
Fort Wayne United FC (Expansion)
Indiana Invaders FC (Expansion)
Lansing United FC (Expansion)
Oakland County FC (Expansion)
Rochester Lancers (Expansion)
Toledo Celtics (Expansion)
West Michigan Kickers SC (Expansion)
Heartland Conference
Demize NPSL
Little Rock Rangers
Ozark FC
Club Atletico St. Louis
Green Bay Voyageurs FC
Med City FC
Milwaukee Torrent
St. Louis Lions
Duluth FC (Expansion)
Minneapolis City SC (Expansion)
Sioux City FC (Expansion)
DeKalb County United FC (Expansion)
Joliet United SC (Expansion)
Des Moines Menace (Expansion)
Rockford FC (Expansion)
Milwaukee Bavarian SC II (Expansion)
Quad City Eagles (Expansion)
Union Dubuque FC II (Expansion)
FC Wichita Falls (Expansion)
Elgin Pumas SC (Expansion)
Mid-Atlantic Conference
Atlantic City FC
Buxmont Torch FC
Electric City Shock SC
FC Monmouth
Hershey FC
Philadelphia Lone Star FC
Reading United AC
West Chester United SC
FC Frederick
FC Malaga City New York (Expansion)
Lehigh Valley United (Expansion)
Northern Virginia United FC (Expansion)
Ocean City Nor'easters U23 (Expansion)
Royalty FC (Expansion)
Virginia Beach City FC U23 (Expansion)
FC Motown (Expansion)
Steel FC (Expansion)
Virginia Legacy SC (Expansion)
Wake FC (Expansion)
Western Mass Pioneers (Expansion)
North Conference
Boston City FC
Brooklyn Italians SC
Elm City Express
Greater Lowell Rough Diamonds SC
Hartford City FC
Kingston Stockade FC
New York Athletic Club
New York Pancyprian Freedoms
Rhode Island Reds FC
Boston Siege FC (Expansion)
Granite City FC (Expansion)
Ironbound Soul SC
Rochester River Dogz (Expansion)
Seacoast United Mariners (Expansion)
Western New York Flash (Expansion)
Worcester FC (Expansion)
Central Connecticut Rush (Expansion)
Connecticut Rush (Expansion)
New York Surf Soccer Club (Expansion)
Springfield FC (Expansion)
Syracuse FC (Expansion)
Westchester Flames (Expansion)
5th Division (16 leagues)
Northeast Region
Capital City FC (Albany, NY)
FC Boston (Boston, MA)
FC Westchester (White Plains, NY)
Hershey FC II (Hershey, PA)
Kingston Stockade FC II (Kingston, NY)
Morris Elite SC (Randolph, NJ)
New Amsterdam FC II (New York, NY)
Philadelphia Lone Star FC II (Philadelphia, PA)
Rhode Island Reds FC II (Providence, RI)
Seacoast United Phantoms (Portsmouth, NH)
TSF FC (Wayne, NJ)
Western Mass Pioneers II (West Springfield, MA)
Worcester FC II (Worcester, MA)
Connecticut Rush II (Danbury, CT)
Ironbound Soul SC II (Newark, NJ)
Western New York Flash II (Buffalo, NY)
Southeast Region
Asheville City SC II (Asheville, NC)
FC Carolina Discoveries (Rock Hill, SC)
Greenville FC II (Greenville, SC)
LSA Athletico Lanier II (Gainesville, GA)
Miami United FC II (Miami, FL)
Pensacola FC II (Pensacola, FL)
Real Central NJ FC II (Hamilton, NJ)
Savannah Clovers FC II (Savannah, GA)
Southern Soccer Academy II (Atlanta, GA)
Florida Elite SA II (Jacksonville, FL)
Florida Roots FC II (Naples, FL)
Gulf Coast Texans SC II (Pasadena, TX)
Jax Armada U23 II (Jacksonville, FL)
Memphis City FC II (Memphis, TN)
Pensacola FC III (Pensacola, FL)
West Florida Flames II (Tampa, FL)
North Central Region
Chicago House AC II (Chicago, IL)
Des Moines Menace II (Des Moines, IA)
Dubuque County FC II (Dubuque, IA)
FC Pride II (Indianapolis, IN)
Flint City Bucks II (Flint, MI)
Fort Wayne United FC II (Fort Wayne, IN)
Grand Rapids FC II (Grand Rapids, MI)
Inter Detroit FC II (Detroit, MI)
Kansas City Athletics II (Kansas City, KS)
Lansing United FC II (Lansing, MI)
Milwaukee Bavarian SC III (Milwaukee, WI)
Milwaukee Torrent II (Milwaukee, WI)
Peoria City FC II (Peoria, IL)
Royal Oak FC II (Royal Oak, MI)
Union Dubuque FC II (Dubuque, IA)
West Michigan Kickers SC II (Kalamazoo, MI)
South Central Region
Aurora Borealis SC II (Minneapolis, MN)
Demize NPSL II (Springfield, MO)
DeKalb County United FC II (Sycamore, IL)
Duluth FC II (Duluth, MN)
Elgin Pumas SC II (Elgin, IL)
Joliet United SC II (Joliet, IL)
Little Rock Rangers II (Little Rock, AR)
Med City FC II (Rochester, MN)
Midwest United FC II (Holland, MI)
North Texas Rayados (Dallas, TX)
Ozark FC (Fayetteville, AR)
Provo Premier SC (Provo, UT)
Rayados Houston (Houston, TX)
San Antonio Runners FC (San Antonio, TX)
Shreveport United (Shreveport, LA)
Texas Spurs FC (Austin, TX)
Tulsa Athletic II (Tulsa, OK)
West Region
Academica SC II (Turlock, CA)
Boise FC Cutthroats II (Boise, ID)
FC Arizona II (Phoenix, AZ)
FC Davis II (Davis, CA)
FC Golden State Force II (Los Angeles, CA)
Las Vegas Legends FC II (Las Vegas, NV)
L.A. Wolves FC II (Los Angeles, CA)
Orange County FC II (Santa Ana, CA)
Oxnard Guerreros FC II (Oxnard, CA)
Reno 1868 FC II (Reno, NV)
Sacramento Gold II (Sacramento, CA)
San Diego 1904 FC II (San Diego, CA)
San Francisco City FC II (San Francisco, CA)
Santa Cruz Breakers FC II (Santa Cruz, CA)
Sonoma County Sol II (Santa Rosa, CA)
Ventura County Fusion II (Ventura, CA)
6th Division (32 leagues)
This division is split into 30 conferences of varying sizes, with each conference having one team from each state or region. Here are some example conferences.
Northeast Region
Conference 1: Maine, Vermont, New Hampshire
Conference 2: Massachusetts, Rhode Island, Connecticut
Conference 3: New York City, Long Island, Westchester
Conference 4: Upstate New York, Northern New York, Adirondacks
Conference 5: New Jersey, Delaware, Eastern Pennsylvania
Conference 6: Western Pennsylvania, Central Pennsylvania, Maryland
Conference 7: Washington D.C., Virginia, West Virginia
Conference 8: Western New York, Central New York, Finger Lakes
Southeast Region
Conference 9: North Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia
Conference 10: Alabama, Mississippi, Tennessee
Conference 11: Louisiana, Arkansas, Missouri
Conference 12: Florida Panhandle, South Alabama, South Mississippi
Conference 13: Central Florida, North Florida, South Georgia
Conference 14: Central Georgia, Coastal Georgia, South Carolina Lowcountry
Conference 15: Eastern Virginia, Richmond, South Virginia
Conference 16: West Virginia, Kentucky, Indiana
North Central Region
Conference 17: Minnesota, North Dakota, South Dakota
Conference 18: Wisconsin, Upper Peninsula Michigan, Northern Michigan
Conference 19: Iowa, Nebraska, Kansas
Conference 20: Chicago, Northwest Indiana, Southwest Michigan
Conference 21: St. Louis, Springfield, Southern Illinois
Conference 22: Northern Indiana, Fort Wayne, South Bend
Conference 23: Cincinnati, Columbus, Dayton
Conference 24: Cleveland, Akron, Youngstown
South Central Region
Conference 25: Oklahoma, Texas Panhandle, Northwest Arkansas
Conference 26: Central Texas, East Texas, North Louisiana
Conference 27: Houston, South Texas, Rio Grande Valley
Conference 28: San Antonio, Austin, Corpus Christi
Conference 29: El Paso, New Mexico, Southern Arizona
Conference 30: Utah, Colorado, Wyoming
7th Division (46 leagues)
This division is split into 46 conferences of varying sizes, with each conference having one team from each state or region.
Here are some example conferences for the 7th division.
Northeast Region
Conference 1: Maine, Vermont, New Hampshire
Conference 2: Massachusetts, Rhode Island, Connecticut
Conference 3: New York City, Long Island, Westchester
Conference 4: Upstate New York, Northern New York, Adirondacks
Conference 5: New Jersey, Delaware, Eastern Pennsylvania
Conference 6: Western Pennsylvania, Central Pennsylvania, Maryland
Conference 7: Washington D.C., Virginia, West Virginia
Conference 8: Western New York, Central New York, Finger Lakes
Conference 9: Quebec, New Brunswick, Nova Scotia
Conference 10: Ontario East, Ottawa, Quebec East
Conference 11: Ontario West, Toronto, Hamilton
Southeast Region
Conference 12: North Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia
Conference 13: Alabama, Mississippi, Tennessee
Conference 14: Louisiana, Arkansas, Missouri
Conference 15: Florida Panhandle, South Alabama, South Mississippi
Conference 16: Central Florida, North Florida, South Georgia
Conference 17: Central Georgia, Coastal Georgia, South Carolina Lowcountry
Conference 18: Eastern Virginia, Richmond, South Virginia
Conference 19: West Virginia, Kentucky, Indiana
Conference 20: Bahamas, Jamaica, Puerto Rico
North Central Region
Conference 21: Minnesota, North Dakota, South Dakota
Conference 22: Wisconsin, Upper Peninsula Michigan, Northern Michigan
Conference 23: Iowa, Nebraska, Kansas
Conference 24: Chicago, Northwest Indiana, Southwest Michigan
Conference 25: St. Louis, Springfield, Southern Illinois
Conference 26: Northern Indiana, Fort Wayne, South Bend
Conference 27: Cincinnati, Columbus, Dayton
Conference 28: Cleveland, Akron, Youngstown
Conference 29: Manitoba, Saskatchewan, Alberta
Conference 30: British Columbia, Vancouver Island, Yukon
South Central Region
Conference 31: Oklahoma, Texas Panhandle, Northwest Arkansas
Conference 32: Central Texas, East Texas, North Louisiana
Conference 33: Houston, South Texas, Rio Grande Valley
Conference 34: San Antonio, Austin, Corpus Christi
Conference 35: El Paso, New Mexico, Southern Arizona
Conference 36: Utah, Colorado, Wyoming
Conference 37: Nevada, Idaho, Montana
Conference 38: Washington, Oregon, Alaska
8th Division (60 leagues)
This division is split into 60 conferences of varying sizes, with each conference having one team from each state or region. Here are some example conferences.
Northeast Region
Conference 1: Seattle, Everett, Bellingham
Conference 2: Tacoma, Olympia, Centralia
Conference 3: Portland, Salem, Corvallis
Conference 4: Eugene, Bend, Medford
Conference 5: Sacramento, Davis, Folsom
Conference 6: Reno, Carson City, Truckee
Conference 7: Chico, Redding, Yreka
Conference 8: San Francisco, Oakland, Berkeley
Conference 9: San Jose, Santa Cruz, Watsonville
Conference 10: Monterey, Salinas, Pacific Grove
Conference 11: Los Angeles, Long Beach, Anaheim
Conference 12: San Diego, Oceanside, Escondido
Conference 13: Tijuana, Ensenada, Tecate
Conference 14: Las Vegas, Henderson, Boulder City
Conference 15: Phoenix, Tempe, Mesa
Conference 16: Tucson, Sierra Vista, Nogales
Conference 17: Salt Lake City, Provo, Orem
Conference 18: Logan, Brigham City, Tremonton
Conference 19: Denver, Aurora, Lakewood
Conference 20: Colorado Springs, Pueblo, Canon City
Conference 21: Albuquerque, Santa Fe, Rio Rancho
Conference 22: El Paso, Las Cruces, Alamogordo
Conference 23: Dallas, Plano, Denton
Conference 24: Fort Worth, Arlington, Mansfield
Conference 25: Houston, Katy, Pearland
Conference 26: Galveston, Beaumont, Port Arthur
Conference 27: New Orleans, Metairie, Kenner
Conference 28: Baton Rouge, Hammond, Slidell
Conference 29: Lafayette, Opelousas, Breaux Bridge
Conference 30: Memphis, Germantown, Collierville
Conference 31: Nashville, Franklin, Hendersonville
Conference 32: Jackson, Madison, Pearl
Conference 33: Atlanta, Marietta, Roswell
Conference 34: Athens, Gainesville, Winder
Conference 35: Augusta, Aiken, North Augusta
Conference 36: Amarillo, Canyon, Hereford
Conference 37: Lubbock, Levelland, Brownfield
Conference 38: Midland, Odessa, Andrews
Conference 39: Roswell, Carlsbad, Artesia
Conference 40: Hobbs, Lovington, Jal
Conference 41: Abilene, Sweetwater, Cisco
Conference 42: San Angelo, Big Spring, Ballinger
Conference 43: Wichita Falls, Graham, Bowie
Conference 44: Lawton, Altus, Frederick
Conference 45: Duncan, Marlow, Rush Springs
Conference 46: Enid, Alva, Blackwell
Conference 47: Ponca City, Pawhuska, Fairfax
Conference 48: Bartlesville, Nowata, Dewey
Conference 49: Joplin, Neosho, Carthage
Conference 50: Pittsburg, Fort Scott, Iola
Conference 51: Salina, McPherson, Hutchinson
Conference 52: Manhattan, Junction City, Clay Center
Conference 53: Hays, Russell, Ellis
Conference 54: Colby, Norton, Goodland
Conference 55: Fargo, Grand Forks, West Fargo
Conference 56: Minneapolis, St. Paul, Bloomington
Conference 57: Des Moines, Ames, Ankeny
Conference 58: Sioux Falls, Rapid City, Aberdeen
Conference 59: Omaha, Lincoln, Bellevue
Conference 60: Kansas City, Overland Park, Olathe
Final Words on the Thought Experiment
A fascinating breakdown of a very challenging, expansive geographical area.
ChatGPT’s response did have some issues, like moving beyond the USA border and a few duplicate clubs, but the categorization is fantastic.
Now, there are some other issues with this setup.
First, with an 8-tier system and increasing localization at each level, 20 clubs per division/conference may be excessive. With this setup, the odds of an American playing professional soccer skyrocket from 131,578:1 to 80:1. 86,000 pro players is a massive number. That improves the odds of playing in the top eight tiers to more than double what we see in England. Too much.
Remove the 8th division and we’ve cut the number of players to 56,000. Remove the 7th and 8th and the total is 33,000. It’s estimated that there are 40,000 college soccer players in the USA, so that number of 56,000 is doable. Between those who choose not to play college soccer because they didn’t get the offer they wanted, others pursuing pro opportunities abroad, and individuals who have the talent but not the grades or finances to play collegiately, we have more players to add to the pool.
What this does require is a grassroots movement. That’s non-negotiable.
The USA has 10,000 youth clubs. They would need first-teams in the new pyramid. New clubs may emerge as well.
It’s worth mentioning here that historically, football clubs had bottom-up directions of fit. That means they started in communities, such as student organizations/universities, churches, and industrial groups. America’s grassroots movement never reached sustainability. Early clubs existed, but the geographic constraints and competition with other sports (of American origin) limited the viability of the system.
Today, the youth club landscape and sheer numbers involved in the sport have given the country the necessary foundation for a brighter future.
So what’s holding us back?
The lack of a defined pyramid is one. MLS, USL, and NISA are separate business entities loosely related to form a closed system pyramid with a high barrier of entry.
The cost to form professional clubs is another prohibitive hurdle to a thriving grassroots movement built on our massive youth club foundation. In the current landscape, the direction of fit is top-down. We start with money and facilities, giving a very nice professional touch to the clubs.
But is that necessary? Not at all.
Let that 4th division team play at their club’s homely facilities. Let the 8th division side play at a local park, soccer complex, or high school. In most countries, the lower divisions are semi-pro, so players have full-time jobs and soccer is the side hustle. There’s nothing wrong with that. In fact, that’s essentially the model of the UPSL. If we can carry out the USL League 1 model at the 4th division but not the 5th, so be it. Most soccer players will simply be happy to continue playing the game they love at a high level into their 20s. Plus, in order to support their players, helping them secure full-time employment, these lower-division clubs will have motivation to engage the community, developing a build-in professional network for their players.
At that point, when year-round, purposeful developmental opportunities are available for as many as possible, for as long as possible, and in the best environments possible, will the USA truly become a behemoth in the sport. Give our youth a clear target and clubs a new priority in first-team status and the game will evolve from this new foundation.
The basic points are that 1) we need to improve the pro landscape, 2) we have the foundation through youth clubs, and 3) all that’s lacking is the leadership to realign the pyramid with a bottom-up direction of fit.
Naively optimistic? Yeah, sure.
Needlessly hopeful? 100%.
Passionate about developing the game in the USA? Absolutely.
If you need me, I’ll be working on the business model across America’s new 8-tier professional landscape. You know where to find me.