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Message
re: World Cup 2030 USMNT Potential Targets
Posted on 7/26/26 at 9:52 pm to Broski
Posted on 7/26/26 at 9:52 pm to Broski
As a youth coach who saw the changes that occurred from USYS while he was the technical director, I have given him that credit, it’s very possible that’s undeserved, but I think it was a step in the right direction regardless.
Posted on 7/26/26 at 10:56 pm to Citica8
You’re right about USSF being unorganized and I have no doubt that that affects the youth level. Why ODP though? MLS academies are free btw.
Posted on 7/26/26 at 11:14 pm to Citica8
quote:
I appreciate and respect everything you’ve said in the last 4-6 weeks that I’ve read since I’ve been active on this board, but I don’t think this is the way. The ODP program should be the framework and the goal for every kid that wants to represent this country. It should be the pinnacle and standard that EVERY kid wants to achieve, not medals or patches if they even do that anymore.
It should cost nothing EXTRA and it should funnel into the MLS academies, which should also cost nothing extra, at least in the current system, and that is how we grow.
These two things aren't mutually exclusive.
Regardless of how ODP is run, MLS should be giving the best American 17-19 year olds, that aren't already in Europe, more consistent playing time than 20-25 year old South Americans and 35-40 year old Europeans.
Posted on 7/27/26 at 8:01 am to cwil177
quote:MLS academies are free, MLS Next, MLS Next 2, Pre-MLS Next, are twice as much as local competitive clubs operating outside of ECNL. The academies aren’t identifying and pulling kids with potential out of recreational and lower competitive clubs, they’re pulling them out of showcases tournaments that half the teams are flying to. A former player from our club is in the LA Galaxy academy, whole family moved to Los Angeles, I don’t know if I could move across the country.
Why ODP though? MLS academies are free btw.
Cristiano Ronaldo grew up on an island off the coast of Morocco, how do we make sure we don’t miss out on the next great if they are outside of one of the less than 30 metro areas where MLS academies are operate, like Hawaii. The satellite programs are the same club coaches in Baton Rouge and New Orleans for the Dynamo, so what benefit are you getting in the satellite programs that you wouldn’t get remaining with your local club?
It costs money to try out for ODP. That’s what needs to be changed. I like that ODP has districts, states, and regions, and that funnels into a national ODP team, so it’s self scouting. It’s also supplemental training not primary training so it can be inclusive for those that can’t afford to play in these expensive clubs that travel all over the country.
Posted on 7/27/26 at 8:36 am to Broski
quote:
Regardless of how ODP is run, MLS should be giving the best American 17-19 year olds, that aren't already in Europe, more consistent playing time than 20-25 year old South Americans and 35-40 year old Europeans.
Exactly. The priority of the MLS is profits over success or development, without the fear of relegation the retirement tour concept is stalling any call ups of the top level youth players. You also get MLS teams stockpiling some of those players to prevent other teams from getting them. That’s why I don’t like relying on the MLS academies for development in its current state.
Posted on 7/27/26 at 9:19 am to Citica8
quote:
The priority of the MLS is profits over success or development
Which isn't a bad thing. It's a business after all. There is a happy medium to all this.
It can't be solely a developmental league. That won't work, especially in the American sports landscape. But one way to get eyeballs is to cultivate stars, particularly local stars.
quote:
That’s why I don’t like relying on the MLS academies for development in its current state.
They have a better chance of having success than your revamped ODP idea. The best way to get the best out of your prospects is to have the cache of being attached to a professional club, giving the players a direct pathway to top flight soccer.
This post was edited on 7/27/26 at 9:21 am
Posted on 7/27/26 at 9:53 am to Broski
quote:
I used to have the belief that sheer American exceptionalism would eventually see us work our way into becoming one of the top 8 teams in international soccer and this tournament was supposed to be the start of that path considering everything that was in our favor.
Watching us get outclassed by one of the worst Belgium teams from that current generation threw a bucket of ice water on that belief. We are who we are and it's not getting any better anytime soon.
Eh, I think this is overly negative. The US is still relatively young in investing in the soccer program...this was never going to become an overnight solution.
The field expended...we won the group and we won a knockout round game (against a team we should beat). Belgium was a disappointing result no matter how we slice it...but Belgium was better than a lot of people have them credit. Belgium only lost 2-1 to the eventual World Cup winners (Spain scoring in the 88th).
USMNT are now playing on the best teams in the world. That is objective progress over the days of old. I believe that is the best indicator of progress we have for the program.
Posted on 7/27/26 at 10:35 am to lynxcat
quote:
USMNT are now playing on the best teams in the world.
More to do with marketing than the talent level being significantly better.
It's a lot easier now for Americans to play abroad than it was in the 2000's.
You mentioning Busio is a perfect example of that. You say it's weird that a Serie A captain isn't factoring into this squad. I'd argue he wouldn't factor in to the 2002, 06 and 10 squads either.
His lack of speed is a death sentence in the international game.
This post was edited on 7/27/26 at 10:47 am
Posted on 7/27/26 at 10:49 am to Broski
I can’t argue anything you’re saying because I agree.
I see the ODP framework as a way to scout middle America, outside of the 25 major metros, in the 12-15yo age range to then get them into the actual MLS academies not just the NEXT or TDP pathways, particularly the ones who can’t afford to pay thousands of dollars. Landon Donovan talks about how they couldn’t afford $300 much less $3000. ODP led him to the youth national team, which then led him to IMG. The current ODP system needs to be blown up and rebuilt though.
The satellites seem to be affiliated in name only, the talent scouts aren’t visiting these affiliate clubs. The kid I mentioned that is with the Galaxy was playing under the Dynamo affiliate, they had no claim to him, there was no transfer, there is no direct pathway until you get with the actual academy.
I see the ODP framework as a way to scout middle America, outside of the 25 major metros, in the 12-15yo age range to then get them into the actual MLS academies not just the NEXT or TDP pathways, particularly the ones who can’t afford to pay thousands of dollars. Landon Donovan talks about how they couldn’t afford $300 much less $3000. ODP led him to the youth national team, which then led him to IMG. The current ODP system needs to be blown up and rebuilt though.
The satellites seem to be affiliated in name only, the talent scouts aren’t visiting these affiliate clubs. The kid I mentioned that is with the Galaxy was playing under the Dynamo affiliate, they had no claim to him, there was no transfer, there is no direct pathway until you get with the actual academy.
Posted on 7/27/26 at 11:09 am to Broski
quote:
Regardless of how ODP is run, MLS should be giving the best American 17-19 year olds, that aren't already in Europe, more consistent playing time than 20-25 year old South Americans and 35-40 year old Europeans.
There are u-23 initiatives and other incentives (like homegrown players not counting against the salary cap) but how else do you incentivize this? Is it a cultural shift? Cavan started getting more minutes with a new coach so sometimes this is coaching dependent.
For what it’s worth, since the World Cup break Seattle has been starting two 19 year olds (Snyder Brunnell and Stuart Hawkins), Philly is now starting Sullivan (16), Pierre (18), and Westfield (20), and NYRB has been consistently starting 3 17 year olds all year. Orlando has Justin Ellis who looks like a really solid prospect. Gozo, Corcoran, Shore, Tsakiris, Vasquez, Bombino, Soma, Ian James, Habroune, Verhoeven, Peyton Miller, Harbor Miller, are all big contributors in the 18-21 year old range.
This hasn’t been discussed here but FCD just sold a 15 year old with only MLS Next Pro appearances to Chelsea for more money up front than Philly got for Cavan. Benjamin Flowers. His brother plays safety for the Oregon ducks.
Posted on 7/27/26 at 11:13 am to cwil177
quote:
There are u-23 initiatives and other incentives (like homegrown players not counting against the salary cap) but how else do you incentivize this? Is it a cultural shift?
That's the million dollar question. I wish I knew the answer to it.
Like I've said before, the MLS is a business first and they are going to rightfully do what they think makes them the most money. It's not there sole responsibility to be a feeder system to the USMNT. I just wish there was a way to marry those two objectives.
quote:
This hasn’t been discussed here but FCD just sold a 15 year old with only MLS Next Pro appearances to Chelsea for more money up front than Philly got for Cavan. Benjamin Flowers. His brother plays safety for the Oregon ducks.
Saw this, and maybe it's because I'm scarred of previous players flaming out, but I get a tad uneasy any time a major club buys our players at a young age where they can't join until 18.
This post was edited on 7/27/26 at 11:15 am
Posted on 7/27/26 at 11:16 am to Citica8
quote:
You also get MLS teams stockpiling some of those players to prevent other teams from getting them. That’s why I don’t like relying on the MLS academies for development in its current state.
The regional restrictions for MLS academy kids needs to go the way of the dodo.
Posted on 7/27/26 at 11:18 am to Broski
quote:
More to do with marketing than the talent level being significantly better.
Pulisic and McKennie weren’t bought by their teams for marketing. They have a legitimate argument for being the best on their teams.
quote:In what way?
It's a lot easier now for Americans to play abroad than it was in the 2000's.
Posted on 7/27/26 at 12:44 pm to cwil177
quote:
Pulisic and McKennie weren’t bought by their teams for marketing. They have a legitimate argument for being the best on their teams.
Sure, that was a case where we had supremely talented players break through because of their talent. Still, I do wonder if Pulisic would've gotten regular first team minutes as a 16-year-old at BVB if it was 2006 and not 2016. I tend to think it would've gone more like Landon's stint at Leverkusen.
quote:
In what way?
Euro clubs realizing how viable the American market is for brand awareness. Can't remember which scout said it (think it was a Dortmund scout), but he basically said that it wasn't until NBC's purchase of the EPL rights in 2011/2012, and the boom in viewership that came with it, that top Euro clubs really started to realize how beneficial it was to tap into the North American market, which included more emphasis on scouting the areas.
Posted on 7/27/26 at 5:56 pm to Broski
quote:
You mentioning Busio is a perfect example of that. You say it's weird that a Serie A captain isn't factoring into this squad. I'd argue he wouldn't factor in to the 2002, 06 and 10 squads either.
Busio didn't play well when he had the opportunities. He didn't earn his spot in the USMNT. Is it odd that a captain for a Serie A team isn't making our team? I think yes. Does that mean it is a roster mistake? No.
Marketing? The club teams ultimately care about the talent to yield results. It may be easier to find US players now than previously and clubs may have more economic incentive to have American players than previously (as they want to intentionally grow their fanbase in the US).
Posted on 7/28/26 at 6:10 pm to lynxcat
I still think American players are a bargain for teams because I still think there’s a bit of a bias against Americans. Pulisic went to Milan for 20 million euros and has been their best player since that transfer. Just don’t bring up his first transfer, haha.
Posted on 7/29/26 at 7:02 am to Citica8
Follow japanese model for remote areas.
Posted on 7/29/26 at 8:28 am to RollTide4Ever
You want to use high schools and colleges? Are we going backwards?
Japan has 10x our population density, with a land mass the size of California, laid out like the west coast. They have high speed public transit allowing you to travel from essentially from San Diego to Seattle in 10 hours, which includes a sea tunnel, that would take 20-30 hours here, not including a sea tunnel. Most importantly they have a superior cultural mindset when it comes to development over winning at an early age. Even with all of that, they have never won a knockout match. They are in the 3rd tier of teams just like we are, trying to break through.
Japan has 10x our population density, with a land mass the size of California, laid out like the west coast. They have high speed public transit allowing you to travel from essentially from San Diego to Seattle in 10 hours, which includes a sea tunnel, that would take 20-30 hours here, not including a sea tunnel. Most importantly they have a superior cultural mindset when it comes to development over winning at an early age. Even with all of that, they have never won a knockout match. They are in the 3rd tier of teams just like we are, trying to break through.
Posted on 7/29/26 at 12:34 pm to cwil177
quote:
I still think there’s a bit of a bias against Americans
This stigma definitely still exists when it comes managers playing them. McKennie has voiced his frustrations in how he has been one of Juve's more consistent players since he joined, but every time a new manager comes in, he starts out on the bench only to fight his way back into the XI.
In terms of Americans being rostered on European teams now, it's a lot easier.
Posted on 7/29/26 at 2:27 pm to RollTide4Ever
quote:
Follow japanese model for remote areas.
Which is what?
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