The Future of U.S. Soccer: Dollars vs. Development

beIN SPORTS

The U.S. men's national team missing out on the 2018 World Cup sent shockwaves through the soccer world and saw Sunil Gulati call an end to his 12-year reign as USSF president. In the presidential election that followed, one word rang louder than all others: 'change'. The eight candidates vying for the job all promised change in some form or another, whether it be to do with the current scouting networks, pay-for-play, inequality in the women's game or the need for promotion/relegation. When asked about the federation's top priority though, the election's eventual winner, Carlos Cordeiro, said his first order of business would be securing co-hosting rights for the 2026 World Cup - along with Canada and Mexico. Using the new president's comments as a jump off point, Kevin Egan sits down with NASL interim commissioner Rishi Sehgal, 13-year MLS and NASL veteran Hunter Freeman, five-year NWSL veteran Stephanie Ochs, and a man who has seen (and called) it all, Phil Schoen, to discuss the future of the sport in America. Part one of our three-part series focuses on how to best marry the business side of the game with youth development.