US Soccer: Youth systems the reason for international struggles

US soccer has a problem: The play-to-play system is limiting access to low-income kids, restricting the size of the talent pool in the country. This is the reason for the international struggles.

Youth soccer in the United States has a problem. An array of systematic issues has created a youth soccer federation that is failing to cultivate quality players.

With so many kids in the country playing soccer — around three million currently — the U.S. should be a breeding ground for soccer stars, especially considering the country’s prominence in other major sports.

But unfortunately that is not the case, and the U.S. Men’s National Team is struggling to stay relevant in international soccer. So…