Exponential Growth
As the governing body of soccer in all its forms in the United States, U.S. Soccer has played an integral part in charting the course for the sport in the USA for almost 100 years. In that time, the Federation’s mission statement has been very simple and very clear: to make soccer, in all its forms, a preeminent sport in the United States and to continue the development of soccer at all recreational and competitive levels.
To that end, the sports exponential growth in the past two decades has been nothing short of remarkable.
Multiple soccer specific stadiums have opened their doors to resounding success, and new arenas around the country are currently being planned and built. The National Training Center in Carson, California is entering its seventh year of existence, and in 2007 the U.S. Soccer Development Academy kicked off with much fanfare at the state of the art facility.
The progress of soccer in the United States has been astounding and is all the more astonishing when one considers where the sport was a mere 20 years ago.
In 1989, the U.S. Men's National Team hadn't played in a World Cup in 40 years and the U.S. Women's program was just four-years old. U.S. Soccer was playing games in small stadiums that were rarely filled to capacity. There were few games being televised (and none without commercials during play). There were no soccer-specific stadiums, and there were no high-level professional outdoor leagues of which to speak.
Since that time, the state of U.S. Soccer has evolved significantly. The U.S. MNT has played in six consecutive World Cups, and advanced to the quarterfinals at the 2002 event. U.S. Soccer is a world leader in women’s soccer at every level, and the team has won two Women's World Cups, along with three Olympic Gold Medals. The United States has also hosted three World Cups with the support of its members and strong organizational abilities.
Professionally, Major League Soccer continues to grow in popularity and prestige, with the 2011 season set to welcome the Portland Timbers and Vancouver Whitecaps FC as the league is set to grow to 18 teams. On the women's side, Women's Professional Soccer had a successful inaugural season in 2009 to again provide the best female players a top-tier professional league. Perhaps more importantly of all, no fewer than a half dozen major soccer specific stadiums are in place now coast-to-coast with more facilities en route.
Coaching continues to get bigger in the United States, and with more classes being offered around the country, the number of licensed, well-educated trainers and managers is larger than ever. As soccer continues to grow, the education level amongst coaches has been tailored to match the expanding pool of talent in the United States, and in 2006 the U.S. Soccer offered its first ever Goalkeeper Coaching License.
In 2007, full-time officials were hired for the first time in the federation's history, and more programs are being planned as U.S. Soccer continues to set positive trends for referees in CONCACAF to help improve referee development across the spectrum of all grades and at all ages.
For more information on all U.S. soccer programs, visit the official organization website at ussoccer.com.
As the governing body of soccer in all its forms in the United States, U.S. Soccer has played an integral part in charting the course for the sport in the USA for almost 100 years. In that time, the Federation’s mission statement has been very simple and very clear: to make soccer, in all its forms, a preeminent sport in the United States and to continue the development of soccer at all recreational and competitive levels.
To that end, the sports exponential growth in the past two decades has been nothing short of remarkable.
Multiple soccer specific stadiums have opened their doors to resounding success, and new arenas around the country are currently being planned and built. The National Training Center in Carson, California is entering its seventh year of existence, and in 2007 the U.S. Soccer Development Academy kicked off with much fanfare at the state of the art facility.
The progress of soccer in the United States has been astounding and is all the more astonishing when one considers where the sport was a mere 20 years ago.
In 1989, the U.S. Men's National Team hadn't played in a World Cup in 40 years and the U.S. Women's program was just four-years old. U.S. Soccer was playing games in small stadiums that were rarely filled to capacity. There were few games being televised (and none without commercials during play). There were no soccer-specific stadiums, and there were no high-level professional outdoor leagues of which to speak.
Since that time, the state of U.S. Soccer has evolved significantly. The U.S. MNT has played in six consecutive World Cups, and advanced to the quarterfinals at the 2002 event. U.S. Soccer is a world leader in women’s soccer at every level, and the team has won two Women's World Cups, along with three Olympic Gold Medals. The United States has also hosted three World Cups with the support of its members and strong organizational abilities.
Professionally, Major League Soccer continues to grow in popularity and prestige, with the 2011 season set to welcome the Portland Timbers and Vancouver Whitecaps FC as the league is set to grow to 18 teams. On the women's side, Women's Professional Soccer had a successful inaugural season in 2009 to again provide the best female players a top-tier professional league. Perhaps more importantly of all, no fewer than a half dozen major soccer specific stadiums are in place now coast-to-coast with more facilities en route.
Coaching continues to get bigger in the United States, and with more classes being offered around the country, the number of licensed, well-educated trainers and managers is larger than ever. As soccer continues to grow, the education level amongst coaches has been tailored to match the expanding pool of talent in the United States, and in 2006 the U.S. Soccer offered its first ever Goalkeeper Coaching License.
In 2007, full-time officials were hired for the first time in the federation's history, and more programs are being planned as U.S. Soccer continues to set positive trends for referees in CONCACAF to help improve referee development across the spectrum of all grades and at all ages.
For more information on all U.S. soccer programs, visit the official organization website at ussoccer.com.
