Oregon landing 5-star 2027 WR Dakota Guerrant is a big statement for the Ducks as they chase another Top 5 class.

It’s an even bigger statement for WR Coach Ross Douglas.

On today’s episode of Locked On Ducks, Spencer I discuss the quality of depth in the cornerbacks room.

Will former 5-star Na’eem Offord have a more featured role in 2026?

Oregon has used the transfer portal very well in recent years to bolster its roster and fill holes.

Will there be a starting transfer on the Ducks’ offense this year?

00:00 Oregon’s 2027 wide receiver lineup
04:46 Jurrion Dickey’s Departure from Oregon
06:35 Oregon Ducks coaching and recruiting
15:14 Evaluating Naim Offered and Expectations
17:58 USC’s NFL prospects shine
21:39 Discussing college football prospects
24:32 Discussing Oregon’s offensive line starter

/ @lockedoncollegefootball  

Most of the news about Germany’s World Cup squad was around the return of Manuel Neuer. But beyond the headlines lies another story.

Eight of the 26 players representing Germany this summer have roots in Africa: Jonathan Tah (Ivorian father), Antonio Rüdiger (Sierra Leonean mother), Leroy Sane (Senegalese father), Felix Nmecha and Jamal Musiala (both Nigerian fathers), Assan Ouedraogo (both parents from Burkina Faso), Malick Thiaw (Senegalese father) and Jamie Leweling (Ghanian father).

In fact, if you look at the last year of Germany squad selections, there have been a total of 17 players with African roots called up. The connection Germany’s footballers have with African countries is inescapable and of huge importance at the 2026 World Cup.

“Today we have great diversity in the team, which symbolizes a new generation of German players,” Annalena Baerbock, President of the UN General Assembly, told DW. “That wasn’t always the case,” Baerbock added. “That shows how important anti-racism campaigns are. A team is also always a reflection of society.”

Diversity important in time of division

Musa Okwonga, a Ugandan-British author and football podcaster who has lived in Berlin for over a decade, believes the timing of this team’s diversity is significant.

“With the far right leading some major polls in Germany by five, six, seven points, I think it’s really important at this point in time, when a quarter of immigrants who arrived in Germany are thinking about leaving again, to show there are people here who are thriving within this country, who are not white, who have a heritage from elsewhere, who grew up here, who moved here, and made Germany their home,” Okwonga told DW.

The German FA (DFB) haven’t explicitly gone out of their way to highlight the diversity of this team, but do recognize its significance.

“At the end of the day, everyone is united to make a decision by conviction and less to do with picking the place where more sporting success is likely,” DFB Director Andreas Rettig told DW.

“We were happy to see an early commitment to the Germany team and that left an impression on us,” said Rettig, referencing the example of Jonathan Tah.

“We know it from the economy, mixed teams with men and women or different nationalities, young or old, is always advantageous to the end product so we are happy to have this diversity in the team,” added Rettig.

In early 2025, Tah visited the Ivory Coast for the first time since he was 14, explaining in an interview with DW that the trip was “extremely grounding.” Rüdiger has also set up a foundation in Sierra Leone.

“Going back to a place where you have benefited from the Western European colonial extraction, and you’re going back to see relatives of yours who only two generations ago, you were with and would have been around, that’s hard for a lot of people,” said Okwonga.

Given Germany has colonial historical roots in Namibia, Tanzania, Cameroon and Togo to name but a few, it is clear why connecting to both one’s country of origin and one’s new home comes with conflicting and complication emotions. Okwonga believes though that the visibility of footballers who have African roots but are also equally proud of having Germany as their home is an important symbol.

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Impact beyond football

In the build-up to Euro 2024, Germany head coach Julian Nagelsmann called out a survey by German public broadcaster WDR that revealed 21% of those asked wanted more white players on the national team.

“A football team can be a role model of how to unite different cultures, religious backgrounds and skin color. It is good the way it is now. We play the Euros for everyone in the country and whoever plays top football is invited to be a national team member,” said Nagelsmann.

His bullish stance on non-football matters was noteworthy, because the symbolic value and influence of the German team and football as a whole is widespread.

“In the 12 years of being here, the team I saw at the Euros was the best version of a Germany team. In terms of the football they played, how they worked together, how they supported each other. It’s everything you’d want from a football team, a collective, a community,” said Okwonga, who also said Vincent Kompany being Bayern Munich head coach has also positively impacted the environment for German players with African roots.

Clearly, a lot has changed since Gerald Asamoah became the first African-born German to appear in a World Cup in 2006. But the issue remains, as incidents such as the one in 2023 proved when two Germany youth internationals with African roots were inundated with racist comments on social media after missing penalties. Systemic issues can be improved by policies not the actions or words of a football team, but that doesn’t make their symbolism any less significant.

“I think this actually the diversity of this team is not really about the people that hate to see it. It’s about modeling the fact that friendship across all groups is entirely possible,” Okwonga said. “If they don’t win, it’s not because the multi-ethnic project was a failure. It’s because they got beaten by a better team.”

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What would a Germany World Cup win mean?

Germany are certainly not favorites for the World Cup this year, but were they to win it there is an obvious temptation to consider the social and political impact on the country. Could it bring the joy we saw in 2014 or even 2006 when Germany hosted a tournament and enjoyed a “summer fairy tale” despite not winning it?

“If Germany win the World Cup, it’s primarily a triumph for this group of players and the supporters that were behind them. I don’t think it is a point of political leverage in a progressive sense, because I think too many other things are going wrong in Germany at the moment,” Okwonga explained.

“I think that success in the football field from a diverse team can be a catalyst in the right political context. I do not, unfortunately, believe this is the right context.”

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With or without the right context, the diverse heritage of this Germany team requires recognition.

Edited by: Chuck Penfold

The FIFA World Cup witnessed another landmark moment on Thursday as an all-women refereeing team took charge of the Group A encounter between Czechia and South Africa at Atlanta Stadium.

Referee Tori Penso, alongside assistant referees Kathryn Nesbitt and Brooke Mayo, became only the second all-female on-field officiating crew to oversee a men’s World Cup match. The appointment also marked the first time an entirely American refereeing trio officiated a men’s World Cup fixture.

Their selection continues FIFA’s efforts to increase representation at the highest level of the sport and follows the trailblazing example set at the 2022 World Cup in Qatar, when France’s Stephanie Frappart, Brazil’s Neuza Back and Mexico’s Karen Diaz Medina became the first all-women refereeing team to officiate a men’s World Cup match.

Tori Penso: From Marketing Professional to World Cup Referee

Leading the historic crew was Tori Penso, whose journey into officiating began as a teenager in Florida.

Initially taking up refereeing at the age of 14 as a way to earn extra income, Penso later established a successful career in digital marketing and also worked as a university lecturer. Despite balancing multiple professional commitments, she steadily climbed through football’s officiating ranks.

Her breakthrough came in 2020 when she became the first woman in nearly two decades to referee a Major League Soccer match. After receiving her FIFA badge in 2021, Penso was selected for some of football’s biggest events, including the 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup final and the Paris Olympic Games.

Kathryn Nesbitt: The Scientist Who Chose Football

Assistant referee Kathryn Nesbitt brings one of the most unique stories in international football.

Before becoming a full-time official, Nesbitt built an academic career in science. She earned a doctorate in analytical chemistry from the University of Pittsburgh and worked in research and teaching, focusing on neurological and brain-related studies.

Her passion for officiating eventually led her away from academia and into professional football.

Since earning FIFA accreditation in 2016, Nesbitt has officiated at multiple Women’s World Cups and Olympic tournaments. She also made history in Qatar four years ago when she became the first woman to serve as an assistant referee in a men’s World Cup knockout-stage match during England’s Round of 16 encounter against Senegal.

Brooke Mayo: Breaking Barriers Beyond Football

Completing the trio was Brooke Mayo, whose football journey has included playing, coaching and officiating.

The Texas native played collegiate football before working as a physical education teacher and high-school coach. She later transitioned fully into refereeing and quickly established herself among the top officials in the United States.

Mayo joined FIFA’s international refereeing panel in 2018 and has since worked at major tournaments, including the Women’s World Cup, Olympic Games and FIFA Club World Cup.

Her achievements were recognised in 2025 when she received U.S. Soccer’s Female Referee of the Year award.

Mayo’s appointment in Atlanta also carried broader significance. She became the first openly gay match official to officiate a men’s FIFA World Cup fixture, representing an important milestone for LGBTQ+ visibility in international football.

A Historic Step Forward

The trio are already familiar with making history together. In 2023, they became the first American officiating team to work a FIFA World Cup final when they oversaw the Women’s World Cup title match between Spain and England.

They added another milestone in 2025 by becoming the first all-female crew to officiate the Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup final.

Now, their appointment at FIFA World Cup 2026 adds another chapter to that journey, highlighting the growing role of women in elite football officiating and showcasing how the sport continues to evolve on its biggest stage.

Harry Kane has expressed his desire for Oasis’s iconic track ‘Wonderwall’ to become the unofficial anthem of England’s World Cup campaign, following a triumphant start to their tournament. The Three Lions secured an impressive 4-2 victory over Croatia in their opening Group L fixture in Dallas on Wednesday, a match that saw Kane net twice, equalling Gary Lineker’s record of 10 World Cup goals.

The celebratory scenes after the match, with England’s victorious squad singing along to ‘Wonderwall’ in front of their fans at the Dallas Stadium, left a lasting impression on the captain. Kane, visibly moved by the moment, hopes this connection with supporters will continue as they pursue their World Cup ambitions.

Speaking on the Lions Den, Kane reflected: “That was one of my favourite ever moments in an England shirt and especially at a major tournament. I know it’s just the first game, and we’re not getting carried away, but just that emotional connection with the fans, we know how much it means to them. I think they see how much it means to us.”

He continued: “We have that connection right now, but just that moment, singing ‘Wonderwall’ in the stadium, everyone knew the words, and that was a really special moment, I thought. As first games go, to have that kind of support from everyone, and we know back home is the same. We know there would be plenty of beer getting thrown around, with it being a night game, so we love that stuff.”

The England manager, Thomas Tuchel, has consistently emphasised fostering a strong “brotherhood” within the squad, building upon the foundations laid during the 2018 World Cup under Sir Gareth Southgate, which saw the national team reconnect with its fanbase after years of underperformance.

Kane, one of only three players remaining from the 2018 squad alongside Jordan Pickford and John Stones, highlighted the “freshness” and renewed energy within the current group.

“This one feels a little bit different, I think,” he remarked. “Our roles have changed a little bit, obviously, being the more experienced guys, the older guys. There aren’t many players from those early tournaments in this squad, so there’s a freshness about it, where you can really see a hunger, a desire, and excitement from the players in the team, just to kind of be part of what could be obviously a special summer.”

The squad boasts significant depth and competition for starting positions, with Tuchel encouraging healthy rivalry. This was evident in the Croatia match, where substitutes Marcus Rashford, Bukayo Saka, and Morgan Rogers all made an impact from the bench.

“Throughout a tournament, you need all the players in the squad,” Kane added. “Whether it’s the players who play or come off the bench, or the players who are training the next day, there’s a level that I think we’ve all set each other, and it’s a great squad to be a part of.”

Sky is knocking 20% off its entire range of Glass TVs to mark the start of the 2026 FIFA World Cup. Until June 17, shoppers can upgrade to the Sky smart TV that’s ‘designed for football’ from £4.50 per month when taken alongside a Sky TV and Netflix package.

Trainer Tom Charlton is confident that Shangri La Impact has been presented with the opportune race to advance her career at Randwick this Saturday, even if a return to Stakes-level racing is uncertain.

The four-year-old filly, by Staphanos, is scheduled to participate in the $160,000 B&J Guttering & Metal Roofing BM72 Handicap over 1800 metres.

This fillies and mares event represents her first competition against her own sex since her involvement in last year’s Group 1 Queensland Oaks, and Charlton is pleased with the mare’s preparation.

“It’s the perfect race for her really; fillies and mares, a nice distance for her on home track, so I think it looks a nice option,” Charlton said.

This will mark Shangri La Impact’s fifth start for Charlton, who took over from former trainers Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott.

Waterhouse and Bott entered her into the Queensland Oaks after she achieved back-to-back wins in May last year, but she finished second-last in that 2200m race.

Shangri La Impact commenced her tenure with Charlton with a debut victory in BM64 grade at Kembla Grange on March 3. This was followed by a third-place finish at Newcastle and another win over 1800m in BM72 grade at the Randwick Kensington meeting on April 27.

She returned to Saturday racing at Rosehill on May 30 but weakened in the run home to finish sixth, 6-1/4 lengths behind the winner, having gone too hard in the early stages.

Nash Rawiller will ride Shangri La Impact from barrier two in Saturday’s event, replacing Dylan Gibbons. Charlton is hoping for a less taxing run.

“She doesn’t have to lead but she naturally has herself in a forward position,” he said.

“Last time we just went a bit too quick, we had a bit of pressure on our outside and you could see the race how it developed that it suited the backmarkers.”

“So I think there was a genuine excuse and I think also getting back on a sounder surface might be more beneficial as well.”

Shangri La Impact is currently listed as the second favourite with leading betting sites for Saturday’s handicap, behind Chris Waller’s sparingly raced British mare Nasebah.

For those interested in wagering, exploring the available racing odds on Australian betting sites for this BM72 handicap could prove advantageous.

Teenage batting sensation Vaibhav Sooryavanshi could trigger a “revival of Test cricket” if he fulfils his potential in the longest format, said former India captain Krishnamachari Srikkanth, urging fans and experts to stop over-analysing the youngster’s performances. Riding on his IPL exploits, Sooryavanshi has earned his maiden call-up in the Indian T20 set-up. The teenager has been picked for the seven-match tour of Ireland and England, comprising two games against Ireland and five against England, beginning in Belfast on June 26. Srikkanth said the 15-year-old possesses a rare ability to attract audiences and should be allowed to develop naturally without being burdened by expectations.

“What I like about Vaibhav Sooryavanshi is he has an appetite to score runs and an appetite to dominate. At the same time, he could stay there and play also,” Srikkanth told PTI at his residence on Thursday.

“If he progresses beyond T20 cricket to one-day cricket, and then to Test cricket, and if he clicks in Test cricket, which he will, I am sure then you will see a revival of Test cricket.

“You need that kind of cricketer today. People switch on the TV just to watch Sooryavanshi. I switch on the TV to watch Sooryavanshi. That is the aura he has created around himself. And he is something amazing.”

Don’t worry about what people talk, just play your natural game 

Srikkanth cautioned against “too much assessment, scrutiny and advice” after the youngster’s modest returns on the recent India A tour of Sri Lanka.

“Vaibhav, don’t worry about what people talk about you, just play your natural game,” the former selection committee chairman said.

“In one series, you don’t judge a person. Come on. That happens. Poor boy. It doesn’t matter. You just give him time. Don’t be in a hurry. In the IPL, he was just amazing. In his second year in the IPL, he won all the awards beating all the top cricketers in the world.

“I think he is amazing. He has amazing shot making capability, an amazing eye, and amazing reflexes. I think that boy is tremendous for India’s future.”

He is the future of Indian cricket, let’s mould him beautifully

Srikkanth said Sooryavanshi should be nurtured carefully rather than burdened with expectations.

“That boy needs a lot of time. You give him lot of encouragement. He is a guy who can win matches single-handed. So, I believe that he should be given a very, very, very long rope,” the former India opener said.

“And I don’t think you should mess up with him. Let’s mould him beautifully And if you give him ample chances and if you mould him well, he will be simply outstanding for Indian cricket.”

Srikkanth also welcomed Sooryavanshi’s exposure to the senior Indian set-up.

“For the England series, let him be in the reserves. Let him understand this is international cricket. I believe that he should remain with the team, even if he doesn’t have a place in the XI because Sanju Samson and Abhishek Sharma are playing, they are the certainties,” he said.

“I don’t think you should look at lesser teams or bigger teams. End of the day, it’s trial by fire. If he has to play against England, let him play against England. Against Ireland, let him play against Ireland. You don’t need to push him hard. Let him get chances to play his natural game.”

Asked if he saw similarities between Sooryavanshi and Sachin Tendulkar, who made his international debut under his captaincy, Srikkanth ruled out any comparison.

“Let’s not compare Sachin and Sooryavanshi. Sachin is God of cricket and this boy Vaibhav Suryavanshi, I believe is the son of God. Let’s put it that way. Just leave Sachin alone. Nobody can come near him.” Praising Sooryavanshi, Srikkanth said: “He has been simply amazing in under-19 cricket. His shot-making is astonishing. The way he hits those shots, hitting all the top bowlers for a six on the first ball, and his ability, his wrist speed, his bat speed, his bat swing.

“I think he has a very stable mind. If you see the last IPL matches, against Gujarat Titans. RCB were 9 for 2 and he stayed back and scored,” he noted.

Kohli should have given him a royal send-off in Test cricket

Srikkanth said Virat Kohli should have played the England series as he deserved a royal send-off from Test cricket.

“Virat Kohli is a different level. He has the passion, the aggression, and the commitment. He is simply amazing … he has been one of the best captains India has ever produced, especially in Test cricket. But his luck is just that he has not been lucky enough to win an ICC trophy.

“Kohli should have played the Test series against England last year … for a guy like Kohli who has done so much for Indian cricket, I think they should have given him a royal send-off in Test cricket. But unfortunately, it didn’t happen.

“I think you should let him be. Let Virat decide what to do, like what Sachin did. See, Virat is that great. He is King of Kings Kohli…” On Rohit Sharma, Srikkanth said: “I still believe he is one of the best one-day cricketers the world has produced in modern day. One of the best ODI openers the world has produced.

“I think if he is scoring runs and if he is fit enough, why not? He should play the 2027 World Cup.”

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IPL 2026 News | Shami’s Sensation Leads Lucknow to First Win of Season

Morphettville-based trainer Paula Trenwith is aiming to surpass her most successful racing season to date, with potentially four runners entered for her home track this Saturday.

Trenwith maintains a compact stable of only six horses at Morphettville, meaning a significant portion of her team could be in action on race day.

Six of Trenwith’s eight victories this year have occurred at metropolitan meetings, her highest tally since records began on the Racing and Sports database.

The trainer has achieved 12 wins in a season twice before, however, those wins were primarily on country tracks with a few provincial successes.

Savatoff, set to compete in the Sportsbet Get On Extra Handicap (2500m), will be aiming for his third city win of the season.

The gelding won at Morphettville Parks last August, and his most recent win came in the Onkaparinga Cup (2150m) at Oakbank in April.

Savatoff is preparing for his ninth run of the campaign, which began in February. Trenwith stated that the horse will continue racing as long as the tracks remain wet.

“He really does like the wet tracks, so he’s in at the right time of the year,” Trenwith said. “When you look at him, there’s still plenty of him. He holds his condition really well in the stable and he’s always really enthusiastic about his work. I don’t work him too hard on the track, or gallop him too much, so hopefully he can be in for a good winter campaign. I took to him Casterton last time chasing a wet track and I had him nominated for the 2500-metre race at Flemington on Saturday as well, but that was a very strong race. If it dries up here, I would be more than happy to go over the border with him, especially if the tracks remain wet.”

Aysgarth, a recent acquisition, will run in the Polywave – your partners in poly Handicap (1100m).

Previously trained by Anthony and Sam Freedman, Aysgarth is a galloper imported from the UK. He finished second in his debut outing for Trenwith on June 6.

“Sometimes with these horses that come from England, they can take a long time to acclimatise,” Trenwith commented. “His feet were terrible when I got him. I tried to get him going, but I couldn’t get him sound, so I tipped him out and he had the whole summer out. His feet are fantastic now. I’ve got a wonderful farrier. He needed that time to acclimatise, and where he went, it was a hot summer, and if he didn’t get used to Australia after that, he never would. He’s a portly little thing and he was underdone going into his last start, so he’s definitely got improvement in him.”

Ginger Sinner, like Savatoff, is aiming for his third win of the season when he contests the SAJC Membership Available June 27 Handicap (1200m).

“He likes a wet track and is well into his campaign and is lovely and fit,” Trenwith added.

An appearance for Babayka in the Sportsbet Race Replays Handicap (1050m) is uncertain, as the gelding drew barrier 14 in a 15-horse field.

“He needs a good draw to show his best,” Trenwith concluded.

Get the latest racing odds from Australian betting sites.

Winning consistently as a favorite at home creates an atmosphere of intimidation for visitors.

Loud crowds often play a big factor, as do intimate and remote environments.

The table below shows the wins, losses, and win percentages as a home favorite for the region’s top programs over the last 10 seasons.

Oregon leads the way, followed by Washington, Utah State, Utah, and Hawai’i.

When the 1994 World Cup came to town, Major League Soccer didn’t exist, and there were questions about whether soccer would even make it in this country. Fast forward to the United States men’s national team at the 2026 World Cup, and while there’s still room to grow, with stars like Lionel Messi and Son Heung-Min playing in Major League Soccer, the United Soccer League is gearing up for implementing promotion and relegation in their league, while American fans are also showing their appetite for soccer via both viewership and attendance, it’s clear that soccer is here to stay.

Major League Soccer commissioner Don Garber agrees in what has been a year when MLS announced that it will move to a European schedule, but there’s more to come for the country’s most prominent soccer league.

“The world hasn’t seen anything like what the World Cup will be in 2026. This is Super Bowls every day for well over a month, and I think that the world will see everything that we in the soccer ecosystem in North America know, that the game really matters here,” Garber said during his state of the league press conference in December. 

“People care about it deeply, there’s a revolution going on where our sport is more popular than anybody ever believed, and that’s evidenced by what’s happening in our league, what’s happening in the women’s game, what’s happening in the different structures that are being built, and what’s happening in the communities that are hosting games, all the watch parties that will happen. We’d love to say that it’s the rocket fuel, but this jet has been running for 30 years, and it’s going to run for another 30.”

The impact of the World Cup

When looking at how the league can continue improving at such a rapid rate, you have to examine what the World Cup could bring to American soccer. Since there isn’t a new league coming this time around, there’s much more nuance to what comes next. While the USMNT doing well is something that would be a sign of a strong World Cup, that’s a better indicator of short-term success than long-term success. The performance of the national team can inspire others to want to play soccer, but so can things such as seeing representation in their backyard.

The Algerian national team has been one of the feel-good stories of the World Cup so far, being based in Lawrence, Kansas, and during their community training session, the national team played soccer with kids in the community. Those are moments that will sit with those kids and impact the community for years to come. It’s part of the beauty of spreading out base camps, so these players are truly in the community and are bringing the World Cup to a further scope than just the 16 host cities where games are being played. Just ask the people who came out in Chattanooga, Tenn., to see Spain’s Lamine Yamal.

And there is no telling how it could inspire, despite the hurdles that currently exist. High-level travel teams and some MLS academies require people to pay to play or travel quite long distances to get into soccer. There can be some financial assistance available at times, but when even Clint Dempsey briefly gave up playing youth soccer so that his parents could use that money elsewhere, it shows how fragile this system is.

If you are good enough, you are old enough is a famous quote from Manchester United’s Matt Busby, but in the United States, it can be shifted to, if you’re good enough and well off enough, you’re old enough, and that’s something that has to change. Soccer may not be able to surpass football and basketball to become America’s number one sport, but in a country of almost 350 million, it doesn’t need to be, as there’s plenty of talent to improve the youth setup if it’s accessible to them.

FIFA and U.S. Soccer’s role in accessibility

Speaking to U.S. Soccer, they recognize that pay-to-play is something that needs to be addressed, and via innovate to grow, there’s a plan in place to make soccer more accessible to all. That program was able to build a new center via funding from FIFA Forward. FIFA Forward is a program that reinvests money into member associations to increase the level of soccer while also using oversight to ensure that those funds are used properly. 

With Haiti’s World Cup qualification, those funds were used to provide security and assistance with development. Cabo Verde and Curacao have used FIFA Forward funds to improve infrastructure in their countries, and it’s immediately showing results for the first-time qualifiers and returnees to the World Cup after lengthy absences. By the end of 2026, FIFA anticipates investing $5 billion into this program

“Even in the difficulties that some of them that they have to go through in the context of the country, for example Haiti, is unfortunatly going through a very difficult period as a country and it’s difficult to organize football at a domestic level on the island due to lack of security for the time being so there is a normalization committee that FIFA established which has done a tremendous job there in the way that they can, even sometimes being in Haiti with the risk that this entails but we focus with them on the national teams and the possibility to give these girls and boys places to train,” FIFA Director Member Associations Americas, Jair Bertoni said.

Sometimes they have to go abroad to safely do that, but these are the kinds of things that can make soccer accessible globally. Since it’s down to what each nation needs, in the United States, FIFA Forward support has helped U.S. Soccer grow innovations in their own markets, funding around 27 projects. And a goal that they do have is making it easier to play soccer because pay-to-play is a known issue in the country and hinders the ability to grow to the level of other countries.

“It’s a complex issue. It’s not going to be a one-size-fits-all solution for everyone. So, being able to channel funding to them to tailor solutions that really make sense for their communities and make sense for the underserved communities they’re trying to reach is one way,” Melissa Radke, director, member strategy at USSF, said.  “And as U.S. Soccer, too, we recognize that there’s additional work to be done. We have some initiatives currently underway, working very closely with our membership, including the professional leagues, on just that. Looking at the different pathways that, that players have, whether they want to move into more competitive or pre-professional environments or stay recreational, whatever’s best for them and their development, and where they want to go in soccer. That’s certainly something that we’re looking at and working very closely with our members on right now, and as those analyses, um, and those efforts move forward, there’ll be more coming out from that.”

There have been improvements to the American coaching system, but this piece is what could be significant in changing the future of soccer in America with the World Cup here a second time around. If U.S. Soccer can capitalize on the inspiration that the 2026 World Cup will bring in America, the sky could be the limit for the next tournament in the United States and for the teams who represent this country.