​There were high hopes for the USMNT at the 2026 World Cup, but once they faced a higher-calibre opponent, their quality gaps became evident. Mauricio Pochettino’s side had dominated their group and edged Bosnia and Herzegovina in the Round of 32. However, when they met Belgium, a solid European team, in the Round of 16, they were beaten 4-1. Now, former England midfielder Stan Collymore has suggested that the cost of playing football in the US will prevent the country from becoming a soccer superpower.
Collymore, who spent time with Liverpool and Aston Villa in the Premier League, pointed out how expensive the sport is for families in the US compared with England, sharing his thoughts on X/Twitter. “Why the USA will never be a football superpower. Pay to play,” he wrote. He recalled his own youth in England, where he played junior football from ages 10 to 16. Teams were largely organized by parents who wanted to provide a team for their children at little or no cost, and those teams then joined FA-sanctioned leagues. Subscriptions were around 50p per game, covering administration, pitch hire and referees. He noted that the English model hasn’t changed much—there are fewer teams and fewer leagues now—but the affordable-to-play structure allows both poorer and wealthier families to participate.
During a recent visit to Miami, Collymore described a late-night conversation with two local families: two children who play football, one season costing around $4000 per child. He questioned why it has to be so expensive. He described US junior leagues as private enterprises and claimed that the US version of the Football Association offers little grassroots football, no accessible Level 1 to 3 coaching badges for parents to learn the basics, and a lack of locally or nationally organized leagues. Instead, he claimed, profiteering leagues charge exorbitant fees, and even if a talented child from a less affluent part of Miami could buy a ball and play on a patch of grass, organized football would be out of reach.
He asked readers to imagine a nation of 350 million people missing out on opportunities because of the high costs, especially after such a successful World Cup. The core message was that money and greed—pay-to-play systems—prevent many potential players from reaching the highest levels. Collymore argued that most of the world’s great players would not have made it in America under such conditions, as they simply could not afford the costs.
He urged the US federation to do better: organize local and national junior leagues, curb profiteering, and offer affordable coaching badges for parents eager to help, so more children can participate in the sport they love. He emphasized that America’s challenge isn’t just about money; it’s about ensuring equal opportunity for all to engage with and benefit from the game.