The Aspen Institute’s Project Play initiative has released a landmark report on youth soccer—and while the data comes from New York City and North Jersey, the findings will feel familiar to families across the country.
After 10 months of research, the study delivers a clear message: more kids want to play soccer than the system can currently support.
In the New York metro area alone, about 250,000 kids are playing organized soccer today. But another 150,000 say they want to play and aren’t able to. That gap—kids on the sidelines despite strong interest—is likely not unique to New York. It’s a pattern many parents across the U.S. are already experiencing in different ways: waitlists, rising costs, limited field space, and long travel times just to get to practice.
The report helps explain why.
In dense urban areas, access to fields is one of the biggest constraints. Some neighborhoods have far more kids who want to play than available space or teams to accommodate them. The study identifies parts of the Bronx and Newark as “soccer deserts”—areas where interest is high, but opportunities are limited. Even within New York City, the difference is striking: Manhattan has more than three times as many sports facilities per child as the Bronx.
While most families don’t live in New York, the underlying issue—too many players chasing too few fields—is common in growing communities nationwide.
Cost is another major barrier. About one in three players surveyed said team fees were their biggest challenge. That number jumps even higher for teenagers and lower-income families. Add in travel—gas, tolls, parking, or simply time—and the total cost of participation can quickly become overwhelming.
The transportation piece is especially telling. Higher-income families are far more likely to be able to drive their kids to practices and games, while others have to rely on public transit, carpooling, or may not be able to make the logistics work at all. For many families, it’s not just about signing up—it’s about whether participation is realistically manageable week after week.
The report also highlights challenges specific to girls’ soccer that parents may recognize. While soccer remains one of the most popular sports for girls, participation tends to drop off after elementary school. Girls are less likely to play informally outside of organized teams, and many don’t see coaches or role models who reflect them. At the same time, injury risks—especially ACL injuries—are rising, which adds another layer of concern for families.
All of this comes at a moment when soccer in the U.S. is about to get its biggest spotlight in decades. The 2026 FIFA World Cup will bring enormous attention to the sport, and there is already new investment going into fields, programs, and community initiatives.
But one of the report’s key takeaways is that even millions of dollars in new funding won’t fully close the gap on its own.
For parents, the takeaway is both simple and important: if it feels like youth soccer is getting more competitive, more expensive, or harder to access in your area, it’s not just your local club—it’s part of a much bigger national trend.
At the same time, the demand is a positive signal. Kids want to play. Families see the value in the sport. The challenge now is whether communities, clubs, and organizations can expand access fast enough to meet that interest.
Because as this report makes clear, the biggest risk to youth soccer’s growth in the U.S. isn’t a lack of passion for the game.
It’s whether there’s a place for every kid who wants to play.