Boys & Girls Clubs Announce Plan to Expand Low/No-Cost Youth Soccer On-Ramps

Boys & Girls Clubs of America youth soccer practice with kids playing on outdoor community court

Boys & Girls Clubs of America is doubling down on its role as one of the most accessible on-ramps into youth soccer, announcing a nationwide push to expand low- or no‑cost programs just as the sport takes center stage ahead of major international matches in 11 U.S. host cities. The organization says the initiative is […]

YouTube to Bring 2026 FIFA World Cup Action Closer to Fans and Families

image featuring YouTube and FIFA log - new announcment YouTube to Bring 2026 FIFA World Cup Action Closer to Fans and Families

Parents and young soccer fans will have more ways than ever to experience the excitement of the 2026 FIFA World Cup—thanks to a new partnership between FIFA and YouTube. The platform will become a preferred destination for official tournament content, giving media partners and creators new ways to connect fans with the world’s biggest sporting […]

Megan Rapinoe and Other Star Athletes Take On Money Mistakes

Dwyane Wade, Tom Brady, Megan Rapinoe and fellow athletes at JPMorgan Chase athlete council event on financial literacy

A new Athlete Council is taking aim at one of sports’ most persistent off‑field problems: even the world’s best-paid athletes often struggle to make their money last.  While the council is designed for current and former pros, its core message about financial literacy lands squarely with the parents guiding today’s youth athletes. A powerhouse council […]

Girls Who Play Sports Become Women Who Lead

Split image of a teenage girl playing competitive soccer on the left and a confident woman leading a boardroom meeting on the right, with the text “From the Pitch to the C‑Suite – Girls Who Play Sports Become Women Who Lead.”

When parents drive their daughters to yet another training session or weekend tournament, it can feel like a big investment of time, money, and energy. But global research from EY and espnW shows that those years on the field are doing more than teaching kids how to pass and press — they’re building a leadership […]

New Youth Soccer Concussion Data has Good News for Players and Parents

Female youth soccer player in blue jersey being checked for possible concussion by a medical professional after a head injury on the sideline.

Youth soccer’s landmark limits on heading appear to be paying off, with new data showing a significant drop in concussions treated in U.S. emergency rooms since the rules took effect in 2016. Researchers analyzing national emergency department data found a roughly 26% relative reduction in soccer‑related concussions as a share of all youth soccer injuries […]

US Club Soccer/USYS Joint Competition Platform Details Announced

Diagram showing the NewComp youth soccer platform connecting NPL, USYS National League, ECNL Regional League, and local/state leagues into conference playoffs and national championships. US Club Soccer. US Youth Soccer

US Club Soccer and US Youth Soccer have finalized the first nationwide slate of league operators for their new joint competition platform, marking a major structural shift in the U.S. youth game beginning with the 2026–27 season. The new league, temporarily referred to as “NewComp,” will serve as the top team‑based competition for both US […]

White House “Saving College Sports” Roundtable

Illustration showing the White House and a soccer stadium with the text “NIL, Transfers, and the SCORE Act at the White House,” symbolizing federal involvement in college sports policy.

The White House’s “Saving College Sports” roundtable has pushed the debate over federal intervention in college athletics into a new phase, with ripple effects that could reach all the way down to youth and high school sports. What Happened at the White House President Trump hosted more than 50 conference commissioners, university leaders, former coaches, […]

ECNL BOYS PROMOTIONS BEGIN WITH TWO ECNL REGIONAL LEAGUE CLUBS

ECNL BOYS PROMOTIONS BEGIN WITH TWO ECNL REGIONAL LEAGUE CLUBS Coastal Rush, Tennessee United SC showcase club pathway

Coastal Rush, Tennessee United SC showcase club pathway Graphic Credit: ECNL PRESS RELEASE RICHMOND, Va. (March 11, 2026) – The ECNL Boys is proud to announce a pair of clubs have been promoted from the ECNL Regional League Boys to ECNL Boys for the 2026-27 season in the initial round of membership promotions. Coastal Rush and […]

MLS NEXT adds new clubs and conferences

MLS NEXT and MLS NEXT Pro logos with headline reading MLS NEXT grows to 318 clubs and 53,000 players, highlighting nationwide youth-to-pro pathway expansion

MLS NEXT has announced a major expansion of its competition structure ahead of the 2026–27 season, including new clubs and a realigned conference setup. The league is introducing four new conferences across its Academy Division to optimize scheduling, add regular-season matches, and cut travel costs for participating clubs.  This expansion will bring dozens of new […]

Teenagers Are Already Deciding MLS Games in 2026

Graphic showing the MLS shield logo on a red background with the headline “Teenagers Making their Mark in the Opening Weeks of MLS”

Teenagers are not just earning token minutes in MLS this year—they’re already helping decide games in the opening weeks of the 2026 season. Across one recent weekend, 29 teenagers appeared in league play, tying the record for the most teenage appearances in a single MLS matchday. In New York, three teenage players combined on the […]