UEFA and Disney Launch “Play Games” to Keep More Girls in Soccer
UEFA and The Walt Disney Company have launched a new initiative, “Play Games,” aimed at helping girls aged 5–12 stay in soccer by turning early curiosity into long‑term participation. Building on the success of the existing UEFA Playmakers programme, Play Games uses story‑driven, small‑sided soccer activities to help young players grow in confidence, skills, and […]
Elite Soccer Is Moving Younger: What U11-U12 Pathway Expansion Means for Parents
Elite youth soccer is continuing to move younger, and parents of late-elementary and middle-school players are going to see more “pathway” options in the 2026-27 season. The latest example comes from the Girls Academy, which announced a new U11-U12 platform designed to introduce younger players to the GA environment before the traditional U13-U19 pathway (Girls […]
KKR, MLS NEXT Pro, and the Emerging Fight for America’s Second Soccer Tier
The recently announced major KKR investment in MLS NEXT Pro is not most interesting as a finance story. It matters more as a signal that the battle for the second tier and adjacent lower-division markets in U.S. pro soccer is intensifying, and that competition could have real downstream effects on youth development, academy infrastructure, and […]
When “Accepted” Becomes a Gate: What National 1 League Means for Clubs Left Out
An EDP announcement this week about “first wave” clubs applying for acceptance into the new National 1 League quietly surfaced a big change: not every current National League or NPL team is guaranteed a spot in the top tier. When EDP emailed families this week to celebrate a “first wave of clubs… looking to transition […]
Red Bull NY Opens $100 Million Training Complex as MLS Next Academies Gain Pro Development Momentum
Red Bull New York unveiled the RWJBarnabas Health Red Bulls Performance Center in Morris Township, New Jersey, on April 21, marking the latest significant investment in MLS academy infrastructure. The $100 million, 80-acre complex features eight full-size outdoor pitches, an 88,400-square-foot main building, and integrated facilities for the first team, Red Bull New York II, […]
No Dark Corners: How a New App Is Rewriting the Rules of Coach–Athlete Communication
High school sports are racing to catch up with a new reality: protecting young athletes from abusive or inappropriate adult behavior is no longer just an ethical imperative, it is becoming a regulated communications problem — and a pair of University of Cincinnati students believe they have built an app that turns those rules into […]
More Kids Want to Play Soccer! The Aspen Institute’s Project Play Youth Soccer Report
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 […]
FIFA Helps With Blind Soccer
World Cup organizers in Miami this week announced a new grant from the FIFA Foundation’s World Football Remission Fund to expand blind soccer training at Miami Lighthouse for the Blind and Visually Impaired. The $250,000 award will help grow a program that currently serves over 100 blind and visually impaired children and young adults, giving […]
Major Resignation Rocks U.S. Soccer Just Weeks Before 2026 World Cup
U.S. Soccer sporting director Matt Crocker has resigned from the U.S. Soccer Federation (USSF), stepping down just two months before the United States co‑hosts the 2026 FIFA World Cup. USSF announced that Crocker is leaving to pursue an “international soccer opportunity” with multiple reports confirming he will take a similar role with the Saudi Arabian […]
Top Youth Tournament Adds Built‑In College Recruiting Platform
Florida’s top youth soccer event is adding a new twist aimed squarely at college recruiting. The Florida Youth Soccer Association (FYSA) has announced that the 2026 Florida State Cup will feature an embedded College ID Showcase during group play, with more than 35 college programs expected to scout players in meaningful, competitive matches. The initiative […]