Seattle Sounders fans know the power of The Pipeline. It's fueled their recent successes. That's also true for the United States Men's National Team. Thirteen of the nats played in MLS Academies. Another seven played in MLS and/or Next Pro after being drafted from colleges. Notably, Christian Pulisic developed in the U.S. outside of that system.
With over 2,000 players enrolled in MLS' now free-to-play academies the fuel for the improvement for both the domestic leagues and the national team isn't coming from players raised in Europe, as the youngsters in 2014 were, but from those who grew up in the States and then excelled into contracts in Europe.
America's development system is bubbling up because it is professionalizing. No longer dependent on an antiquated high school and collegiate system, the players are better than ever.
The system expanding to 30 MLS teams in the U.S. and Canada, plus the CPL and pro USL divisions plus Next Pro means that younger soccer players are paid to be better soccer players.
It's working.
Nineteen players came through Next Pro to the World Cup, and not just for the host nations. Players with Tunisia and Bosnia are part of that success. Eight national teams have players that rose through the USL experience. Two former Canadian Premier League players made the World Cup.
As the leagues continue to expand there is more opportunity for domestic players, more opportunity for refinement and more eyeballs trying to find the next Tyler Adams, the next Weston McKennie, the next Chris Richards, the next Alphonso Davies, the next Ali Ahmed, the next Brian Gutierrez, the next Obed Vargas.
America, Canada and Mexico are better soccer-playing nations because a youth can grow to excellence right here on the training grounds of the domestic leagues.
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Catching up on Sounder at Heart
Here's what you missed on the site this week.
Copies of issue 2 of IV remain available. Inside you'll find the tales leading up to Seattle's World Cup experience.
World Cup
Next USMNT match: July 6 v. Belgium at 5 pm PT on FOX and Telemundo (SaH watch party at Fast Fashion SoDo)
Next Mexico match: July 5 v. England at 5 pm PT on Telemundo and FOX
- Did Mauricio Pochettino need us as bad as we needed him?
- 360 image shows the breadth of USMNT crowd at Brick Park
- USMNT look ahead to Seattle return
- Key takeaways from USA's 2–0 win over Bosnia & Herzegovina
- Round of 32 rope-a-dope
Join the The Urbanist and Sounder at Heart Soccer Social for the World Cup final.
Reign
Next match: July 4 at 4:30 p.m. at North Carolina Courage on NWSL+ (this is a time and TV change due to weather in N.C.)
This newsletter was made possible through the support of Full Pull Wines, a boutique wines reseller that has been sponsoring us since 2011.
Sounders
Next match: July 16 v. Portland Timbers
Defiance
Next match: July 5 v. Timbers 2 at 7 pm on YouTube and OneFootball.
Looking back at the news
Everything else you need to know
World Cup
- USMNT draws record TV audience for World Cup win over Bosnia (New York Times) U.S. and Mexico matches are on part with the NFL Wild Card rounds, surpassing every other sporting event in the U.S.
- NBC reportedly eyeing English-language World Cup rights (Awful Announcing)
- Did Seattle Just 10x Soccer in America? The Real Story Feels Even Bigger. (Men's Health)
- The 2026 World Cup’s Most Political Team Is Also (Probably) Its Best (The New Republic)
- Is the expanded 48-team World Cup a success? (Think Outside the Ball)
- UW hosting US soccer players ahead FIFA World Cup match against Belgium (FOX 13)
- How American brand Capelli handled Vozinha, Cape Verde's viral World Cup moment (USA Today)
- The World Cup is getting hotter. A sports architect shares how stadiums can adapt (Fast Company) It'll be over 100 in cities hosting matches this weekend.
- From the Forecast: Heat wave during World Cup (Factal, where I work, on Reddit)
NWSL and women's soccer
- Sam Kerr says NWSL was only choice after Chelsea exit (ESPN)
- Sources: USWNT's Sears requests trade from Racing Louisville (ESPN)
- Thorns focused on keeping Sophia Wilson in Portland amid busy free agency window (New York Times)
- Ex-Houston Dash coach loses court fight over abuse investigation (Houston Chronicle)
MLS and men's soccer
- The transfer rumor mill expanded by a dozen players since last week. (Transfermarkt)
