Landon Donovan says there's 'zero chance' he could've afforded to play youth soccer in America if he was a kid today

By Weston Blasi

The U.S. men's soccer team once again didn't make it past the Round of 16 in the World Cup - and some say the high cost to play youth soccer in America could be a key reason

Former U.S. soccer star Landon Donovan is among those who have shared thoughts on the cost of playing youth soccer in America.

'Growing up, there is zero chance I could have played club soccer.'

That was former U.S. men's national team star Landon Donovan, talking about the affordability of America's youth soccer system on a recent episode of "The Late Run" sports podcast.

While speaking with host Chad Ochocinco, Donovan criticized how youth soccer is structured in the U.S., while not blaming any organization specifically. Donovan said that almost no kids playing youth soccer today come from families who make under $50,000, mainly due to the high costs to play on a youth club team.

"My mom made $34,000 a year, single mom raising three kids - she couldn't pay $4,000 for me to play club soccer. Are you kidding? She couldn't pay $400," Donovan said. "So I would've had zero chance, but somebody let me on the team and paid for me."

The U.S. men's team lost in the Round of 16 this week at the World Cup, and critics and armchair coaches have wondered if the lofty financial prerequisites to play youth soccer in America have contributed to the USMNT's lack of success in international competitions. The men's team has only made the quarterfinals for the FIFA World Cup once since 1930, and has never lifted the trophy.

Reasons for the U.S.'s lack of success on the international soccer stage are likely more complex and multifaceted - especially as the U.S. women's national team has won the FIFA Women's World Cup a record four times in 1991, 1999, 2015 and 2019.

Still, experts say the current system is simply not working at the youth level, which needs to find ways to increase accessibility for young players.

In the U.S., elite youth soccer isn't played through public school teams like football or basketball. Instead, it relies on private, year-round "club" or "travel" teams, and families must pay out of pocket for coaching, tournament fees and travel.

Costs for youth soccer rise dramatically as players move into more competitive leagues. Typical recreational soccer costs about $100 to $600 per year, while competitive travel soccer ranges from $1,500 to $6,000. Elite youth soccer pathways such as MLS NEXT can cost between $8,000 to over $15,000 annually, according to estimates by U.S. Soccer Parent.

"The pay-to-play youth soccer model, like those in other sports, is broken. Soccer has become overly commercialized, with increasing costs, time commitment and pressure on children and parents," Jon Solomon, research director at the Aspen Institute's Sports & Society Program, told MarketWatch.

"We've built a model where access, not ability, determines who gets developed," Bill Carter, a former sports agent who has worked with amateur athletes, told MarketWatch. "Compare that to countries that fund youth development broadly: They cast a wide net early, so more elite talent survives to the top. We cast a narrow net by design, then wonder why so few American players compete at a true world-class level. Fix the funnel, fix the outcome."

Soccer isn't alone. Across youth sports, the rise of travel teams, AAU basketball and club baseball have transformed what were once seasonal activities to year-round commitments that cost families a lot of money. The average American family spent $1,016 on one child's primary sport in 2024, up 46% from 2019, according to data from Project Play. And spending jumps to $1,500 per kid when accounting for secondary sports.

While making youth soccer in particular more accessible is a complex issue that may require overhauling the entire system, one expert believes that a good starting point is to just let kids be kids.

"In America, we too often treat children like mini-professional athletes, even though they are clearly telling us what they enjoy most out of playing sports," Solomon said. "The more we listen to children's needs and desires, and develop them at appropriate stages, the more successful they will be at later stages and hopefully want to play sports for life.

"There's no doubt the pay-to-play model is broken and not serving the best interests of many children," he added.

-Weston Blasi

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