Twenty-five years ago, soccer was little more than a prep school sport. It would have been hard to envision the success of the US men s and women s national teams. For American soccer, winning on the international level, or building another professional sport is not enough.
Soccer is different.
Success has never been measured only in wins and sold-out stadiums. The value of self-esteem to a young person searching for identity, the chance to participate for someone who had always been passed by, the importance of team over the importance of one. It is important to move the game forward in the right way, from the grassroots up and pro game down. In this way, we create a life-long love of soccer that leaves the game a little better for the next generation. And makes each community better off for having had the game.