Why the U.S. keeps underperforming in men’s soccer

First reported by Mako · Jun 12, 2026

What happened

The article says the U.S. men’s soccer team keeps underperforming despite MLS growth, because the sport is expensive, culturally marginal for boys, and affected by bias against Americans. It argues that a strong 2026 World Cup at home could help change that.

• 01The U.S. men have reached the World Cup quarterfinals only once in eight editions.
• 02Youth soccer is expensive enough to exclude many lower-income American families.
• 03Soccer in the U.S. is still strongly associated with women and girls.
• 04Players like Pulisic and McKennie say Americans face bias abroad.
• 05A good 2026 World Cup could boost soccer’s popularity in the United States.

Summary translated & synthesized from the sources below by baba. Read each original for the full report.

Full coverage · 2 outlets

The same event, reported separately by each newsroom. Open a few to compare what each emphasizes — and what they leave out.

MakoCenter · HebrewJun 12, 2026

Why the U.S. keeps underperforming in men’s soccer

N12Center · HebrewJun 12, 2026

Why the U.S. Still Struggles to Become a Soccer Powerhouse

Related stories

U.S. opens World Cup with huge expectations and a familiar question: can soccer finally break through?Jun 12, 2026US Soccer Team Faces Harsh Criticism After 3-1 Loss to Belgium in 2026 World CupJul 7, 2026US Soccer Team Emerges as Strong Contender at 2026 World CupJul 1, 2026US Faces Soccer Development Crisis After World Cup Exit Amid Pay-to-Play BarriersJul 11, 2026US Soccer Team Loses Global Support After Controversial Red Card Incident at World CupJul 7, 2026Pochettino Transforms US Soccer Team Into Relentless Defensive Machine at World CupJul 6, 2026