Welcome to Beyond 26, where we will take an in-depth look at how US Youth Soccer has impacted the game through stories that go well beyond the scoresheet.

In the buildup to the 2026 FIFA Men’s World Cup, we are highlighting many of the groups that have elevated American soccer over the last 50 years of US Youth Soccer and have set the foundation for the game’s popularity and accessibility to explode in the coming years. As a soccer-playing nation, we are made up of 54 state associations featuring thousands of clubs, which include tens of thousands of teams, all of which are powered by millions of individuals — players, coaches, referees, admins, volunteers and more.

With each person, there’s a story — and Beyond 26 will attempt to take those millions of stories and shine a spotlight on some of the contributors that collectively form US Youth Soccer.