Soccer Shouldn’t Have a Cover Charge: What Jurgen Klopp Gets Right About the U.S.
If you play soccer in the U.S., you know the drill. You want to get better, so you look into joining a team that plays at the highest level. But it comes with a hefty price tag: thousands of dollars for registration, hundreds more for the kit, and then the travel costs for games and tournaments that are out of state.
I just read a Sports Illustrated article about Jurgen Klopp (the legendary former Liverpool manager) sharing his thoughts on American soccer, and honestly? He hit the nail on the head.
The "Rich Person’s Game"
Klopp compared soccer in America to how tennis was 50 years ago—basically an exclusive club for wealthy people. He pointed out that "the best players in the world are not coming from the richest areas." He’s right. Look at the greats like Pelé or Messi; they didn't grow up with $5,000-a-year club fees. Klopp says that for the U.S. to actually reach its potential, training and education at the youth level, soccer needs to be free.
Why Under-Resourced Athletes are Getting Left Behind
This isn't just about who has the coolest cleats. It’s about who even gets a chance to step on the pitch. When soccer costs as much as a used car, we are literally locking out some of the most talented players in our communities.
Playing in youth soccer most of my life, I saw it firsthand. Some of the absolute ballers aren’t on “elite” teams because their families can’t swing the dues. Here’s why this is such a problem:
The Travel Tax: Even if a kid gets a scholarship for club fees, they still have to pay for gas, hotels, and food for away games. If your parents are working two jobs, who’s driving you three-six hours away and paying for it all?
The Coaching Gap: The best coaches go where the money is. This means athletes in lower-income areas often don't get the same tactical training, making it even harder for them to get noticed by college scouts.
The "Ostracizing" Effect: Tim Howard (the legendary USMNT goalie) was quoted in the article saying that we are "ostracizing" people. It feels like the system is designed to keep certain people out rather than invite everyone in.
The Bottom Line
Soccer is supposed to be "The People’s Game." If we want to win a World Cup, we can't just keep picking from the 33% of families who make over $100k a year. We need the kids from every neighborhood, every background, and every budget. Like Klopp said, the motivation that comes from needing to succeed is essential, but you can’t succeed if you aren't even allowed through the gate.
What do you guys think? Is your club too expensive? Let's talk about it in the comments.