https://www.vodio.fr/vodiotheque/c/2574/benched-podcast/ BENCHED | How America Named Its Youth Soccer Crisis DESCRIPTION YOUTUBE — VERSION COMPLÈTE In December 2025, the United States Congress held its first-ever hearing on the crisis in American youth sports. The title of that hearing — officially entered into the public record — was one word. BENCHED. Six months later, the FIFA World Cup opens on American soil. Billions of viewers. 48 nations. A global celebration of the beautiful game. And in the shadows of those stadiums — millions of American kids are still sitting on the bench. Not because they lack talent. Not because they lost interest. Because the system was never built for them. In this first episode of BENCHED, hosts Cole Merritt and Dana Whitfield go inside the congressional hearing room of December 16, 2025 — and trace the broken machinery of youth soccer in America back to its source. Three barriers. Documented. On the record. ① The price architecture — $4,000 to $15,000 per child, per year, to access serious youth soccer development. ② The coaching gap — a system built on unpaid, unregulated volunteer parent coaches with no accountability mechanisms. ③ The racial filter — Latino and Black kids are three times more likely to quit soccer because they feel unwanted. Not unskilled. Unwanted. Sources used in this episode : → U.S. House Committee on Education and the Workforce — official hearing "Benched: The Crisis in American Youth Sports and Its Cost to Our Future" — Dec. 16, 2025 democrats-edworkforce.house.gov → Tom Farrey testimony (full PDF) — Executive Director, Aspen Institute Sports & Society Program edworkforce.house.gov → McKinsey Institute for Economic Mobility — "Unlocking the growing power of Latino fans" October 13, 2025 mckinsey.com/institute-for-economic-mobility → Aspen Institute State of Play reports — aspenprojectplay.org This is not a soccer story. This is an American story. — BENCHED is a documentary podcast series produced across the 2026 World Cup summer. New episodes every week — June through August. en SungaPodcast Series Mon, 06 Jul 2026 22:53:00 GMT Mon, 06 Jul 2026 22:53:00 GMT contact@vodio.fr (Vodio) Vodio (https://www.vodio.fr) benched.podseries@gmail.com f4a8871e-e8cf-5817-93bd-8e04f7f9e344 no Copyright en SungaPodcast Series SungaPodcast Series benched.podseries@gmail.com BENCHED | How America Named Its Youth Soccer Crisis DESCRIPTION YOUTUBE — VERSION COMPLÈTE In December 2025, the United States Congress held its first-ever hearing on the crisis in American youth sports. The title of that hearing — officially entered into the public record — was one word. BENCHED. Six months later, the FIFA World Cup opens on American soil. Billions of viewers. 48 nations. A global celebration of the beautiful game. And in the shadows of those stadiums — millions of American kids are still sitting on the bench. Not because they lack talent. Not because they lost interest. Because the system was never built for them. In this first episode of BENCHED, hosts Cole Merritt and Dana Whitfield go inside the congressional hearing room of December 16, 2025 — and trace the broken machinery of youth soccer in America back to its source. Three barriers. Documented. On the record. ① The price architecture — $4,000 to $15,000 per child, per year, to access serious youth soccer development. ② The coaching gap — a system built on unpaid, unregulated volunteer parent coaches with no accountability mechanisms. ③ The racial filter — Latino and Black kids are three times more likely to quit soccer because they feel unwanted. Not unskilled. Unwanted. Sources used in this episode : → U.S. House Committee on Education and the Workforce — official hearing "Benched: The Crisis in American Youth Sports and Its Cost to Our Future" — Dec. 16, 2025 democrats-edworkforce.house.gov → Tom Farrey testimony (full PDF) — Executive Director, Aspen Institute Sports & Society Program edworkforce.house.gov → McKinsey Institute for Economic Mobility — "Unlocking the growing power of Latino fans" October 13, 2025 mckinsey.com/institute-for-economic-mobility → Aspen Institute State of Play reports — aspenprojectplay.org This is not a soccer story. This is an American story. — BENCHED is a documentary podcast series produced across the 2026 World Cup summer. New episodes every week — June through August. no youth soccer crisis america 2026,pay to play soccer problem,why american soccer fails kids,world cup 2026 youth development,soccer inequality united states,black latino kids soccer barriers,mls youth academy access,grassroots soccer reform,american soccer documentary,benched podcast,soccer volunteer coach problem episodic BENCHED PODCAST SungaPodcast Series benched.podseries@gmail.com BENCHED | How America Named Its Youth Soccer Crisis DESCRIPTION YOUTUBE — VERSION COMPLÈTE In December 2025, the United States Congress held its first-ever hearing on the crisis in American youth sports. The title of that hearing — officially entered into the public record — was one word. BENCHED. Six months later, the FIFA World Cup opens on American soil. Billions of viewers. 48 nations. A global celebration of the beautiful game. And in the shadows of those stadiums — millions of American kids are still sitting on the bench. Not because they lack talent. Not because they lost interest. Because the system was never built for them. In this first episode of BENCHED, hosts Cole Merritt and Dana Whitfield go inside the congressional hearing room of December 16, 2025 — and trace the broken machinery of youth soccer in America back to its source. Three barriers. Documented. On the record. ① The price architecture — $4,000 to $15,000 per child, per year, to access serious youth soccer development. ② The coaching gap — a system built on unpaid, unregulated volunteer parent coaches with no accountability mechanisms. ③ The racial filter — Latino and Black kids are three times more likely to quit soccer because they feel unwanted. Not unskilled. Unwanted. Sources used in this episode : → U.S. House Committee on Education and the Workforce — official hearing "Benched: The Crisis in American Youth Sports and Its Cost to Our Future" — Dec. 16, 2025 democrats-edworkforce.house.gov → Tom Farrey testimony (full PDF) — Executive Director, Aspen Institute Sports & Society Program edworkforce.house.gov → McKinsey Institute for Economic Mobility — "Unlocking the growing power of Latino fans" October 13, 2025 mckinsey.com/institute-for-economic-mobility → Aspen Institute State of Play reports — aspenprojectplay.org This is not a soccer story. This is an American story. — BENCHED is a documentary podcast series produced across the 2026 World Cup summer. New episodes every week — June through August. no News > Politics https://www.vodio.fr/images/logos1400/1783035212_benched-podcast_sungapodcast-series.png https://www.vodio.fr/vodiotheque/c/2574/benched-podcast/ 9fe1d60ed95f9adb93b5ef179d825622d04fb595 we couldn't answer yet.

"When the system that built the problem
announces it will fix the problem —
during the biggest sporting event
on the planet —
do you believe it?"

This week — we go find out.

—

Five things changed in American youth soccer
in the last six months.

Five. Simultaneously.

That has never happened before.

In Episode 03 of BENCHED,
hosts Cole Merritt and Dana Whitfield
examine each reform —
what it does, what it doesn't,
who it reaches, and who it still misses.

—

THE FIVE CHANGES :

① Age Group Reform — August 1, 2026
US Youth Soccer, US Club Soccer,
and AYSO agreed together —
three organizations that almost
never agree on anything.
The "trapped players" problem —
hundreds of thousands of kids
pushed out by a calendar decision
made in 2017 — is finally addressed.
But the reform doesn't reach backward.
The kids who aged out between
2017 and 2026 are already gone.

② San Diego FC — Right to Dream Academy
The first fully funded,
residential soccer academy in MLS NEXT.
Zero tuition. Talent only.
If the model proves viable —
other MLS clubs are expected to follow.
The question is how long
"expected to follow" takes.

③ Angel City FC — Impact Fund
14,000 children ages 5 to 17.
100+ Los Angeles parks sites.
Free or near-free.
Focused specifically on girls
and gender-expansive youth —
the demographic most systematically
excluded from development.
The park is the field.

④ Bank of America + U.S. Soccer Federation
$200 million National Training Center.
Atlanta. Opens 2026.
The largest long-term investment
in U.S. Soccer history.
The question we can't answer yet :
is this a monument to elite development —
or a pipeline for every zip code?

⑤ FIFA — 1,400 Kids on the Pitch
66 matches. 11 U.S. host cities.
Quaker Oats + Common Goal.
A tradition since 2002 — UNICEF and FIFA.
The question :
how are these 1,400 children chosen?
That's the question that turns
a symbol into a story.

—

AND THEN THERE ARE THE TWO NUMBERS
THAT DON'T MOVE.

Youth soccer participation
among children ages 6 to 12
dropped 5.5% between 2013 and 2023.

That is ten years of decline.
During the Women's World Cup victories.
During the MLS explosion.
During the announcement of 2026.

The average American family spends
$1,188 per year for a child to play soccer.
That is the most expensive
major youth sport in the country.
Not the most expensive academy.
The average.

Five reforms.
Two numbers that don't move yet.

The direction is right.
The velocity is uncertain.

—

Sources used in this episode :

→ U.S. House Committee on Education
and the Workforce — official hearing
"Benched: The Crisis in American Youth Sports
and Its Cost to Our Future" — Dec 16, 2025
democrats-edworkforce.house.gov

→ Tom Farrey testimony —
Aspen Institute Sports & Society Program
edworkforce.house.gov

→ Sports & Fitness Industry Association
Youth Sports Participation Report 2023

→ San Diego FC Right to Dream Academy
sandiegofc.com/news/right-to-dream

→ Angel City FC Impact Fund
latimes.com/sports/soccer/angel-city-fc

→ Bank of America + USSF Partnership
January 14, 2025
newsroom.bankofamerica.com

→ FIFA Kids Walk Out — Common Goal
+ Quaker Oats
sportingnews.com

→ Age Group Reform 2026
soccer-compass.com /
ussoccerparent.com

→ McKinsey Institute for Economic Mobility
mckinsey.com/institute-for-economic-mobility

→ Athletes Untapped — World Cup Impact
athletesuntapped.com/blog/
2026-fifa-world-cup-youth-soccer-impact-usa

—

Next week — Episode 04.

The question we haven't asked yet.
Not who's fixing it.
Not whether to believe them.

But who's still missing
from every single one
of these announcements?

—

BENCHED is a documentary podcast series
produced across the 2026 World Cup summer.
New episodes every week — June through August.

???? Hosts : Cole Merritt & Dana Whitfield
???? Season : June — August 2026
???? Also on Spotify & Apple Podcasts

—

CHAPTERS :

00:00 — "Do you believe them?"
The question from Episode 2
00:45 — Five simultaneous changes —
unprecedented in U.S. soccer history
02:00 — Change #1 : Age Group Reform
The trapped players. August 1, 2026.
05:30 — Change #2 : San Diego FC
First tuition-free MLS academy
08:30 — Change #3 : Angel City FC
14,000 kids. 100+ LA parks. Free.
11:00 — Change #4 : Bank of America + USSF
$200M National Training Center
13:30 — Change #5 : FIFA — Kids on the pitch
1,400 children. 66 matches. 11 cities.
15:30 — The two numbers that don't move
-5.5% and $1,188
18:00 — The verdict
Direction right. Velocity uncertain.
20:30 — Episode 4 preview :
Who's still missing?

—

#BENCHED #BENCHEDpodcast
#YouthSoccer #WorldCup2026
#SoccerReform #PayToPlay
#AmericanSoccer #USSoccer
#SoccerInequality #GrassrootsSoccer
#SoccerPodcast #DocumentaryPodcast
#YouthSports #SportsAccess
#SoccerDevelopment #SoccerAcademy
#SanDiegoFC #AngelCityFC
#BankOfAmerica #USSF
#SoccerEquity #SoccerFix
#FIFA2026 #WorldCup #CommonGoal
#SoccerKids #YouthSoccerReform
#SoccerCoach #SoccerMom
#SoccerDad #KidsSoccer
#SportsPodcast #InvestigativePodcast]]> we couldn't answer yet.

"When the system that built the problem
announces it will fix the problem —
during the biggest sporting event
on the planet —
do you believe it?"

This week — we go find out.

—

Five things changed in American youth soccer
in the last six months.

Five. Simultaneously.

That has never happened before.

In Episode 03 of BENCHED,
hosts Cole Merritt and Dana Whitfield
examine each reform —
what it does, what it doesn't,
who it reaches, and who it still misses.

—

THE FIVE CHANGES :

① Age Group Reform — August 1, 2026
US Youth Soccer, US Club Soccer,
and AYSO agreed together —
three organizations that almost
never agree on anything.
The "trapped players" problem —
hundreds of thousands of kids
pushed out by a calendar decision
made in 2017 — is finally addressed.
But the reform doesn't reach backward.
The kids who aged out between
2017 and 2026 are already gone.

② San Diego FC — Right to Dream Academy
The first fully funded,
residential soccer academy in MLS NEXT.
Zero tuition. Talent only.
If the model proves viable —
other MLS clubs are expected to follow.
The question is how long
"expected to follow" takes.

③ Angel City FC — Impact Fund
14,000 children ages 5 to 17.
100+ Los Angeles parks sites.
Free or near-free.
Focused specifically on girls
and gender-expansive youth —
the demographic most systematically
excluded from development.
The park is the field.

④ Bank of America + U.S. Soccer Federation
$200 million National Training Center.
Atlanta. Opens 2026.
The largest long-term investment
in U.S. Soccer history.
The question we can't answer yet :
is this a monument to elite development —
or a pipeline for every zip code?

⑤ FIFA — 1,400 Kids on the Pitch
66 matches. 11 U.S. host cities.
Quaker Oats + Common Goal.
A tradition since 2002 — UNICEF and FIFA.
The question :
how are these 1,400 children chosen?
That's the question that turns
a symbol into a story.

—

AND THEN THERE ARE THE TWO NUMBERS
THAT DON'T MOVE.

Youth soccer participation
among children ages 6 to 12
dropped 5.5% between 2013 and 2023.

That is ten years of decline.
During the Women's World Cup victories.
During the MLS explosion.
During the announcement of 2026.

The average American family spends
$1,188 per year for a child to play soccer.
That is the most expensive
major youth sport in the country.
Not the most expensive academy.
The average.

Five reforms.
Two numbers that don't move yet.

The direction is right.
The velocity is uncertain.

—

Sources used in this episode :

→ U.S. House Committee on Education
and the Workforce — official hearing
"Benched: The Crisis in American Youth Sports
and Its Cost to Our Future" — Dec 16, 2025
democrats-edworkforce.house.gov

→ Tom Farrey testimony —
Aspen Institute Sports & Society Program
edworkforce.house.gov

→ Sports & Fitness Industry Association
Youth Sports Participation Report 2023

→ San Diego FC Right to Dream Academy
sandiegofc.com/news/right-to-dream

→ Angel City FC Impact Fund
latimes.com/sports/soccer/angel-city-fc

→ Bank of America + USSF Partnership
January 14, 2025
newsroom.bankofamerica.com

→ FIFA Kids Walk Out — Common Goal
+ Quaker Oats
sportingnews.com

→ Age Group Reform 2026
soccer-compass.com /
ussoccerparent.com

→ McKinsey Institute for Economic Mobility
mckinsey.com/institute-for-economic-mobility

→ Athletes Untapped — World Cup Impact
athletesuntapped.com/blog/
2026-fifa-world-cup-youth-soccer-impact-usa

—

Next week — Episode 04.

The question we haven't asked yet.
Not who's fixing it.
Not whether to believe them.

But who's still missing
from every single one
of these announcements?

—

BENCHED is a documentary podcast series
produced across the 2026 World Cup summer.
New episodes every week — June through August.

???? Hosts : Cole Merritt & Dana Whitfield
???? Season : June — August 2026
???? Also on Spotify & Apple Podcasts

—

CHAPTERS :

00:00 — "Do you believe them?"
The question from Episode 2
00:45 — Five simultaneous changes —
unprecedented in U.S. soccer history
02:00 — Change #1 : Age Group Reform
The trapped players. August 1, 2026.
05:30 — Change #2 : San Diego FC
First tuition-free MLS academy
08:30 — Change #3 : Angel City FC
14,000 kids. 100+ LA parks. Free.
11:00 — Change #4 : Bank of America + USSF
$200M National Training Center
13:30 — Change #5 : FIFA — Kids on the pitch
1,400 children. 66 matches. 11 cities.
15:30 — The two numbers that don't move
-5.5% and $1,188
18:00 — The verdict
Direction right. Velocity uncertain.
20:30 — Episode 4 preview :
Who's still missing?

—

#BENCHED #BENCHEDpodcast
#YouthSoccer #WorldCup2026
#SoccerReform #PayToPlay
#AmericanSoccer #USSoccer
#SoccerInequality #GrassrootsSoccer
#SoccerPodcast #DocumentaryPodcast
#YouthSports #SportsAccess
#SoccerDevelopment #SoccerAcademy
#SanDiegoFC #AngelCityFC
#BankOfAmerica #USSF
#SoccerEquity #SoccerFix
#FIFA2026 #WorldCup #CommonGoal
#SoccerKids #YouthSoccerReform
#SoccerCoach #SoccerMom
#SoccerDad #KidsSoccer
#SportsPodcast #InvestigativePodcast]]> Mon, 06 Jul 2026 22:53:00 GMT https://www.vodio.fr/vodiotheque/i/36444/benched-ep-03-the-fix-5-real-reforms-in-american-youth-soccer-but-do-they-go-far-enough/ BENCHED Ep.03 — "The Fix" | 5 Real Reforms in American Youth Soccer — But Do They Go Far Enough? https://www.vodio.fr/images/logos1400/1783113588_benched-ep-03-the-fix-5-real-reforms-in-american-youth-soccer-but-do-they-go-far-enough_sungapodcast-series.png Last week, Dana asked a question we couldn't answer yet. "When the system that built the problem announces it will fix the problem — during the biggest sporting event on the planet — do you believe it?" This week — we go find out. — Five things changed in American youth soccer in the last six months. Five. Simultaneously. That has never happened before. In Episode 03 of BENCHED, hosts Cole Merritt and Dana Whitfield examine each reform — what it does, what it doesn't, who it reaches, and who it still misses. — THE FIVE CHANGES : ① Age Group Reform — August 1, 2026 US Youth Soccer, US Club Soccer, and AYSO agreed together — three organizations that almost never agree on anything. The "trapped players" problem — hundreds of thousands of kids pushed out by a calendar decision made in 2017 — is finally addressed. But the reform doesn't reach backward. The kids who aged out between 2017 and 2026 are already gone. ② San Diego FC — Right to Dream Academy The first fully funded, residential soccer academy in MLS NEXT. Zero tuition. Talent only. If the model proves viable — other MLS clubs are expected to follow. The question is how long "expected to follow" takes. ③ Angel City FC — Impact Fund 14,000 children ages 5 to 17. 100+ Los Angeles parks sites. Free or near-free. Focused specifically on girls and gender-expansive youth — the demographic most systematically excluded from development. The park is the field. ④ Bank of America + U.S. Soccer Federation $200 million National Training Center. Atlanta. Opens 2026. The largest long-term investment in U.S. Soccer history. The question we can't answer yet : is this a monument to elite development — or a pipeline for every zip code? ⑤ FIFA — 1,400 Kids on the Pitch 66 matches. 11 U.S. host cities. Quaker Oats + Common Goal. A tradition since 2002 — UNICEF and FIFA. The question : how are these 1,400 children chosen? That's the question that turns a symbol into a story. — AND THEN THERE ARE THE TWO NUMBERS THAT DON'T MOVE. Youth soccer participation among children ages 6 to 12 dropped 5.5% between 2013 and 2023. That is ten years of decline. During the Women's World Cup victories. During the MLS explosion. During the announcement of 2026. The average American family spends $1,188 per year for a child to play soccer. That is the most expensive major youth sport in the country. Not the most expensive academy. The average. Five reforms. Two numbers that don't move yet. The direction is right. The velocity is uncertain. — Sources used in this episode : → U.S. House Committee on Education and the Workforce — official hearing "Benched: The Crisis in American Youth Sports and Its Cost to Our Future" — Dec 16, 2025 democrats-edworkforce.house.gov → Tom Farrey testimony — Aspen Institute Sports & Society Program edworkforce.house.gov → Sports & Fitness Industry Association Youth Sports Participation Report 2023 → San Diego FC Right to Dream Academy sandiegofc.com/news/right-to-dream → Angel City FC Impact Fund latimes.com/sports/soccer/angel-city-fc → Bank of America + USSF Partnership January 14, 2025 newsroom.bankofamerica.com → FIFA Kids Walk Out — Common Goal + Quaker Oats sportingnews.com → Age Group Reform 2026 soccer-compass.com / ussoccerparent.com → McKinsey Institute for Economic Mobility mckinsey.com/institute-for-economic-mobility → Athletes Untapped — World Cup Impact athletesuntapped.com/blog/ 2026-fifa-world-cup-youth-soccer-impact-usa — Next week — Episode 04. The question we haven't asked yet. Not who's fixing it. Not whether to believe them. But who's still missing from every single one of these announcements? — BENCHED is a documentary podcast series produced across the 2026 World Cup summer. New episodes every week — June through August. ???? Hosts : Cole Merritt & Dana Whitfield ???? Season : June — August 2026 ???? Also on Spotify & Apple Podcasts — CHAPTERS : 00:00 — "Do you believe them?" The question from Episode 2 00:45 — Five simultaneous changes — unprecedented in U.S. soccer history 02:00 — Change #1 : Age Group Reform The trapped players. August 1, 2026. 05:30 — Change #2 : San Diego FC First tuition-free MLS academy 08:30 — Change #3 : Angel City FC 14,000 kids. 100+ LA parks. Free. 11:00 — Change #4 : Bank of America + USSF $200M National Training Center 13:30 — Change #5 : FIFA — Kids on the pitch 1,400 children. 66 matches. 11 cities. 15:30 — The two numbers that don't move -5.5% and $1,188 18:00 — The verdict Direction right. Velocity uncertain. 20:30 — Episode 4 preview : Who's still missing? — #BENCHED #BENCHEDpodcast #YouthSoccer #WorldCup2026 #SoccerReform #PayToPlay #AmericanSoccer #USSoccer #SoccerInequality #GrassrootsSoccer #SoccerPodcast #DocumentaryPodcast #YouthSports #SportsAccess #SoccerDevelopment #SoccerAcademy #SanDiegoFC #AngelCityFC #BankOfAmerica #USSF #SoccerEquity #SoccerFix #FIFA2026 #WorldCup #CommonGoal #SoccerKids #YouthSoccerReform #SoccerCoach #SoccerMom #SoccerDad #KidsSoccer #SportsPodcast #InvestigativePodcast SungaPodcast Series no "youth soccer reform america 2026" "san diego fc tuition free academy" "angel city fc impact fund kids" "age group reform youth soccer" "trapped players youth soccer" "youth soccer participation decline" "soccer cost america per year" "pay to play soccer solution" "benched podcast episode 3" "american soccer fix 2026" "mls next free academy" "soccer for girls los angeles" "bank of america us soccer" "national training center atlanta soccer" "fifa kids walk out world cup 2026" 00:22:27 full BENCHED | How America Named Its Youth Soccer Crisis DESCRIPTION YOUTUBE — VERSION COMPLÈTE In December 2025, the United States Congress held its first-ever hearing on the crisis in American youth sports. The title of that hearing —... BENCHED Ep.03 — "The Fix" | 5 Real Reforms in American Youth Soccer — But Do They Go Far Enough? SungaPodcast Series Last week, Dana asked a question we couldn't answer yet. "When the system that built the problem announces it will fix the problem — during the biggest sporting event on the planet — do you believe it?" This week — we go find out. — Five things changed in American youth soccer in the last six months. Five. Simultaneously. That has never happened before. In Episode 03 of BENCHED, hosts Cole Merritt and Dana Whitfield examine each reform — what it does, what it doesn't, who it reaches, and who it still misses. — THE FIVE CHANGES : ① Age Group Reform — August 1, 2026 US Youth Soccer, US Club Soccer, and AYSO agreed together — three organizations that almost never agree on anything. The "trapped players" problem — hundreds of thousands of kids pushed out by a calendar decision made in 2017 — is finally addressed. But the reform doesn't reach backward. The kids who aged out between 2017 and 2026 are already gone. ② San Diego FC — Right to Dream Academy The first fully funded, residential soccer academy in MLS NEXT. Zero tuition. Talent only. If the model proves viable — other MLS clubs are expected to follow. The question is how long "expected to follow" takes. ③ Angel City FC — Impact Fund 14,000 children ages 5 to 17. 100+ Los Angeles parks sites. Free or near-free. Focused specifically on girls and gender-expansive youth — the demographic most systematically excluded from development. The park is the field. ④ Bank of America + U.S. Soccer Federation $200 million National Training Center. Atlanta. Opens 2026. The largest long-term investment in U.S. Soccer history. The question we can't answer yet : is this a monument to elite development — or a pipeline for every zip code? ⑤ FIFA — 1,400 Kids on the Pitch 66 matches. 11 U.S. host cities. Quaker Oats + Common Goal. A tradition since 2002 — UNICEF and FIFA. The question : how are these 1,400 children chosen? That's the question that turns a symbol into a story. — AND THEN THERE ARE THE TWO NUMBERS THAT DON'T MOVE. Youth soccer participation among children ages 6 to 12 dropped 5.5% between 2013 and 2023. That is ten years of decline. During the Women's World Cup victories. During the MLS explosion. During the announcement of 2026. The average American family spends $1,188 per year for a child to play soccer. That is the most expensive major youth sport in the country. Not the most expensive academy. The average. Five reforms. Two numbers that don't move yet. The direction is right. The velocity is uncertain. — Sources used in this episode : → U.S. House Committee on Education and the Workforce — official hearing "Benched: The Crisis in American Youth Sports and Its Cost to Our Future" — Dec 16, 2025 democrats-edworkforce.house.gov → Tom Farrey testimony — Aspen Institute Sports & Society Program edworkforce.house.gov → Sports & Fitness Industry Association Youth Sports Participation Report 2023 → San Diego FC Right to Dream Academy sandiegofc.com/news/right-to-dream → Angel City FC Impact Fund latimes.com/sports/soccer/angel-city-fc → Bank of America + USSF Partnership January 14, 2025 newsroom.bankofamerica.com → FIFA Kids Walk Out — Common Goal + Quaker Oats sportingnews.com → Age Group Reform 2026 soccer-compass.com / ussoccerparent.com → McKinsey Institute for Economic Mobility mckinsey.com/institute-for-economic-mobility → Athletes Untapped — World Cup Impact athletesuntapped.com/blog/ 2026-fifa-world-cup-youth-soccer-impact-usa — Next week — Episode 04. The question we haven't asked yet. Not who's fixing it. Not whether to believe them. But who's still missing from every single one of these announcements? — BENCHED is a documentary podcast series produced across the 2026 World Cup summer. New episodes every week — June through August. ???? Hosts : Cole Merritt & Dana Whitfield ???? Season : June — August 2026 ???? Also on Spotify & Apple Podcasts — CHAPTERS : 00:00 — "Do you believe them?" The question from Episode 2 00:45 — Five simultaneous changes — unprecedented in U.S. soccer history 02:00 — Change #1 : Age Group Reform The trapped players. August 1, 2026. 05:30 — Change #2 : San Diego FC First tuition-free MLS academy 08:30 — Change #3 : Angel City FC 14,000 kids. 100+ LA parks. Free. 11:00 — Change #4 : Bank of America + USSF $200M National Training Center 13:30 — Change #5 : FIFA — Kids on the pitch 1,400 children. 66 matches. 11 cities. 15:30 — The two numbers that don't move -5.5% and $1,188 18:00 — The verdict Direction right. Velocity uncertain. 20:30 — Episode 4 preview : Who's still missing? — #BENCHED #BENCHEDpodcast #YouthSoccer #WorldCup2026 #SoccerReform #PayToPlay #AmericanSoccer #USSoccer #SoccerInequality #GrassrootsSoccer #SoccerPodcast #DocumentaryPodcast #YouthSports #SportsAccess #SoccerDevelopment #SoccerAcademy #SanDiegoFC #AngelCityFC #BankOfAmerica #USSF #SoccerEquity #SoccerFix #FIFA2026 #WorldCup #CommonGoal #SoccerKids #YouthSoccerReform #SoccerCoach #SoccerMom #SoccerDad #KidsSoccer #SportsPodcast #InvestigativePodcast no Cette emission est sous licence Copyright - Tous droits réservés e0038544597958f8cab0c144c4759163172e0b5e that wouldn't go away.

What if the youth soccer system
in America isn't broken?

What if it works — perfectly —
for the people it was designed to serve?

This week — we follow the money.

—

Youth soccer in the United States
is a $40 billion industry.

Forty billion dollars.
More revenue than the entire NFL.

Three million children.
$4,000 to $15,000 per child, per year.

That money doesn't go to the coaches —
most of them are unpaid volunteers.

It doesn't go to facilities
in low-income communities —
those complexes are built
in affluent suburbs,
miles from public transit.

So where does it go?

In Episode 02 of BENCHED,
hosts Cole Merritt and Dana Whitfield
follow the money —
through the tournament travel economy,
the state-of-play hotel policies,
the closed economic loop
where the people controlling access
are the same people monetizing it.

And then — something unexpected happens.

On June 11th, 2026 —
four days after the World Cup
opening ceremony —
the institutions that built this system
announced they are going to fix it.

Los Angeles. The U.S. Soccer Federation.
400,000 students. 1,000 educators.
Free soccer in public parks.

And in Atlanta —
five-versus-five fields
inside MARTA subway stations.
Free for kids in the daytime.
The transit system becomes the team bus.

Do you believe them?

That's the question
Dana asks at the end of this episode.

We don't have the answer yet.
Episode 3 begins to find out.

—

THREE ECONOMIC BARRIERS —
MAPPED IN DETAIL :

① The tournament travel economy
State-of-play hotel policies —
families mandated to book specific hotels
as a condition of competition.
Non-compliance : child cannot play.

② The closed economic loop
The people controlling access
are the same people monetizing it.
Academy fees. Director salaries.
Tournament infrastructure.
The money flows upward —
not to the grassroots.

③ The European mirror
Solidarity payments.
European clubs make money
by developing talent in poor communities.
American clubs make money
by charging wealthy families.
The result is visible on the World Cup field.

AND FOUR ANNOUNCEMENTS
THAT JUST CHANGED EVERYTHING —
OR DID THEY?

① Los Angeles — June 11, 2026
Mayor Karen Bass +
U.S. Soccer Federation +
Soccer Forward Foundation + LAUSD.
1,000+ educators trained.
400,000+ students reached.
100+ free community events.
Lex Chalat, Soccer Forward Foundation :
"Los Angeles is not only a host city
for the World Cup, but a model
for how the sport can create
lasting impact in communities
for generations to come."

② Atlanta StationSoccer
Soccer in the Streets.
5v5 fields in MARTA subway stations.
Six stations. Free for kids.
The transit system becomes the team bus.

③ The New 2026 Pathway
U.S. Soccer takes direct control
of US Youth Soccer.
Four-level unified system.
A talented kid in a small local league
can now be scouted without paying
for a private academy.

④ Age Group Reform — August 2026
School year grouping replaces
birth year grouping.
Reduces the relative age effect.
Hundreds of thousands of trapped players —
finally addressed.

—

Sources used in this episode :

→ U.S. House Committee on Education
and the Workforce —
"Benched: The Crisis in American
Youth Sports and Its Cost to Our Future"
December 16, 2025
democrats-edworkforce.house.gov

→ Tom Farrey congressional testimony —
Aspen Institute Sports & Society Program
edworkforce.house.gov

→ McKinsey Institute for Economic Mobility —
"Unlocking the growing power of Latino fans"
October 13, 2025
mckinsey.com/institute-for-economic-mobility

→ Aspen Institute State of Play reports
aspenprojectplay.org/state-of-play

→ FIFA Solidarity Payment Mechanism
fifa.com/football-development

→ City of Los Angeles Official Press Release
June 11, 2026
mayor.lacity.gov

→ Soccer in the Streets — Atlanta StationSoccer
soccerstreets.org/stationsoccer

→ New 2026 Pathway
nuusoccer.com

→ Age Group Reform 2026
soccer-compass.com

—

BENCHED is a documentary podcast series
produced across the 2026 World Cup summer.
New episodes every week — June through August.

Subscribe now so you don't miss Episode 03 :
"The Fix" —
The institutions that built the crisis
are now announcing the solution.
Here's what the data says
about whether to believe them.

—

???? Hosts : Cole Merritt & Dana Whitfield
???? Season : June — August 2026
???? Also on Spotify & Apple Podcasts

—

CHAPTERS :

00:00 — "What if the system isn't broken?"
The question from Episode 1
00:45 — Follow the money —
$40 billion industry
02:30 — Where the money goes
Not to coaches. Not to poor communities.
05:00 — State-of-play hotel policies
The closed economic loop
08:00 — The family testimony
The real total cost of one season
10:30 — The European mirror
Solidarity payments — opposite incentive
13:00 — Who profits?
Three categories named
15:30 — The crack in the wall
June 11, 2026 — Los Angeles
17:30 — Atlanta StationSoccer
The transit system becomes the team bus
19:00 — New 2026 Pathway + Age Group Reform
20:30 — "Do you believe them?"
The question we can't answer yet

—

#BENCHED #BENCHEDpodcast
#FollowTheMoney #YouthSoccer
#WorldCup2026 #SoccerInequality
#PayToPlay #AmericanSoccer
#USSoccer #GrassrootsSoccer
#SoccerPodcast #DocumentaryPodcast
#YouthSports #SportsAccess
#SoccerDevelopment #SoccerReform
#LosAngeles #AtlantaSoccer
#StationSoccer #SoccerForward
#LAUSD #AngelCityFC
#FIFA2026 #WorldCup
#SoccerCoach #SoccerMom
#SoccerDad #KidsSoccer
#SportsPodcast #InvestigativePodcast
#SoccerEconomy #PayToPlaySoccer]]> that wouldn't go away.

What if the youth soccer system
in America isn't broken?

What if it works — perfectly —
for the people it was designed to serve?

This week — we follow the money.

—

Youth soccer in the United States
is a $40 billion industry.

Forty billion dollars.
More revenue than the entire NFL.

Three million children.
$4,000 to $15,000 per child, per year.

That money doesn't go to the coaches —
most of them are unpaid volunteers.

It doesn't go to facilities
in low-income communities —
those complexes are built
in affluent suburbs,
miles from public transit.

So where does it go?

In Episode 02 of BENCHED,
hosts Cole Merritt and Dana Whitfield
follow the money —
through the tournament travel economy,
the state-of-play hotel policies,
the closed economic loop
where the people controlling access
are the same people monetizing it.

And then — something unexpected happens.

On June 11th, 2026 —
four days after the World Cup
opening ceremony —
the institutions that built this system
announced they are going to fix it.

Los Angeles. The U.S. Soccer Federation.
400,000 students. 1,000 educators.
Free soccer in public parks.

And in Atlanta —
five-versus-five fields
inside MARTA subway stations.
Free for kids in the daytime.
The transit system becomes the team bus.

Do you believe them?

That's the question
Dana asks at the end of this episode.

We don't have the answer yet.
Episode 3 begins to find out.

—

THREE ECONOMIC BARRIERS —
MAPPED IN DETAIL :

① The tournament travel economy
State-of-play hotel policies —
families mandated to book specific hotels
as a condition of competition.
Non-compliance : child cannot play.

② The closed economic loop
The people controlling access
are the same people monetizing it.
Academy fees. Director salaries.
Tournament infrastructure.
The money flows upward —
not to the grassroots.

③ The European mirror
Solidarity payments.
European clubs make money
by developing talent in poor communities.
American clubs make money
by charging wealthy families.
The result is visible on the World Cup field.

AND FOUR ANNOUNCEMENTS
THAT JUST CHANGED EVERYTHING —
OR DID THEY?

① Los Angeles — June 11, 2026
Mayor Karen Bass +
U.S. Soccer Federation +
Soccer Forward Foundation + LAUSD.
1,000+ educators trained.
400,000+ students reached.
100+ free community events.
Lex Chalat, Soccer Forward Foundation :
"Los Angeles is not only a host city
for the World Cup, but a model
for how the sport can create
lasting impact in communities
for generations to come."

② Atlanta StationSoccer
Soccer in the Streets.
5v5 fields in MARTA subway stations.
Six stations. Free for kids.
The transit system becomes the team bus.

③ The New 2026 Pathway
U.S. Soccer takes direct control
of US Youth Soccer.
Four-level unified system.
A talented kid in a small local league
can now be scouted without paying
for a private academy.

④ Age Group Reform — August 2026
School year grouping replaces
birth year grouping.
Reduces the relative age effect.
Hundreds of thousands of trapped players —
finally addressed.

—

Sources used in this episode :

→ U.S. House Committee on Education
and the Workforce —
"Benched: The Crisis in American
Youth Sports and Its Cost to Our Future"
December 16, 2025
democrats-edworkforce.house.gov

→ Tom Farrey congressional testimony —
Aspen Institute Sports & Society Program
edworkforce.house.gov

→ McKinsey Institute for Economic Mobility —
"Unlocking the growing power of Latino fans"
October 13, 2025
mckinsey.com/institute-for-economic-mobility

→ Aspen Institute State of Play reports
aspenprojectplay.org/state-of-play

→ FIFA Solidarity Payment Mechanism
fifa.com/football-development

→ City of Los Angeles Official Press Release
June 11, 2026
mayor.lacity.gov

→ Soccer in the Streets — Atlanta StationSoccer
soccerstreets.org/stationsoccer

→ New 2026 Pathway
nuusoccer.com

→ Age Group Reform 2026
soccer-compass.com

—

BENCHED is a documentary podcast series
produced across the 2026 World Cup summer.
New episodes every week — June through August.

Subscribe now so you don't miss Episode 03 :
"The Fix" —
The institutions that built the crisis
are now announcing the solution.
Here's what the data says
about whether to believe them.

—

???? Hosts : Cole Merritt & Dana Whitfield
???? Season : June — August 2026
???? Also on Spotify & Apple Podcasts

—

CHAPTERS :

00:00 — "What if the system isn't broken?"
The question from Episode 1
00:45 — Follow the money —
$40 billion industry
02:30 — Where the money goes
Not to coaches. Not to poor communities.
05:00 — State-of-play hotel policies
The closed economic loop
08:00 — The family testimony
The real total cost of one season
10:30 — The European mirror
Solidarity payments — opposite incentive
13:00 — Who profits?
Three categories named
15:30 — The crack in the wall
June 11, 2026 — Los Angeles
17:30 — Atlanta StationSoccer
The transit system becomes the team bus
19:00 — New 2026 Pathway + Age Group Reform
20:30 — "Do you believe them?"
The question we can't answer yet

—

#BENCHED #BENCHEDpodcast
#FollowTheMoney #YouthSoccer
#WorldCup2026 #SoccerInequality
#PayToPlay #AmericanSoccer
#USSoccer #GrassrootsSoccer
#SoccerPodcast #DocumentaryPodcast
#YouthSports #SportsAccess
#SoccerDevelopment #SoccerReform
#LosAngeles #AtlantaSoccer
#StationSoccer #SoccerForward
#LAUSD #AngelCityFC
#FIFA2026 #WorldCup
#SoccerCoach #SoccerMom
#SoccerDad #KidsSoccer
#SportsPodcast #InvestigativePodcast
#SoccerEconomy #PayToPlaySoccer]]> Mon, 06 Jul 2026 16:09:00 GMT https://www.vodio.fr/vodiotheque/i/36440/benched-ep-02-follow-the-money-who-built-america-s-youth-soccer-crisis-and-who-profits-from-keeping-it/ BENCHED Ep.02 — "Follow The Money" | Who Built America's Youth Soccer Crisis — And Who Profits From Keeping It? https://www.vodio.fr/images/logos1400/1783089700_benched-ep-02-follow-the-money-who-built-america-s-youth-soccer-crisis-and-who-profits-from-keeping-it_sungapodcast-series.png Last week, we asked a question that wouldn't go away. What if the youth soccer system in America isn't broken? What if it works — perfectly — for the people it was designed to serve? This week — we follow the money. — Youth soccer in the United States is a $40 billion industry. Forty billion dollars. More revenue than the entire NFL. Three million children. $4,000 to $15,000 per child, per year. That money doesn't go to the coaches — most of them are unpaid volunteers. It doesn't go to facilities in low-income communities — those complexes are built in affluent suburbs, miles from public transit. So where does it go? In Episode 02 of BENCHED, hosts Cole Merritt and Dana Whitfield follow the money — through the tournament travel economy, the state-of-play hotel policies, the closed economic loop where the people controlling access are the same people monetizing it. And then — something unexpected happens. On June 11th, 2026 — four days after the World Cup opening ceremony — the institutions that built this system announced they are going to fix it. Los Angeles. The U.S. Soccer Federation. 400,000 students. 1,000 educators. Free soccer in public parks. And in Atlanta — five-versus-five fields inside MARTA subway stations. Free for kids in the daytime. The transit system becomes the team bus. Do you believe them? That's the question Dana asks at the end of this episode. We don't have the answer yet. Episode 3 begins to find out. — THREE ECONOMIC BARRIERS — MAPPED IN DETAIL : ① The tournament travel economy State-of-play hotel policies — families mandated to book specific hotels as a condition of competition. Non-compliance : child cannot play. ② The closed economic loop The people controlling access are the same people monetizing it. Academy fees. Director salaries. Tournament infrastructure. The money flows upward — not to the grassroots. ③ The European mirror Solidarity payments. European clubs make money by developing talent in poor communities. American clubs make money by charging wealthy families. The result is visible on the World Cup field. AND FOUR ANNOUNCEMENTS THAT JUST CHANGED EVERYTHING — OR DID THEY? ① Los Angeles — June 11, 2026 Mayor Karen Bass + U.S. Soccer Federation + Soccer Forward Foundation + LAUSD. 1,000+ educators trained. 400,000+ students reached. 100+ free community events. Lex Chalat, Soccer Forward Foundation : "Los Angeles is not only a host city for the World Cup, but a model for how the sport can create lasting impact in communities for generations to come." ② Atlanta StationSoccer Soccer in the Streets. 5v5 fields in MARTA subway stations. Six stations. Free for kids. The transit system becomes the team bus. ③ The New 2026 Pathway U.S. Soccer takes direct control of US Youth Soccer. Four-level unified system. A talented kid in a small local league can now be scouted without paying for a private academy. ④ Age Group Reform — August 2026 School year grouping replaces birth year grouping. Reduces the relative age effect. Hundreds of thousands of trapped players — finally addressed. — Sources used in this episode : → U.S. House Committee on Education and the Workforce — "Benched: The Crisis in American Youth Sports and Its Cost to Our Future" December 16, 2025 democrats-edworkforce.house.gov → Tom Farrey congressional testimony — Aspen Institute Sports & Society Program edworkforce.house.gov → McKinsey Institute for Economic Mobility — "Unlocking the growing power of Latino fans" October 13, 2025 mckinsey.com/institute-for-economic-mobility → Aspen Institute State of Play reports aspenprojectplay.org/state-of-play → FIFA Solidarity Payment Mechanism fifa.com/football-development → City of Los Angeles Official Press Release June 11, 2026 mayor.lacity.gov → Soccer in the Streets — Atlanta StationSoccer soccerstreets.org/stationsoccer → New 2026 Pathway nuusoccer.com → Age Group Reform 2026 soccer-compass.com — BENCHED is a documentary podcast series produced across the 2026 World Cup summer. New episodes every week — June through August. Subscribe now so you don't miss Episode 03 : "The Fix" — The institutions that built the crisis are now announcing the solution. Here's what the data says about whether to believe them. — ???? Hosts : Cole Merritt & Dana Whitfield ???? Season : June — August 2026 ???? Also on Spotify & Apple Podcasts — CHAPTERS : 00:00 — "What if the system isn't broken?" The question from Episode 1 00:45 — Follow the money — $40 billion industry 02:30 — Where the money goes Not to coaches. Not to poor communities. 05:00 — State-of-play hotel policies The closed economic loop 08:00 — The family testimony The real total cost of one season 10:30 — The European mirror Solidarity payments — opposite incentive 13:00 — Who profits? Three categories named 15:30 — The crack in the wall June 11, 2026 — Los Angeles 17:30 — Atlanta StationSoccer The transit system becomes the team bus 19:00 — New 2026 Pathway + Age Group Reform 20:30 — "Do you believe them?" The question we can't answer yet — #BENCHED #BENCHEDpodcast #FollowTheMoney #YouthSoccer #WorldCup2026 #SoccerInequality #PayToPlay #AmericanSoccer #USSoccer #GrassrootsSoccer #SoccerPodcast #DocumentaryPodcast #YouthSports #SportsAccess #SoccerDevelopment #SoccerReform #LosAngeles #AtlantaSoccer #StationSoccer #SoccerForward #LAUSD #AngelCityFC #FIFA2026 #WorldCup #SoccerCoach #SoccerMom #SoccerDad #KidsSoccer #SportsPodcast #InvestigativePodcast #SoccerEconomy #PayToPlaySoccer SungaPodcast Series no follow the money youth soccer,youth soccer economy america,pay to play soccer problem,state-of-play hotel policies soccer,youth soccer cost $40 billion,tournament travel soccer cost,soccer solidarity payments,european soccer vs american soccer,mls youth academy funding,soccer inequality united states,los angeles youth soccer 2026,soccer forward foundation,lausd soccer program,atlanta stationsoccer marta,soccer in the streets atlanta,new 2026 pathway us soccer,youth soccer age group reform 2026,trapped players youth soccer,world cup 2026 youth soccer,fifa world cup 2026,grassroots soccer america,youth soccer reform 2026,american soccer system broken,youth soccer pay to play,soccer academy fees america,elite youth soccer cost,who profits from youth soccer,soccer tournament travel cost,soccer hotel policies,youth sports inequality america,sports access reform,soccer community programs,benched podcast,benched episode 2,cole merritt dana whitfield,tom farrey aspen institute,mckinsey youth soccer,congressional hearing youth sports,soccer documentary podcast,investigative podcast soccer,youth soccer news 2026,soccer reform america,mls next academy,ecnl soccer,us youth soccer reform,usys 2026,soccer scholarship access,free youth soccer programs,youth soccer los angeles,karen bass soccer,lex chalat soccer,soccer forward foundation la,boys girls clubs soccer,youth sports cost america,soccer participation decline,american soccer problem solution 00:18:12 full BENCHED | How America Named Its Youth Soccer Crisis DESCRIPTION YOUTUBE — VERSION COMPLÈTE In December 2025, the United States Congress held its first-ever hearing on the crisis in American youth sports. The title of that hearing —... BENCHED Ep.02 — "Follow The Money" | Who Built America's Youth Soccer Crisis — And Who Profits From Keeping It? SungaPodcast Series Last week, we asked a question that wouldn't go away. What if the youth soccer system in America isn't broken? What if it works — perfectly — for the people it was designed to serve? This week — we follow the money. — Youth soccer in the United States is a $40 billion industry. Forty billion dollars. More revenue than the entire NFL. Three million children. $4,000 to $15,000 per child, per year. That money doesn't go to the coaches — most of them are unpaid volunteers. It doesn't go to facilities in low-income communities — those complexes are built in affluent suburbs, miles from public transit. So where does it go? In Episode 02 of BENCHED, hosts Cole Merritt and Dana Whitfield follow the money — through the tournament travel economy, the state-of-play hotel policies, the closed economic loop where the people controlling access are the same people monetizing it. And then — something unexpected happens. On June 11th, 2026 — four days after the World Cup opening ceremony — the institutions that built this system announced they are going to fix it. Los Angeles. The U.S. Soccer Federation. 400,000 students. 1,000 educators. Free soccer in public parks. And in Atlanta — five-versus-five fields inside MARTA subway stations. Free for kids in the daytime. The transit system becomes the team bus. Do you believe them? That's the question Dana asks at the end of this episode. We don't have the answer yet. Episode 3 begins to find out. — THREE ECONOMIC BARRIERS — MAPPED IN DETAIL : ① The tournament travel economy State-of-play hotel policies — families mandated to book specific hotels as a condition of competition. Non-compliance : child cannot play. ② The closed economic loop The people controlling access are the same people monetizing it. Academy fees. Director salaries. Tournament infrastructure. The money flows upward — not to the grassroots. ③ The European mirror Solidarity payments. European clubs make money by developing talent in poor communities. American clubs make money by charging wealthy families. The result is visible on the World Cup field. AND FOUR ANNOUNCEMENTS THAT JUST CHANGED EVERYTHING — OR DID THEY? ① Los Angeles — June 11, 2026 Mayor Karen Bass + U.S. Soccer Federation + Soccer Forward Foundation + LAUSD. 1,000+ educators trained. 400,000+ students reached. 100+ free community events. Lex Chalat, Soccer Forward Foundation : "Los Angeles is not only a host city for the World Cup, but a model for how the sport can create lasting impact in communities for generations to come." ② Atlanta StationSoccer Soccer in the Streets. 5v5 fields in MARTA subway stations. Six stations. Free for kids. The transit system becomes the team bus. ③ The New 2026 Pathway U.S. Soccer takes direct control of US Youth Soccer. Four-level unified system. A talented kid in a small local league can now be scouted without paying for a private academy. ④ Age Group Reform — August 2026 School year grouping replaces birth year grouping. Reduces the relative age effect. Hundreds of thousands of trapped players — finally addressed. — Sources used in this episode : → U.S. House Committee on Education and the Workforce — "Benched: The Crisis in American Youth Sports and Its Cost to Our Future" December 16, 2025 democrats-edworkforce.house.gov → Tom Farrey congressional testimony — Aspen Institute Sports & Society Program edworkforce.house.gov → McKinsey Institute for Economic Mobility — "Unlocking the growing power of Latino fans" October 13, 2025 mckinsey.com/institute-for-economic-mobility → Aspen Institute State of Play reports aspenprojectplay.org/state-of-play → FIFA Solidarity Payment Mechanism fifa.com/football-development → City of Los Angeles Official Press Release June 11, 2026 mayor.lacity.gov → Soccer in the Streets — Atlanta StationSoccer soccerstreets.org/stationsoccer → New 2026 Pathway nuusoccer.com → Age Group Reform 2026 soccer-compass.com — BENCHED is a documentary podcast series produced across the 2026 World Cup summer. New episodes every week — June through August. Subscribe now so you don't miss Episode 03 : "The Fix" — The institutions that built the crisis are now announcing the solution. Here's what the data says about whether to believe them. — ???? Hosts : Cole Merritt & Dana Whitfield ???? Season : June — August 2026 ???? Also on Spotify & Apple Podcasts — CHAPTERS : 00:00 — "What if the system isn't broken?" The question from Episode 1 00:45 — Follow the money — $40 billion industry 02:30 — Where the money goes Not to coaches. Not to poor communities. 05:00 — State-of-play hotel policies The closed economic loop 08:00 — The family testimony The real total cost of one season 10:30 — The European mirror Solidarity payments — opposite incentive 13:00 — Who profits? Three categories named 15:30 — The crack in the wall June 11, 2026 — Los Angeles 17:30 — Atlanta StationSoccer The transit system becomes the team bus 19:00 — New 2026 Pathway + Age Group Reform 20:30 — "Do you believe them?" The question we can't answer yet — #BENCHED #BENCHEDpodcast #FollowTheMoney #YouthSoccer #WorldCup2026 #SoccerInequality #PayToPlay #AmericanSoccer #USSoccer #GrassrootsSoccer #SoccerPodcast #DocumentaryPodcast #YouthSports #SportsAccess #SoccerDevelopment #SoccerReform #LosAngeles #AtlantaSoccer #StationSoccer #SoccerForward #LAUSD #AngelCityFC #FIFA2026 #WorldCup #SoccerCoach #SoccerMom #SoccerDad #KidsSoccer #SportsPodcast #InvestigativePodcast #SoccerEconomy #PayToPlaySoccer no Cette emission est sous licence Copyright - Tous droits réservés 0f9b6e303aa0ef3e68a2aa2c59a9e1b3dbc7a93d held its first-ever hearing on the crisis
in American youth sports.

The title of that hearing — officially entered
into the public record — was one word.

BENCHED.

Six months later, the FIFA World Cup opens
on American soil. Billions of viewers.
48 nations. A global celebration
of the beautiful game.

And in the shadows of those stadiums —
millions of American kids
are still sitting on the bench.

Not because they lack talent.
Not because they lost interest.
Because the system was never built for them.

In this first episode of BENCHED,
hosts Cole Merritt and Dana Whitfield
go inside the congressional hearing room
of December 16, 2025 —
and trace the broken machinery
of youth soccer in America
back to its source.

Three barriers. Documented. On the record.

① The price architecture —
$4,000 to $15,000 per child, per year,
to access serious youth soccer development.

② The coaching gap —
a system built on unpaid,
unregulated volunteer parent coaches
with no accountability mechanisms.

③ The racial filter —
Latino and Black kids are three times
more likely to quit soccer
because they feel unwanted.
Not unskilled. Unwanted.

Sources used in this episode :
→ U.S. House Committee on Education
and the Workforce — official hearing
"Benched: The Crisis in American Youth Sports
and Its Cost to Our Future" — Dec. 16, 2025
democrats-edworkforce.house.gov

→ Tom Farrey testimony (full PDF) —
Executive Director, Aspen Institute
Sports & Society Program
edworkforce.house.gov

→ McKinsey Institute for Economic Mobility —
"Unlocking the growing power of Latino fans"
October 13, 2025
mckinsey.com/institute-for-economic-mobility

→ Aspen Institute State of Play reports —
aspenprojectplay.org

This is not a soccer story.
This is an American story.

—

BENCHED is a documentary podcast series
produced across the 2026 World Cup summer.
New episodes every week — June through August.

Subscribe so you don't miss Episode 02 :
"Follow The Money" —
Who built this system,
and who profits from keeping it exactly as it is.]]> held its first-ever hearing on the crisis
in American youth sports.

The title of that hearing — officially entered
into the public record — was one word.

BENCHED.

Six months later, the FIFA World Cup opens
on American soil. Billions of viewers.
48 nations. A global celebration
of the beautiful game.

And in the shadows of those stadiums —
millions of American kids
are still sitting on the bench.

Not because they lack talent.
Not because they lost interest.
Because the system was never built for them.

In this first episode of BENCHED,
hosts Cole Merritt and Dana Whitfield
go inside the congressional hearing room
of December 16, 2025 —
and trace the broken machinery
of youth soccer in America
back to its source.

Three barriers. Documented. On the record.

① The price architecture —
$4,000 to $15,000 per child, per year,
to access serious youth soccer development.

② The coaching gap —
a system built on unpaid,
unregulated volunteer parent coaches
with no accountability mechanisms.

③ The racial filter —
Latino and Black kids are three times
more likely to quit soccer
because they feel unwanted.
Not unskilled. Unwanted.

Sources used in this episode :
→ U.S. House Committee on Education
and the Workforce — official hearing
"Benched: The Crisis in American Youth Sports
and Its Cost to Our Future" — Dec. 16, 2025
democrats-edworkforce.house.gov

→ Tom Farrey testimony (full PDF) —
Executive Director, Aspen Institute
Sports & Society Program
edworkforce.house.gov

→ McKinsey Institute for Economic Mobility —
"Unlocking the growing power of Latino fans"
October 13, 2025
mckinsey.com/institute-for-economic-mobility

→ Aspen Institute State of Play reports —
aspenprojectplay.org

This is not a soccer story.
This is an American story.

—

BENCHED is a documentary podcast series
produced across the 2026 World Cup summer.
New episodes every week — June through August.

Subscribe so you don't miss Episode 02 :
"Follow The Money" —
Who built this system,
and who profits from keeping it exactly as it is.]]> Fri, 03 Jul 2026 02:09:00 GMT https://www.vodio.fr/vodiotheque/i/36419/the-bench-how-america-named-its-youth-soccer-crisis-and-did-nothing/ "The Bench" | How America Named Its Youth Soccer Crisis — And Did Nothing In December 2025, the United States Congress held its first-ever hearing on the crisis in American youth sports. The title of that hearing — officially entered into the public record — was one word. BENCHED. Six months later, the FIFA World Cup opens on American soil. Billions of viewers. 48 nations. A global celebration of the beautiful game. And in the shadows of those stadiums — millions of American kids are still sitting on the bench. Not because they lack talent. Not because they lost interest. Because the system was never built for them. In this first episode of BENCHED, hosts Cole Merritt and Dana Whitfield go inside the congressional hearing room of December 16, 2025 — and trace the broken machinery of youth soccer in America back to its source. Three barriers. Documented. On the record. ① The price architecture — $4,000 to $15,000 per child, per year, to access serious youth soccer development. ② The coaching gap — a system built on unpaid, unregulated volunteer parent coaches with no accountability mechanisms. ③ The racial filter — Latino and Black kids are three times more likely to quit soccer because they feel unwanted. Not unskilled. Unwanted. Sources used in this episode : → U.S. House Committee on Education and the Workforce — official hearing "Benched: The Crisis in American Youth Sports and Its Cost to Our Future" — Dec. 16, 2025 democrats-edworkforce.house.gov → Tom Farrey testimony (full PDF) — Executive Director, Aspen Institute Sports & Society Program edworkforce.house.gov → McKinsey Institute for Economic Mobility — "Unlocking the growing power of Latino fans" October 13, 2025 mckinsey.com/institute-for-economic-mobility → Aspen Institute State of Play reports — aspenprojectplay.org This is not a soccer story. This is an American story. — BENCHED is a documentary podcast series produced across the 2026 World Cup summer. New episodes every week — June through August. Subscribe so you don't miss Episode 02 : "Follow The Money" — Who built this system, and who profits from keeping it exactly as it is. SungaPodcast Series yes "youth soccer crisis america 2026" "pay to play soccer problem" "why american soccer fails kids" "world cup 2026 youth development" "soccer inequality united states" "black latino kids soccer barriers" "mls youth academy access" "grassroots soccer reform" "american soccer documentary" "benched podcast" "tom farrey aspen institute testimony" "youth sports cost per year" "congressional hearing youth sports" "soccer volunteer coach problem" "kids quit soccer why" 00:18:45 full BENCHED | How America Named Its Youth Soccer Crisis DESCRIPTION YOUTUBE — VERSION COMPLÈTE In December 2025, the United States Congress held its first-ever hearing on the crisis in American youth sports. The title of that hearing —... "The Bench" | How America Named Its Youth Soccer Crisis — And Did Nothing SungaPodcast Series In December 2025, the United States Congress held its first-ever hearing on the crisis in American youth sports. The title of that hearing — officially entered into the public record — was one word. BENCHED. Six months later, the FIFA World Cup opens on American soil. Billions of viewers. 48 nations. A global celebration of the beautiful game. And in the shadows of those stadiums — millions of American kids are still sitting on the bench. Not because they lack talent. Not because they lost interest. Because the system was never built for them. In this first episode of BENCHED, hosts Cole Merritt and Dana Whitfield go inside the congressional hearing room of December 16, 2025 — and trace the broken machinery of youth soccer in America back to its source. Three barriers. Documented. On the record. ① The price architecture — $4,000 to $15,000 per child, per year, to access serious youth soccer development. ② The coaching gap — a system built on unpaid, unregulated volunteer parent coaches with no accountability mechanisms. ③ The racial filter — Latino and Black kids are three times more likely to quit soccer because they feel unwanted. Not unskilled. Unwanted. Sources used in this episode : → U.S. House Committee on Education and the Workforce — official hearing "Benched: The Crisis in American Youth Sports and Its Cost to Our Future" — Dec. 16, 2025 democrats-edworkforce.house.gov → Tom Farrey testimony (full PDF) — Executive Director, Aspen Institute Sports & Society Program edworkforce.house.gov → McKinsey Institute for Economic Mobility — "Unlocking the growing power of Latino fans" October 13, 2025 mckinsey.com/institute-for-economic-mobility → Aspen Institute State of Play reports — aspenprojectplay.org This is not a soccer story. This is an American story. — BENCHED is a documentary podcast series produced across the 2026 World Cup summer. New episodes every week — June through August. Subscribe so you don't miss Episode 02 : "Follow The Money" — Who built this system, and who profits from keeping it exactly as it is. yes Cette emission est sous licence Copyright - Tous droits réservés 51543133393d0196f16384e849773fac80d1ea25 one year before the World Cup.
The tone is different from all other episodes.

This is NOT investigation.
This is NOT diagnosis.
This is memory and emotion.

The purpose is to establish
what was at stake BEFORE the crisis —
so the listener understands
exactly what the system took away
from these children.

═══════════════════════════════════════
TONE — DIFFERENT FROM ALL OTHER EPISODES
═══════════════════════════════════════

Warm. Nostalgic. Hopeful.
Then — at the very end — honest.

The pivot in Sequence 5
is the emotional turn of the entire series.
Cole must deliver it quietly —
not dramatically.
The weight comes from the contrast,
not from the voice.

═══════════════════════════════════════
HOSTS — SAME IDENTITY, DIFFERENT MODE
═══════════════════════════════════════

COLE MERRITT :
In this episode, Cole is a storyteller
more than an investigator.
He paints. He describes.
He gives faces to data.
No analysis yet —
only images.

DANA WHITFIELD :
In this episode, Dana is a witness
more than a challenger.
She adds context and texture.
She does not challenge Cole here —
she builds with him.
The challenge begins in Episode 1.]]> one year before the World Cup.
The tone is different from all other episodes.

This is NOT investigation.
This is NOT diagnosis.
This is memory and emotion.

The purpose is to establish
what was at stake BEFORE the crisis —
so the listener understands
exactly what the system took away
from these children.

═══════════════════════════════════════
TONE — DIFFERENT FROM ALL OTHER EPISODES
═══════════════════════════════════════

Warm. Nostalgic. Hopeful.
Then — at the very end — honest.

The pivot in Sequence 5
is the emotional turn of the entire series.
Cole must deliver it quietly —
not dramatically.
The weight comes from the contrast,
not from the voice.

═══════════════════════════════════════
HOSTS — SAME IDENTITY, DIFFERENT MODE
═══════════════════════════════════════

COLE MERRITT :
In this episode, Cole is a storyteller
more than an investigator.
He paints. He describes.
He gives faces to data.
No analysis yet —
only images.

DANA WHITFIELD :
In this episode, Dana is a witness
more than a challenger.
She adds context and texture.
She does not challenge Cole here —
she builds with him.
The challenge begins in Episode 1.]]> Wed, 01 Jul 2026 02:23:00 GMT https://www.vodio.fr/vodiotheque/i/36420/benched-podcast-episode-0-the-dream-june-2025-one-year-before-the-world-cup-american-kids-are-already-dreaming/ BENCHED PODCAST — EPISODE 0 "The Dream" "June 2025 — One year before the World Cup, American kids are already dreaming" https://www.vodio.fr/images/logos1400/1783038817_benched-podcast-episode-0-the-dream-june-2025-one-year-before-the-world-cup-american-kids-are-already-dreaming_sungapodcast-series.png This episode is set in JUNE 2025 — one year before the World Cup. The tone is different from all other episodes. This is NOT investigation. This is NOT diagnosis. This is memory and emotion. The purpose is to establish what was at stake BEFORE the crisis — so the listener understands exactly what the system took away from these children. ═══════════════════════════════════════ TONE — DIFFERENT FROM ALL OTHER EPISODES ═══════════════════════════════════════ Warm. Nostalgic. Hopeful. Then — at the very end — honest. The pivot in Sequence 5 is the emotional turn of the entire series. Cole must deliver it quietly — not dramatically. The weight comes from the contrast, not from the voice. ═══════════════════════════════════════ HOSTS — SAME IDENTITY, DIFFERENT MODE ═══════════════════════════════════════ COLE MERRITT : In this episode, Cole is a storyteller more than an investigator. He paints. He describes. He gives faces to data. No analysis yet — only images. DANA WHITFIELD : In this episode, Dana is a witness more than a challenger. She adds context and texture. She does not challenge Cole here — she builds with him. The challenge begins in Episode 1. SungaPodcast Series no 00:10:30 full BENCHED | How America Named Its Youth Soccer Crisis DESCRIPTION YOUTUBE — VERSION COMPLÈTE In December 2025, the United States Congress held its first-ever hearing on the crisis in American youth sports. The title of that hearing —... BENCHED PODCAST — EPISODE 0 "The Dream" "June 2025 — One year before the World Cup, American kids are already dreaming" SungaPodcast Series This episode is set in JUNE 2025 — one year before the World Cup. The tone is different from all other episodes. This is NOT investigation. This is NOT diagnosis. This is memory and emotion. The purpose is to establish what was at stake BEFORE the crisis — so the listener understands exactly what the system took away from these children. ═══════════════════════════════════════ TONE — DIFFERENT FROM ALL OTHER EPISODES ═══════════════════════════════════════ Warm. Nostalgic. Hopeful. Then — at the very end — honest. The pivot in Sequence 5 is the emotional turn of the entire series. Cole must deliver it quietly — not dramatically. The weight comes from the contrast, not from the voice. ═══════════════════════════════════════ HOSTS — SAME IDENTITY, DIFFERENT MODE ═══════════════════════════════════════ COLE MERRITT : In this episode, Cole is a storyteller more than an investigator. He paints. He describes. He gives faces to data. No analysis yet — only images. DANA WHITFIELD : In this episode, Dana is a witness more than a challenger. She adds context and texture. She does not challenge Cole here — she builds with him. The challenge begins in Episode 1. no Cette emission est sous licence Copyright - Tous droits réservés