SoccerWise - U.S. Soccerwise | US Soccer’s Next Generation & Youth Reset

Episode Date: September 2, 2026

US Soccer is making major changes to the youth soccer landscape, while a new generation of young players is getting ready for its own opportunity on the international stage. David Gass is joined by The Athletic’s Henry Bushnell to break down U.S. Soccer’s move to take control of U.S. Youth Soccer (USYS), then he sits down with U-20 World Cup-bound stars Emeri Adames of the Seattle Reign and the Chicago Stars Micayla Johnson to discuss their journeys, the tournament and what it means to represent the U.S.0:00 Intro1:17 The Subs Bench: Transfer Deadline Day10:50 Henry Bushnell on US Soccer Taking Control of USYS18:44 The Future of Club Soccer in the U.S.26:16 The Process Behind U.S. Soccer’s Youth Changes30:44 What Comes Next for U.S. Soccer?33:44 U-20 Women’s World Cup Preview35:29 Emeri Adames: Youngest Player to U-20 Leader47:26 Micayla Johnson: From U-17 World Cup to the ProsFor the sharpest coverage of American soccer, we’ve got you covered:https://linktr.ee/soccerwisehq

Welcome back, everybody, to the U.S. Soccer Wise, our newest show, every single Wednesday breaking down the biggest storylines, the biggest themes, some of the biggest conversations around the U.S. men's and women's national team as we are heading towards a big camp coming up in the fall. But for today, we've got some breaking news to go through, of course, the transfer deadline day ending. And another big piece that came out of a U.S. youth soccer vote this weekend. Henry Bushnell of the the athletic, covering that story as U.S. soccer starts to try and rebuild and reform youth development and the soccer experience in America. So we're going to talk to Henry, and then we are going to get ready for the U20 World Cup, which is about to kick off in Poland for the U.S. women's U20 national team haven't won it in over a decade. And they're going to be led on the field by Seattle Rain's young star, Emery Adamas, as well as the youngest

player on the roster who's currently playing with the Chicago Stars in Michaela Johnson. We're going to chat with them in a little bit. But first, we're going to run through some of the news and to do so. We've got our Super Sub who made a good starting appearance in the last game, Gregory, so you're getting a second opportunity. Thank you. We'll keep it a little brief today because I know we've got a stacked show in front of us, but it is kind of transfer deadline time.

The regulars, the U.S. national team regular for the men's side, had a good weekend. which you can read up on. But I think the biggest news coming out as far as regular Rock solidly core members is, is flow going to Everton, that being confirmed by Tommy Scoops. What are your thoughts on that move as he goes back to the Premier League, but in much more of a marquee role than when he left? I think from a like playing point of view, it's a good move, right? This is an Everton squad that outside of Barry at the starting center forward position

don't really have true center forwards on this roster. And so I think Balligan, at this price point for this club where they sit right now, he's going to get a ton of time. It's not a team that creates a ton of chances. It's not a team that might be super successful. But, you know, if you want to make a move at this point, we had heard connections to some bigger clubs, Juventis or Real Madrid, that never felt super real to me.

I don't know that the goals he scored at Monaco shows, oh, I can translate to that next level. Everton's a spot where you could make that move outside of the Premier League in the future to one of those clubs or up in the in the Premier League if you're able to score a goal. So I think his game fits pretty well in England. He has that combination. Dunny talked about it on our show two weeks ago where he does a little bit of everything. So he should fit most places.

It's not going to be the easiest role for him. But I actually think it'll feel kind of similar to what he plays with the U.S. Sometimes he has to drop in and create. Other times you're asked to stretch the line. You are not getting a ton of production around you, so you have to be efficient. And he's proven in the past that he can be. So let's go to a couple of other outbound transfers from MLS, Luca Bombino, the young leftback from San Diego, and Jack McGlynn, Houston. Thought that was going to be a little earlier, maybe a year, maybe two years ago, but it's happening now.

Both outgoing, both Stoke City. my question to you, Goss is they're in different kind of stages of their career. Bambino is looking to become part of the peripheral national team picture. McGlynn is on the peripheral and wanting to get in the picture. Who is, for national team purposes, who is better set up to achieve their next step in their career for national team goals with this move?

Yeah, you mentioned sort of where they sit right now. I think for Jack McGlynn, what I said or thought of when he made this move is, there is no clear reason why he would jump the center mids in front of him in the depth chart. And I think he's played well for Houston over the last year. And it hasn't gotten him over Sebastian Burrhalter. It's not probably going to get him over Weston McKinney and Tyler Adams. It may not have him over Tanner Testament and Aiden Morris. So if he remains in stasis, then you're just hoping other people drop off.

If you want to control your own destiny, it felt like a move was necessary. is Stoke City the right move? Is the championship the right spot? I'm not sure with any of that. But it felt like for him, if you want to take a jump in the national team, you had to do something in your career and making a move is

the most obvious one to make. Doyle made the point on soccer wise of like teams in the Premier League aren't really shopping in the championship anymore because they shop off of the top teams across Europe and they can just go get players from Syria and La Liga and the Bundesliga.

So it doesn't make it easy to make a bigger move after that. But that's like two steps down the road. If you're going to make a move, go and be successful first. Then you can stress about, okay, now I'm good at Stoke. I got to make another move. But we've never seen Jackman going to play outside of the U.S. So we don't actually know he'll be good there. It seems like similar to Burrhalter's move to Middlesbrough,

there's a decent style fit. McGlynn is slow and incredible on the ball. And this is a team that plays with a ton of possession. But they haven't been very good for the last two years. and they are currently last place after three games in the championship. So it's an opportunity for him to go and shine. And if he's really good, I think it'll make waves in a way that just playing good for the Houston Dynamo probably doesn't make waves for him unless he wins MLS MVP.

Bombino on the other side, you know, he's a guy who's had a meteororic rise over the last 18 months. And when you're on that momentum shift, I think you just want to keep riding it. And so a move just becomes a move, which is you went from not playing to starting an MLS, starting an MLS to an international move. International move. You keep trying to ride that over the next two, three years and a pay raise massively for him. But he makes sense in the U.S. pool because he's a high possession player. He likes to be on the ball.

He covered a ton of ground with San Diego up and down the wing and was basically an attacker. So when we talked last week about Jedi's fall off physically who fits in there, he's very similar to Max Arfston and that's a guy he's battling with for position spot well that's now an easy comp across the championship Tommy Scoops broke these he broke those stories he broke these stories

these are incoming to MLS from Europe so it's kind of a reverse of a Yanks abroad situation but Damien Downs had a horrific time in the championship last year really derailed where he was going in his momentum however he did get national team caps as late or as recently as last year. So him coming to R.S.L. No, St. Louis.

Is that a move that is trying, is, we'll get him back on track? Or is it kind of a, okay, we can take him and move him to a circle back in the national team picture? We don't have a ton of examples of this move working out for a national team career for guys. By the way, Taylor Booth is doing the same thing

where he was on the peripheral. Injuries really derailed his overseas advancement. Now he's coming back to RSL to try to do the kind of the same thing, which is home for him, right? His brothers at RSL. He grew up in Salt Lake City. So that one's a move home at 25 years old for really first chance to play in front of your friends and family. Be healthy. Yeah.

That feels like a mix of life and not. But I think the thing that happens when these moves are made is it exposes more the lack of chasm and level from the European leagues they're playing in a number. MLS to the quality of the player. And I think that's what we saw like the, the joke we made the moment this move came through was like Nicholas Joe Aquini was, oh, this guy's a national team player because he plays in Europe. He went on loan and St. Louis. He was fine, but he wasn't great.

But he's not a national team player anymore. And that's kind of what we have seen for the most part is there's this like aura and ambiance around you because you don't play in major league soccer. And then when you come into the league and you're just equally as successful as everyone else. I mean, Matthew Hoppe hasn't touched a national team since he came alone to Major League Soccer. But also the mix there is you're struggling and there are reasons you're struggling. That's why you make the move. So it might be injuries. It might be a lack of athleticism or pop for some players or it might be that they were never going to break through and that they're young sort of phenoms, but not really

the final product. So I don't know if this will work for Downs. I think it's interesting that he made this move now. And obviously for MLS teams, he doesn't cost an international roster. spot so hence going and getting him but st louis brought in half in navajo for 12 million dollars and simon betcher has scored four goals in the last five games i don't really know why downs would play unless he wins the time then you're kind of back into the same situation you were dealing with that southampton last thing zavier gozo made his premier league debut i actually had in our rundown last week of hey is it a bad sign that he's playing with the u21 and it was really just get some minutes on your legs. They blooded him in early. It was a loss. He didn't play great. But depending on who you

talk to, he was probably one of the last cuts for the nationals for the World Cup national team. So now that he's debuted at Crystal Palace and he did it in such a way where they wanted to get him in quickly, does this say to you he's probably on the roster for the September camps? Yeah, my guess would be he'll be one of the calls because he was right there. He probably was one of the calls. If he stayed in MLS, he goes to the Premier League. He makes his debut. You assume he'll play. again a couple times before the roster goes official and he's now a teenager who's playing at the highest level and showing that that coaching staff believes in him. I think I would think, and we'll talk with Dunny next week a little bit about this. I think I would leave him,

get the experience, get comfortable, train there. Yeah, great kind of. There's not a coach in the world who cares about that as much as I do. And Pontchitino is going to want him in his camp around his players playing in his system. So I think Gozo's a shoe in for this fall window. Good subs, Bench, Goss. Nice work. Nice and quick. You know, we went, Pocitino style. Three subs in the 105th minute and just the same 11 otherwise through five games and then we'll probably get rehired for even more money by being like, we don't know how this ended poorly. We don't know why everyone lost the energy. But let's go to some of the

heavy hitters and let's start on this episode with, as I mentioned, huge vote that's changing the landscape of youth soccer, as well as the initiatives that U.S. soccer is putting out that we talk with Dan Helferich about to launch this show, and that Henry Bushnell at The Athletic, one of Tom Bogart's partners there, has done coverage of as well as anyone. So let's go to our interview now with Henry Bushnell. Henry, thanks for being here. David, I am very glad to be here. Appreciate the invite. So I guess we like to talk about the big topics on this show, and I didn't realize this huge of a topic would be coming down the pike.

And you've been covering this since the World Cup. You chatted with Dan Halfrich, as did we on this show, about what U.S. soccer is trying to do with youth development overall. And then a piece came out about a big vote that happened this weekend in U.S. youth soccer. So let's start with the specific of this story and then maybe bigger picture what you've sort of been learning as you've gone through it. What happened this weekend and what should people know about it? Yeah.

So this has been in the works for, I mean, it's been in the works for years, but this specific day has been coming for a few months now. But on Saturday, the members of U.S. youth soccer, which is the, so there are, you know, there are really three main national youth soccer organizations, right? There's U.S. youth soccer, there's U.S. club soccer, and then there's AYSO. U.S. youth soccer is the biggest. It's not, I think, A.Y So is actually the oldest, but U.S.U soccer has been the biggest for a while. It's had the most,

meaning the most participants. And it still largely governs a lot of grassroots, like recreational clubs in the United States. So like if you're six or seven-year-old is playing soccer, there's a decent chance they are affiliated with USYS. And so basically, but then USYS also has run like ODP, right? And they run some like national events and like competitive club tournaments as well.

So basically what happened, what was, you know, formalized, finalized, whatever word you want to use over the weekend was that U.S. soccer is going to take over U.S. YS.S. So over the next two years, they are going to be, basically there was a bylaw amendment. It makes U.S. soccer the sole voting member of U.S. YS. So U.S. soccer essentially gets control of the direction. And then over the next two years, progressively, the organization is just going to be wound down and into U.S. soccer. So basically, U.S. soccer is taking control of a significant chunk of the youth ecosystem. It's not the – it's not U.S. soccer taking control of the, like, academy pathways, right? This is not what they did with the Development Academy, you know, a couple decades ago and through 2020. It's not that at all, right?

It's almost like the opposite of that. This is them getting a much better handle on what is happening at the entry level. And they'll have a much more direct line to the state associations, which are the members of USYS and really like run grassroots soccer in all 50 states. And US soccer will be able to work more directly with them to whether it's on programming, other initiatives, to figure out how the game is introduced to people at really young. level basically. I love that. This is all super complicated. As I'm reading your article, it says, you know, all the state associations, there are 54 of them. And you're like, so on top of this, they're just like making up states in the middle of all of this. And then eventually you mentioned, I think, what, New York has to and California has two, because they're so huge. Pennsylvania is

two and Texas has two. Oh, great. Yeah. Pennsylvania is that makes sense, right? Like, you, it probably makes sense to have two, like, one for Southern California, one for Northern California, right? But so, so, So this makes sense in a lot of what Dan Helferch has said on this show and in your piece where he talked about helping people find access to the game. And what you mentioned, the difference with Development Academy is that's elite pro player pathway stuff. That's MLS Next USL Academies. This is trying to find ways to make it most efficient for people to start playing and

learning how to play soccer. Exactly. Yes. more efficient and like expanding those like entry level pathways right so like you know a separate but related initiative is what u.s soccer is trying to do they call it their soccer in schools initiative so like trying to introduce more kids to the game through public schools throughout the country um and with the state association so the state associations were like basically the state associations will now be not that they weren't involved in that before

but they can focus more of their energy on something like that or on working with the local parks and rec department. You know, it's things like that that will. And look, there are other, like this could also, like US soccer now has, will have control of the ODP program, which isn't what it used to be, but still is and it is relevant.

And could be even more relevant. Like, depending on what US soccer decides, you know, it wants to do with that. Or like, so U.S. soccer can do stuff at the teenage level, too. But I think a lot of this, especially the part about working with the state associations, yeah, is going to be that very grassroots level. Let's talk process here in the piece that you wrote during the World Cup, Dan Helford said,

we got everyone in the room for two days. We've talked with FIFA. We've talked with a lot of people. What do you make of the decision out of all? all of that work that this is one of the steps to take? Like, how do you read U.S. soccer choosing to make this one, at least one of their moves? I think this is the first move for a few reasons. And one of them, so basically, I think it's important to know that this is not the only move.

Like, everybody says that there is going to be more stuff coming. This was the move that was, I think, I don't want to say it was the easiest to get across the line, but it made the most sense for all parties. Like a lot of these state associations are not in, some of them are fine, but some of them are not in great shape financially. So like it made, and USYS was, look, it was losing market share to US club. Like the whole youth soccer industry has gone in the direction of the elite programs, right? And the competitive travel programs.

And that's what US club, Like, that is like the part of the industry that U.S. Club has done a really good job in and attracted a lot of kids. So U.S. YAS is kind of losing, I don't want to say they're losing relevance, but they were losing prominence. So, like, they were, I think they were more willing to kind of like hand themselves over to U.S. soccer than some of these other organizations are, right? So some people will tell you that there are other moves that would or maybe will be more impactful, but this was kind of like the starting point that made sense and having more control of the of kind of that baseline level. And now I think the hope is that, you know, this also sends a signal like we have a lot of people

that are willing to work together. Right. Right. And the whole point of this is like you want everybody working together. Maybe not all joining up and becoming one big organization, but at least agreeing on things. So agreeing to move in the same direction. So I think a lot of people will trigger the same thought process, which is, you mentioned there are three mains. Everyone knows AYSO and played it.

U.S. Club is maybe the biggest one. I think people will ask the question and read, is this U.S. soccer now getting into competition with U.S. club? Is this U.S. soccer now getting into the industry of youth soccer? How do you feel about what you've read from this and what you've gotten from them? They're definitely not getting into competition with U.S. Club. I think there's, look, I don't fully know all the details of the negotiation. But back in January, they signed a, they called a shared services agreement with U.S. Club.

So like, U.S. clubs, I guess he's technically the now former CEO or still is the CEO, Mike Kulana, like is now working essentially working for U.S. soccer. Like he's an employee of U.S. soccer. Nice. So there is more integration there than there has ever been before. But it's not fully what this is, like what has happened with U.S. YS. and that U.S. Club is still its own separate organization. And it's U.S. club's board still has control of U.S. club's direction.

But U.S. soccer definitely isn't trying to compete with them. They're not trying to compete with AYSO. It's more so that they are at different stages of negotiations and a partnership with them. And it's still to be determined what exactly the – So I think, like, everybody expects that over the next – call it year to be generous, but probably sooner, that there will be a next stage that U.S. club and U.S. soccer will actually, like, go even further, like, into coordination. Okay. and start working together even more.

And, and, you know, because U.S. Soccer now controls U.S. YS.S., like, that's the, that's almost the opposite of competition. But we still don't know what exactly that's going to look like. We don't know, like, what, so the, you know, the E.NL, which is within, you know, sanctioned by U.S. Club is the top, probably the top league on the girl's side. And, like, you know, one of the, one of the top leagues below MLS next on the, on the boy side, we don't know what exactly their relationship with U.S. soccer is going to look like in a year or two or five years. So there's still a lot to be determined.

But I definitely don't think this is not what the Development Academy was, which was competitive. Like essentially by the end, the Development Academy and ECNL were competing against each other. That is not what this is. This is definitely different than that. And like the whole point and what U.S. soccer is driving towards, it doesn't necessarily mean that they're absolutely going to get there. What you want is everybody working together. Yeah, one of the lines that Dan Halfrich has used a couple times is there's four dimensions of what they're trying to do.

Alignment, coaching, space infrastructure, and cost. It feels like alignment we're talking about everywhere and in constantly. Alignment is lack of inefficiency in soccer, which I asked him about the pro level, like soccer wars. Why do we have an MLS Next Pro and then USL team coming in. within two blocks of each other in Long Island. That's another conversation that we'll have to continue to have. But it feels like this sort of brings this on the youth level to an extent. Then the big questions for people will be cost, space, and coaching as the others.

Is there a clear line of how this helps that or initiatives that we should see coming in on the other sort of four pillars? So alignment definitely helps. it helps in like a marginal might not be there it helps in to some extent right arguably a small extent but to some extent with each of those other three pillars because you a soccer can like you can when you're aligned and everything is coordinated you can do a better job like coordinating coaching education courses throughout all 50 states right um you can like the cost one is you know, the issue with cost is, yes, you could argue it costs too much to get into soccer and we don't have enough, like, actually free soccer at the seven-year-old level and you have to pay

$100 or $200 for, you know, to play on a local club team. That's like that becomes the entry level. But really the problem with cost is when you get to the competitive travel level and you're paying thousands of dollars a year. And I don't think that this is going to do much to ease that. There's a chance that U.S. soccer can use some of these national competitions that U.S. YS. had

to offer opportunities to like, basically offer exposure to kids in a free or low-cost way that right now those kids are really only getting at like EC&L

showcases where they're traveling, you know, they're going to fly somewhere for and their parents are spending a lot of time and money on. So in a small way, it could help there, but, but it's, like, this is, this is not a big chunk of the cost issue. Yeah. I think the, one of the things that Dan Alvich just mentioned with the line, which I hadn't thought about, which makes sense, is being able to start playing some local games against teams and maybe other competitions, which I hadn't even thought about of, like, if you're in EC&L or you're in Girls Academy,

you don't play each other because you're in a different league, but the best players are in the same city, is there a way to do cross over there? And it seems like that is one of the things U.S. soccer is working towards to try and get everyone on the same page. Exactly. And I think there are a lot of different issues that they have to work through to get there.

Yeah, one is just like getting the, like, the group, when we talk about competition in the youth soccer space, like the, I would say probably the main two groups competing against each other right now. are the Girls Academy and ECNL on the on the girls side and so A you have to like get them to agree to work together but there's also like beyond them there's this entire industry built around like youth sports travel right there are all these tournaments there's you know hotels and you know local governments who like rely on like you know tax dollars from people coming to stay and and play in these in these tournaments

So in some way, even just getting them to work together doesn't fully unwind the system that makes it so expensive. So you really have to attack some of these incentives that kind of underpin this whole system that has gotten so expensive for families. And that's where I'll be fascinated to, I haven't gotten even hints of what the full plan to attack those. incentives are. And we'll see, like, supposedly they're going to come out with a document at some point this fall that kind of outlines their vision for things. And I'll be fascinated to see how specific they get and really, and frankly, like, how ambitious they get in really, like, undoing the current system and trying to build their own system. That's the part where, um, I think this really caught me maybe off guard last week, which was, you know, J.T. Batson and Dan Helf

They start doing the media tour around the World Cup. And there was clearly a lot of pressure on pay to play and access to soccer and popularity and all of that. But none of it's new. And they start talking about it. And you're like, yep, for sure. You know, I've heard these before. Everyone's got a big idea. Everyone's going to save the game.

Everyone's going to recreate it. And then this. And, you know, they talked about the program in Atlanta. That is that school access program where, you know, Dan Helfridge said straight out, like, it's just, it's politicking. need to get money that goes to American football in high schools towards soccer. Like that's part of what we have to put energy to, which is super interesting. But this happens and it's like, oh, they're doing stuff. Like, are you surprised how fast the thing happened or do you see sort of the speed at which

they're trying to work? I'm not surprised because it actually didn't happen fast. Like this, a lot of this work predates the World Cup. This goes back to like 2023. They really started. So, like, I have been hearing from people in the youth soccer space for years now that, like, this version of U.S. soccer actually is different. Like, they're coming to the table with us in a different way. They're engaging with us in a different way.

And they're at least, you know, I don't think nobody was sure at that, you know, back in 2024 or whatever, that, like, stuff was actually going to get done. But it at least seemed like U.S. soccer was serious. about figuring out how they could work together. And like part of the reason the process took so long, part of the reason this has been a year's long process is because like, I mean, A, U.S. soccer has grown a ton, right? And they hired a lot of new people. And some of those people had intimate knowledge of the American soccer landscape.

And some of them didn't. And they had to spend months or even years just like learning what a state association did or what the relationship between U.S. club and U.S. YS. was. and all these different things. So they've, like, it's really been a long thought-out process involving a lot of people and a lot of conversations. And, like, they came to this deal with USYS to at least put the bylaw amendment forward back in May.

Like, this, so this actually predates the World Cup. This wasn't like they came out of the World Cup and decided we got to do something about this. It was almost just like convenient, coincidental time. this suddenly became a massive conversation coming out of the World Cup, and they already had a lot in motion to kind of address some of it. I'm going to ask this because everyone's thinking about it and wants to know. Does Mauriceo-Pachita don't have anything to do with this?

I saw a couple of people saying that. He has nothing to do with the US-YAS vote. Now, could, so like this, as we said, this is an ongoing process, right? Could some of his ideas, impact, you know, some of the standards that U.S. soccer discusses with, you know, some of the club programs and leagues? Sure. But he had, you know, he had nothing to do with the work that has happened to this point. Other than maybe, like, you know, maybe you could say that if he had a discussion with, you know, with some youth soccer leaders here,

there. It just like helps get them on board with US soccer messaging, maybe. He's the closer at the, uh, Rizio Pachino is not, yeah, Maricio Pachino is not the architect of the new U.S. soccer, you soccer system. He's basically Vince Young. He comes in the room at the end and, and wines and dines. But I, I mean, I asked that in saying, I've seen it sort of connected to a little bit of the role he wants. And she's the quotes coming out from Arson Venger.

And it's like, Arson Vanger doesn't know anything about the issues of developing soccer players from Fort Collins, Colorado and Lazy, Idaho in Chicago. Like, right? He's a soccer expert, as is Maricio Pocitino. But they have no idea what's going on. And I think a lot of people having that like, oh, Pachor's the guy. Like, how is he involved here?

It's like, yeah, they're going to ask him his opinion sometimes. And there's coaching stuff that he should be involved with in coaching education. But the future of how to get a seven-year-old to play soccer in St. Louis is probably not Pachitino's job profile at this point. Give people an idea coming out of this. what they should be looking out for in terms of the work U.S. soccer is doing in this space, youth development, in the near term. Like, what's sort of the next big moments?

Yeah, so we're recording this on Monday night. On Tuesday is officially when U.S. soccer comes into control of U.S. Y.S. I don't, you know, realistically, all of this stuff is going to take a lot of time. And even if you're going to see more announcements and interviews, and public statements over the coming months, like the impact of this really isn't going to be felt for years. The, you know,

if you're a soccer parent listening to this, like, you know, if you, when you go to your... It didn't just get free. When you go to your daughters or sons game, you know, next weekend, nothing's going to look different. But I think, so I think what to look out for is, yeah, just like more public

statements from U.S. soccer on what they're, like broader vision for where this is going is. Like even the state association people who voted for this over the weekend, some of them didn't fully know what they're voting for. They don't know what this, you know, the term that apparently a lot of U.S. soccer leaders use is like the future state. Like what does the future state of U.S. soccer look like and we still don't know that.

So I think the thing to look out for is just like more public expressions of what they're driving towards and then once we get that we'll see if everybody can agree and get on the get on the same page and actually like bring that to fruition i can't imagine if anyone's listening to the show they don't already but follow henry on all social media subscribe to the athletic to read henry and tom of course at the athletic and paul as well and everyone else i can think of other writers mostly tom now tom's writing like five stories a day right well it's it's it's transfer season it's time for him to cook i'm going on vacation just so that I could really leave everything to Tom while he's at the peak of his powers at 5 a.m. writing Jack McGlynn stories. And, but yeah, this stuff's really cool.

Make sure to follow Henry and all the work he's doing. Apparently, also helping people get Olympic tickets. Didn't realize that was part of your purview. Well, I think the World Cup ticket beat has now going to translate to the Olympic ticket beat. So, yeah. Anything over a thousand dollars you're involved in, right? Only high price stuff. I guess so. Thank you for taking the time, though. Really appreciate it. Thank, David.

Awesome stuff there with Henry. Can't wait to have him on more. And obviously, this is a topic and conversation. We're going to continue digging in on and covering here at the U.S. soccer wise. Next week, we will have Michelle French on, who is head coach at the University of Portland's women's team, also coached at the U.20 levels with the U.S. and the senior women's national team. So we'll help us sort of dig in even more for the elite players, where are the past. pathway stands, especially on the women's side. But before with that, we got to talk U20s because the U20 World Cup is kicking off this weekend. So for the U.S., they're in a pretty tough group. They are in a group with Japan, New Zealand, and Italy. Three countries that at the senior level now, at the women's game, are all perennial World Cup contenders, Italy going to the last European semifinal. And of course, Japan, I would say, the most entered.

team on the planet. Of course, knocked off the women in the She Beliefs Cup last year and have put together some of the best teams in the world. So it's not going to be easy for a U-S. U-20 national team and one that is trying to turn things around a little bit. Emma Hayes has talked about the value that a U-20 World Cup has, high performance at young ages, feeling like maybe the U.S. is falling behind. And the results on the field would say that. The U.S. hasn't won this tournament since 2012. So the last three competitions, the U.S. has third place in 2024 and then two group stage exits. So this isn't going to be an easy competition, but the U.S. has called in a pretty strong squad, eight current NWSL players, and we were lucky enough to sit down with two of them. The first

is Emery Adamis, who was at the last U20 World Cup as one of the youngest players, and now will be a leader after playing now two more years professionally with the Seattle reign. And the second is Michaela Johnson, who is mimicking Emera Adomis. She was at the U-17 World Cup last year. She is eligible, eligible for the next U-20 World Cup, but she is starting right now for the Chicago Stars. She's going to be on this roster for the U.S. that is headed to Poland.

So the U.S. kicking off on September 6th against Italy. They will then face Japan and New Zealand. And let's get into a little bit of a preview action, starting with Emery Adamas. Emery, thanks for being here. Thank you. I'm excited to be here. So I think this is an experience.

Very few people in their life will have. So I have to start with. How do you get told you're going to a World Cup? What's the moment and what's the process? Yeah, I mean, I think the U20 head coach does a really good job, but like telling you face to face. So like not face to face, but on a Zoom. Like she gets on the call with everybody who's been in the pool and tells them yes or no.

And I think you're like a little anxious. Because you don't know. Because you don't know. Like some people do kind of have a clue because you know they talk to your clubs and everything, but it's still anxious because you don't know for sure. So you just know I've got this Zoom meeting and one way or the other I'm finding out if I'm going to the World Cup or not. Yep, exactly. Okay.

That is a lot of pressure on one meeting. Yeah. Yeah, it's a little nerve-wracking. For you, this is not your first time. You've been at a U-20 World Cup. What do you remember about that experience? what are you going to pass along to your teammates about what you went through already? Yeah, I mean, that was a crazy World Cup.

That was also my rookie year with the rain. So it was like so many new things. I was in the U20 pool, but like I was playing up two age groups. And so it was like all new faces, a new coach, like a whole new pool that I'd never been in and playing in my first pro season. So it was like very different, very new. that U20 World Cup was insane. Like we had some of the craziest games ever. I mean, our game versus Germany was like the most insane game I've ever played in.

Like we were down to nothing with eight minutes to go. And then we came back and then won in PKs. And I think that was just one of my favorite memories. But what I remember most of all is like how much fun it was. And like how many different personalities we had on the field and how many people are in MWSL now and on different teams. but it was such a fun group. So that was amazing. There is something unique about a FIFA tournament

and the experience, that's part of what Emma has talked about of getting these opportunities. What is different about the FIFA experience from any other tournament or competition you've played in? I think it's just a whole different vibe. Like, I feel like I've gotten very lucky

and my age groups are like playing up age groups and playing a lot of different tournaments with the U.S. team. And there's something about a World Cup. I don't know if it's because it's every two years or just everybody shows up and like how important it is for everybody. So it's like it's one of those things where you can't count any team out. Like there might be a team where you're like, oh, like we should beat this team by 10 goals. But people show up for the World Cup and show up to play for their country. We have seen the North Korean teams put together some incredible performances.

Yeah. Yeah, they're crazy. Not exactly competing at the senior level, but at the youth World Cups. They are the dominant force. You mentioned, you know, you've been to U-20 World Cup and now going again. Part of the conversation for you, different maybe than a college player, is figuring out whether or not to go. And if you should stay with your pro team, because it comes during the season. What is the experience like?

Who do you talk to? How do you sort of go through that? Yeah, I think it's very different from the first one because the first one, it was like in a FIFA window. And then I think me and Jordan only missed three games in total. And like at the point in the season, it wasn't the most important games. But now we could possibly be missing six games, which would be insane. And I mean, I think Laura and Leslie are very good at communicating. And like we've talked a lot about they're very adamant that if you've never been before, like, you should go.

So that was the thing with Ainsley and Evan where they're like, they're very adamant about like if you've never experienced this. Like it's a really good experience. For me and Jordan, it was more of, well, Jordan, you know, I mean. Jordan's Jordan. So that's a whole other thing. But for me, it was more of like a decision for me. And like we talked about we were very open and communicating, like, what would be best for me in this time of the season.

And I think they said going and getting games and like getting in game shape again would be like very beneficial for me. One of the interesting parts of this is you go from being the young player to the veteran now. Like how do you shift that mentality and role of where you sit inside of your group as you go from the Seattle reign to the U-20 World Cup. Yeah, it's definitely been a transition. And I think Vicky, our head coach at U-20s, has done such a good job at throwing me in there

and, like, letting me figure it out. And she's very good at pushing me in places where I need to be pushed just as off the field and, like, talking in meetings and leading on and off the field and, like, really getting the group together and know, like, what we went through last U-20 World Cup and just telling them all of that. I think at the rain, like, yes, I am younger, but it's already my third year. And I think the rain is so special because they listen to everyone's voice.

And like everyone has a voice and everyone gets heard. So I think, yeah, it's just been a good place to come back and forth and like really talk in meanings. Let my opinion be heard. Yeah. Do you have any of the veterans or any teammates that you lean on in Seattle? Besides, I assume Jordan, who you're very close with. Yeah. Yeah.

me and Jordaner, I feel like we're more friends than anything. I feel like that's like I can't really depend on her as that dynamic. But I think like the older players, obviously Jess, obviously Sophia Werta is like a big one that sticks out to me. And I just like I feel like I could talk to her about anything on and off the field. And she really like helps me and she's honest. Like she's a really good person to go to where she's not going to just BS you. Like she's going to be really honest with you and give you. the feedback that you need to hear.

A full back switch then in life of Sophia? I don't know. There's a lot of assists in there if you play it like Sophia. I know. That's so true. Yeah, she does get so many assists. But she's more of like, she'll tell me if I'm going one v. one at her and like I'll beat her.

And then she stops me the next time. She's like, no, go back to doing that. Like she's good at telling me what to do. Yeah. In your own game, what have you been focused on recently? Where do you feel like the steps you need to make are? I think just being confident in myself in the final third and like know what I produced last year and like how can I get back to that of just being ruthless in the attacking third. I think also decision making defensively.

It's not so my ability, but like when can I see the game and see where the ball is going and be like, no, I can go jump there. You mentioned going to this World Cup under Vicki Jepson. Has she talked to you about what your role will look like in this group? Yeah, I mean, she definitely wants me to have more of a leadership role, like I said. She wants me to just go out there and like play my game. So I feel a lot of trust from her, which has been great. And what's sort of the relationship with the group, obviously, haven't been to a big tournament yet. Qualifying it is different at the youth levels.

Like what is sort of the vibe like before you even leave for Poland? Yeah, I think vibes are high. I mean, me, Kennedy, we played on the same club team. So I think it's going to be really fun to play with her again in a big tournament. Like I love Ken. And then me and Linda were supposed to go to college together. And we did it. But yeah, I think there's good relationships.

And we have some really good young players like Michaela Johnson coming through. I think it's going to be a really good tournament for everyone. You mentioned on the last group how many players have now matriculated out into NWSL and played all over. Do people stay in contact? Like, do those groups sort of stay close? Yeah, for sure. I mean, I love seeing people after the game. I love seeing like even Jordan Dudley who I don't get to see her that much obviously or talk to that much. But even after the game, like you get to say hi to each other and you like get to reminisce a little bit. So just relationships like that. One of the changes that's come sort of in U.S. soccer over the last few years is MAA sort of connecting these younger teams to the senior team. What is it like being a young player sort of learning the pathway towards the U.S. women's national. team, which for many players is the ultimate goal of what they want to accomplish.

Yeah, for sure. I think being with the U-23s, too, has, like, taught me a lot and shown me a lot because it's so similar to what they do at the full team and, like, what the expectations are defensively, offensively, like, the roles are pretty much the same. So I think that's really cool to learn side by side. And then we've also gotten to go in a couple of meetings with, like, different people and the staff of the first team. So, yeah, it's just really, really cool to learn side by side. And then we've also got to go in a couple of So yeah, it's just really cool to see that environment. How different is it from the Seattle rain? Because Laura Harvey's an international manager.

Jess Fishlock you mentioned is an international legend. Like, does it feel different? Is there a different level or a different style with the U.S. women's national team? I think it's always going to be different because you're like at Seattle, you're with these people every single day. So like you know what to expect and like you're trying to grow every single day. And then at national team, like, as it should be,

people are trying to perform. They're trying to earn their spot. Like you have a short amount of time to show like what you can do. So I think it's different in that way. So this is something I think people will be surprised about. The U.S. hasn't won a U-20 World Cup in 14 years. Like, is that something you've thought about? Is that something being talked about inside the group?

Yeah, I mean, it's definitely been a while. I think we keep getting closer everyone, it feels like. Like, we're right on the cusp. Even the U-17s, like we kind of had the same pathway last time, last cycle. when Ainsley and a lot of those players were at the U-17s and we were at the U-20s. It was kind of funny because it was like the same stuff kept happening. It was so weird. Yes.

But I think it's more just exciting of like how close we are. And like, yeah, tournaments comes ever, or U-20s comes every two years. So it's like a really big deal. But I think it's more exciting than anything. How much are you getting sort of contact at this point and, you know, full disclosure, recording early? So about a week and a half, two weeks out about opponents. and matchups, like, when does the mentality shift from what you're doing in Seattle to focus on the U-20s?

Yeah, that's definitely been more of a challenge because, like, most of the players are at pre-camp right now with national team. And then we leave after this next game. It's definitely been a challenge, but they're doing a good job at, like, giving Zooms. And even if we can't be live on the Zooms, like, they're recording them. And then we get to see, like, the scout, all of that stuff. So we're definitely still, it's hard. because you don't want to like completely change your focus because we have a game here to take care of and then switch our focus.

But in the back of your mind, it's good to have that. It's been a bit of a bounce back year for Seattle in general. What's the feeling been like in this group? And you know, you've mentioned a lot of young players and Maddie Deline and Sam Meza and anything that have all come into the team. What's it been like as a group sort of finding your feet? Yeah, I think it took us a second at first. I think we were very close to the style of play.

wanted. Like, we were right on the cusp. And then I think after the FIFA window in the middle of the year, like, we really had a good turnaround. And we were playing the style that we wanted at even a higher level. And we're also finishing all of our chances and putting it away at the end of the day. So in a couple of weeks, we'll do this again. You'll be a World Cup winner and we'll also like. Heck yeah. All right. USA all the way. We appreciate you taking the time to join us. And good luck. Thank you so much. Thank you for having me. Great stuff talking there with Emery. As I mentioned before we got into it, Emery Adamis, the youngest player on the previous U-20 World Cup roster now leading this team and mimicking her is Michaela Johnson, who is the young phenom

from the Chicago Star started in their game against Denver on the weekend and getting ready to head to Poland for this competition. Let's talk to Michaela now. And Michaela, thanks for being here. Thank you for having me. So take us into this experience. We asked Emery this as well. For most of us, we'll never be told we're going to a World Cup on a U.S. roster. What is the day like when you think you're going to hear?

What was the experience like when you finally found out? Yeah. I mean, the whole day, like, I knew, like, we scheduled a call, and it was either going to be good or bad. But, yeah, I was just super excited when I got the news. It was, like, surreal. Like, I was just super proud, like, As soon as I heard it, I told my parents, it was just an awesome feeling.

You scored last year at the U-17 World Cup. What do you remember about sort of the overall FIFA World Cup experience that time? Yeah, it's a bunch of high-level players. A lot of, like, eyes on you. I think it's a great opportunity, a big stage. Yeah, it was a great, it was a fun tournament, amazing tournament. It isn't very often that people go from a U-17 straight to a U-20 World Cup. What's the conversation been like over the last year with the staff of taking this big leap up and playing, you know, sort of an age group ahead?

I think it's always just been playing myself, being myself and like trusting like the player I am because I feel like, yeah, I just play my best when I'm myself. We've talked a lot about youth development here and sort of the process. So I'm curious about your experience. Why soccer for many people in Michigan or the U.S.? it's not soccer and what do you feel like has helped you sort of get so far so fast in your young career well when i first started i actually wasn't supposed to play soccer i was supposed to do track but like the season was down so my dad put me in soccer and then ever since then it's been just just great um and then yeah i just think the support for my family all my coaches and like

everybody that's pushed me is just helping it get to this point so not A lot of soccer family. Your family doesn't have a huge background with the game. Yeah, I was the first one to play soccer. So who may, who do you sort of look at as the people that you either tried to emulate or people that guided you along as you sort of figured out, not just how to play, but how to play at a high level? Yeah, I guess when I was a kid, I just used to watch games all the time on YouTube. I think that just helped me like pick up on stuff.

And then, yeah, I would just say my family, like, they've always supported me. Yeah. Did you have a jersey with anyone's name on it? Is there like one player? Yeah, I had a couple. I had like Alex Morgan, Mallory. Yeah, a lot of national team players. Have you told Mallory that you had the jersey?

No, I haven't told her yet. I will. I haven't told her yet. No, no, I haven't told her yet. Was it surreal the first time you played with her? Yeah. Yeah, like she was one of my favorite players growing up. So being able to share the feel with her is such a great feeling.

Who sort of in Chicago? have you leaned on to sort of help you get your feet as a professional? Um, I wouldn't really say one specific player. I think like everybody helps me. Everybody has experience and just like, yeah, I think everybody's great. Okay. You can, you wouldn't be negative to anyone if you picked one who's great. Okay.

We'll keep it even. I will assume Brianna Pinto's the best because. Yeah, pretty awesome. Because she's part of our show here. I know it's unique being an under 18 player in NWSL, but I don't know that people know a lot of sort of the quirks about it. Can you maybe something that people aren't aware of, of how the experience is for a young player in this league?

Yeah, so basically if you're under 18, you can't be in the same locker room. Like if you're talking to a coach, it's got to be like more than one person in the room. Social media is stricter. Yeah And what? Oh, also on a way, trips, you get your own room.

Which is a positive. Yeah, that's a positive. That's a positive. Are you going to lose that now? Yeah. I've already watched it, yeah. What? Yeah, I'm 18.

Who's your roommate? Nadia. Okay. Yeah. And you told her like, hey, I'm used to a certain way of life, so get out. No, no, no. No, we're both. I think we're both.

We make good roommates, so. it's unique still to go straight into the pros skipping college i know you were committed at florida state take us into that experience talking through how you made that decision and why sort of the the decision was with chicago rather than going to college yeah i think the biggest thing was development um i also saw a lot of like potential with chicago stars i feel like playing with some of the best players in the world with a lot of experience will only help me grow and yeah i just felt like it was the best fit It's not far from home either from Michigan. Yeah, it's the closest team.

It's only like four and a half hours. Are we hoping, though, for a pro team, Detroit, Ann Arbor, whatever it is? Yeah, maybe one day. Yeah, we'll see. I mean, that would be nice. We'll do superstar Michaela Johnson helps start the team in her hometown and comes back one day. For the U20 World Cup, you're going to shift from being the young player in the team fighting for minutes to an established star.

How do you sort of think about your role and how you handle responsibilities with a U-20 group? Um, I would just say be myself. I mean, like, that's got me to this point. So I think that's just the biggest thing, playing my game. And where on the field, when your sort of team built around you, ideally, where do you want to play and where do you sort of want to be in the attack? Normally when I'm at national team, they play me on the wing. I like that position. Go out players 1V1, create chances for myself and my team.

Do you have a favorite 1v1 dribbler that you like to emulate? I like watching Laminu Molle and Messi. Those are two good ones. Yeah, that's not a bad list to have. As you go into this new group that you haven't really played with before, sort of what's the experience like getting ready for this tournament and what are you most looking forward to um i'm most looking forward to just creating memories with my team um experiencing the culture and yeah like representing the country um on the biggest stage um and showing the world what i can do

and then what was the second question that's it the excitement yeah yeah i just excited yeah super well so you went to you 17 world a couple of What was it like to be a national team player and represent the U.S. at a big tournament? Yeah, it's a big honor. I feel like it's a great opportunity. I feel like there's a lot of eyes, but like how you handle that, like will like keep you at the top. And yeah, I just feel like it's a great opportunity. It was awesome.

We asked memory of this. So it's not just you, but there is obviously been a long stretch where the U.S. hasn't won this competition, which I think would shock a lot of people. Have you thought about that? Have you talked about that with people? about the opportunity to break now. What is a 14-year drought at the U-20 World Cup? Yeah, 100%.

I think going into a tournament, we always want to win. Yeah, I think it's just about how we approach every day with focus. And, yeah, just going at it every day, committing to it. And, yeah, that's our goal is to win. You got your first start at the pro ranks. I think Chicago scored 13 goals all season, scored three in that game. So are you the good luck charm now? Are you feeling confident?

I mean, I guess a little bit, but I wouldn't really say that. I think everybody is like just everybody works hard every single day and it just all comes together. What, uh, what's the year been like with Chicago? What's your experience been like? Um, I think it's been difficult for everybody. Um, we've gone through a lot of changes. Um, but I feel like the team has kept our like, our culture, like togetherness. And yeah, so it was good to get a win last last game. And what is, what are you thinking about? is you try to earn more minutes and sort of become more established in the group? Just trusting the process, trusting myself, and like when my opportunity comes, taking it.

Well, everyone's very excited to watch the U20 World Cup. I told Emery, I'll tell you, we'll have you on when you win and we'll celebrate all together, right? Sounds good, yeah, 100%. Amazing. We'll have fun. Congratulations. And thanks for joining us. Yeah, no problem.

Thank you. Well, big thank you to both of them for taking the time to chat with us. And as I said to them, we're looking forward to celebrating a victory with them after they come back with a U-20 World Cup championship, which would be the first in 14 years for the U.S. So is the whole world catching up or not? We're going to find out over the next few weeks over in Poland. We'll, of course, be watching those games and we'll be chatting all about them. But thank you so much to Henry for taking the time to join us.

Big thanks to Emery and Michaela for joining us as well as to the PR staffs at Seattle and Chicago for helping organize Big shout out to Gregory for leading the way on the subs bench and the editing here. And we'll talk to you all again very, very soon.