For an idea of what the best youth soccer in the world looks like, Ajax has been the gold standard for multiple generations. This six-minute video of highlights from the club’s under-11 and under-19 matches earlier this month show why (h/t Eric Beard, A Football Report founder and editor):
For an example on American shores, we turn to 3four3, run by brothers Gary and Brian Kleiban:
They recently took a team to the Mediterranean International Cup, where they faced a team from the Ajax academy — and won. Brian Kleiban is now coaching the Chivas USA U14s.
(More: Drawing parallels between English national team ‘problems,’ U.S. soccer)
Clearly, a high level of soccer development in the United States is not only possible but is already happening in some places.
