Washington Youth Soccer Supports Historic Integration of US Youth Soccer and U.S. Soccer
WASHINGTON YOUTH SOCCER RELEASE
WASHINGTON YOUTH SOCCER SUPPORTS HISTORIC INTEGRATION OF US YOUTH SOCCER AND U.S. SOCCER
State Associations helped shape the decision, and will play an even larger role in creating new opportunities to strengthen soccer in communities across the country
Seattle, WA (Aug. 29, 2026) – Today, Washington Youth Soccer (WYS) joined State Associations across the country in supporting a historic step to make US Youth Soccer (USYS) part of U.S. Soccer, bringing the organizations closer together to invest more in local soccer and create better experiences for players and families while creating greater alignment across the game and new opportunities to strengthen soccer locally.
USYS State Associations voted to approve the change during their Annual General Meeting, which will begin a two-year integration process on September 1. The decision brings USYS’s decades of experience and reach across youth soccer closer together with U.S. Soccer’s resources and national scale.
“This is a landmark moment for soccer in Washington and across the country,” said WYS Executive Director Roger Levesque. “Today’s decision put a flag in the ground that signals a collective commitment for change, and we are excited about the opportunities ahead to work with associations, clubs, leagues, and communities across Washington to design a system that reaches more participants, continues to deliver positive experiences, and reduces cost to play the game. Huge thanks to U.S. Soccer for leading this effort – at WYS we can’t wait to bring the Crest to all communities across Washington State and inspire the next generation of young soccer players.”
What This Means for Soccer in Washington
The integration begins a two-year process in which State Associations and local constituents will work closely with U.S. Soccer and USYS to help shape the future of soccer in communities around the country.
The goal is to create a stronger and more connected soccer system that can:
- Better support clubs, leagues, coaches and referees serving players every day.
- Bring more resources and investment to soccer locally.
- Strengthen State Associations and their ability to support and grow the game in their communities.
- Create more opportunities for people to play and stay in the game.
- Make soccer easier for families to understand and navigate.
- Connect local communities more directly to U.S. Soccer and the resources, expertise and opportunities available nationally.
The integration is part of U.S. Soccer’s broader Pathways Strategy, which brings together members and stakeholders from across American soccer to create a more connected future for the game. For WYS, that future starts locally building on the work already happening in our communities and creating the support, investment and opportunities to help soccer reach even more people across Washington.