The United States Soccer Federation (USSF) may be making progress, but according to their CEO, the journey is far from over. In a recent ESPN interview, the USSF CEO, JT Batson, acknowledged that while they’ve progressed quite a lot, like bringing in world-class coaches Emma Hayes and Mauricio Pochettino, there’s still “A Long Way To Go.” Yet, how far have they progressed? Let’s find out.

“The reason why I joined US Soccer and the reason why so many of us joined is that we wanted to do big things for soccer in this country,” explained the USSF CEO. “We’ve obviously come a really long way, but we’ve got a long way to go.”

The people behind USSF are helping push it toward even bigger achievements. JT Batson expressed his team’s ambition to develop the game in the US further. He also said that they acknowledge progress but, of course, have much to do and much to strive for. “We recognize that people have high expectations for our organization and for our teams,” the CEO acknowledged. ”As they should and they want to hold us accountable for doing a great job.”

The USSF has grand plans for the future of the sport. It’s not only about developing world-class players but also having a soccer culture that shall resonate across the nation, engaging new generations of fans, and cementing soccer’s place in American sports.

US Soccer has made visible progress, but it hasn’t been easy for them. They were running an annual loss of $40 million about two years ago. Since then, they have worked hard to stabilize their finances and create possibilities for their future growth. But how? We’re delving deeper.

The future of US soccer under Emma Hayes and Mauricio Pochettino

Hayes has been shaking things up with a fresh, tactical approach that’s all about making the team tighter, more aware of their roles, and more adaptable. She’s not just focused on the main squad either – she’s diving deep into the USWNT system, working with young talent, and bringing a whole new vibe to how players are chosen. One of her first big moves? Scouting fresh faces from the NWSL and top international leagues. And the USSF CEO had some words of praise for her as well.

“Getting Emma on board and obviously the incredible work she’s done so quickly and bringing on Mauricio and his team so you know that’s all a part of us going to do big things for us soccer,” Batson said.

Pochettino is focusing on improving the technical abilities of his squad by introducing high-intensity training that focuses on speed, ball control, and tactical awareness. Since taking over, Pochettino has altered the approach to attacking play by emphasizing faster transitions and more aggressive forward runs. He has also introduced a more modern, possession-fixture style of soccer that involves building from the back and controlling midfield play, a weakness for the USMNT in recent years.

So what’s next for US Soccer? Despite the challenges, US soccer plans to build a National Training Center, a facility dedicated to the development of future stars. It forms the most significant investment in the long-term growth of the sport, acting as a home to players, coaches, and staff. The facility will give U.S. soccer a critical edge in nurturing talent from grassroots levels to national teams.

But, as the CEO mentioned, there’s still “a long way to go.” It takes time to build a winning culture, while the Federation is exploring all opportunities to improve. And, more importantly, US Soccer has a fan base that is energized in support, and the possibilities are endless.