Tim Sas

“I think that's what we're lacking sometimes in our country.” Former USMNT midfielder Hugo Pérez wants to see more kids playing soccer in neighborhoods, which will give them freedom and creativity to develop. He explained to U.S. Soccer podcast why it’s important 🗣️ “Everybody talks about the environments and what football is in this country,” Pérez said. “In the days that we're living, it's becoming more difficult. “You know, I was in Europe about two, three years ago and when you go to Europe now, even those people who obviously had soccer for years, years and years, they're saying now that a lot of kids are playing less in the streets. They're more orientated to academies. “I think the advantage of kids playing soccer in neighborhoods by themselves is that when it's not taught, those kids have the freedom to do whatever they want. “They use their creativity. If they mess up, nobody says anything, okay? And I think that's what we're lacking sometimes in our country. “Even with our academies, the same thing. I hope in the future that people will realize that even if they come to academies, you still can create an environment where they can feel that way, especially you know the younger kids. “Let them play football. Let them enjoy it. Let them get things wrong. Let them try because by the age from six to around 11 is where they're going to get all their technical skills if we don't stop them, if we don't put a rule when they play. “After that then obviously you start guiding them how they're going to play and all that stuff where they grow up and play whether they go to college or professional. “But before that, we need to create those environments that those girls and boys can have the freedom to play the way they want to. “And we just need to enjoy it, you know? We need to let them be free in that sense. “People ask me, is it difficult to play at the high level? “Personally, I don't think it is. The difficult thing is to get there and maintain yourself at the higher level. “But football will always be a sport to be enjoyed. You see, it's the only sport that you have to master the ball with your feet. “Everybody else is used to hands and everything else. But when it comes to soccer, it's your feet. “When the more you have the feeling of the ball at your feet, the more you can dominate that ball and make it do whatever you want. “So even when you become a pro still, it is not a job to be honest with you. “I mean, think about this. Obviously now athletes spend a lot of time in football. It changed from 30 years now. “But still, you are doing something to entertain people when they go to the stadium. So footballers are responsible to entertain people, okay? “And obviously we want to win. There's no doubt about that. But the entertainment of football is what creates in me a passion to be better. “So the enjoyment of coming out of the stadium and you play probably in front of 90,000 people, 100,000 people, and you come out and you get the ball, you make certain moves, you score a goal. People cheer. People are happy. “And you inside feel comfortable and good about it because you're making people happy. “So that's why football has to be always enjoyable. “Ronaldinho used to say, ‘Look, I play football because I want to make sure the people enjoy it. I want to give them something. I want to give them show. I want to create something that they can understand how beautiful football is.’ “Because you have football and you have the essence of football. And the essence of football is the creativity of a player, the touch that a player has. “That’s what our kids need when they're growing up. “Obviously in America we like winners and everything. I think that's good. But there's an age where we need to let them be free in that sense and think about. “So when they grow up and become soccer players, they don't do it just for a job. They do it because they want to entertain people.”

Former USA international and three-time World Cup player Eric Wynalda has been appointed head coach of Nõmme United. The 57-year-old made 106 appearances for the USA and scored 34 goals. He now takes over with United sitting 9th in the Premium Liiga, with 10 matches remaining in the season. A new chapter. A big challenge.

Big news for youth soccer! @USYouthSoccer (USYS) State Associations voted YES to move forward with integrating USYS with U.S. Soccer. This begins a two year integration to invest more locally, make the game easier to navigate, and better support the coaches, refs, clubs, and leagues who power soccer in every community across the country. The goal is to create a more connected system where national resources and strategy are paired with strong local leadership. 📰 ussoc.cr/392295

Man City drop their new fan x AI created third kit ⚪

Rafa Marquez blasts ending pro/rel in Liga MX #prorelforusa espn.com/soccer/story/_/id/3…

If football is going to be truly cleaned up not only does Infantino need to resign but people like Montagliani and Al-Khalifi CANNOT be seriously considered as replacements.

Here’a how Infantino can be ousted.

LATEST: Infantino had his eyes on a $30m salary plus bonuses for leading new FIFA enterprise, say whistleblowers. Now the "shabby" scheme has collapsed, football's most powerful confederations are moving against him. thetimes.com/sport/football/…

Pep Guardiola spoke out against the Super League’s plan to eliminate promotion and relegation, even while coaching one of its proposed members. Now FIFA is considering selling a stake in the World Cup’s commercial future to private equity. Will any prominent Americans owners, coaches or players speak out before the world’s game is sold off?

🚨💣 BREAKING: FIFA HAVE DECIDED TO END GIANNI INFANTINO'S PROJECT TO SELL STAKES OF THE WORLD CUP. IT'S OVER. The private investors have pulled out, and JP Morgan have also pulled out. THE DEAL HAS COMPLETELY COLLAPSED. @nypost

The writing is on the wall for Infantino. He must resign or he’ll be gone by the end of March. UEFA alone can request trigger a vote within 3 months if they act unanimously. The faster FIFA members move to remove Infantino, the better for the game.

UEFA and its 55 nations have released a statement saying they will not participate in FIFA competitions in response to the proposal to sell a stake in the World Cup to private investors. (via @UEFA)