Key Takeaways
- U.S. Soccer Federation assumes operational control of US Club Soccer’s back-end services, including HR, IT, and finance, from Wasserman under a new managed services agreement
- The partnership directly impacts more than 800,000 annual participants across thousands of clubs and leagues nationwide
- Mike Cullina remains CEO of US Club Soccer and will lead the transition between the organizations
- The agreement represents the first implementation of U.S. Soccer’s Pathways Strategy, which aims to reduce costs, increase participation, and improve player development
- U.S. Soccer is pursuing similar managed services agreements with other National Associations to create greater coordination across the competitive landscape
Centralizing Operations Under U.S. Soccer’s Infrastructure
The U.S. Soccer Federation announced on January 13, 2026 that it has entered into a strategic managed services agreement with US Club Soccer, taking over the organization’s internal operations from Wasserman. Under the new arrangement, U.S. Soccer will handle core back-end functions for US Club Soccer, including human resources, information technology, and finance operations.
The shift gives U.S. Soccer direct operational oversight of one of the country’s largest youth soccer membership organizations. Wasserman, the global sports and entertainment company that previously managed these services, exits the arrangement as U.S. Soccer consolidates infrastructure across member organizations.
For US Club Soccer’s staff and its network of clubs, leagues, and participants, day-to-day operations continue unchanged. The transition provides clubs with more direct access to U.S. Soccer’s systems, resources, and administrative support.
First Step in U.S. Soccer’s Pathways Strategy Implementation
The partnership marks the initial execution of U.S. Soccer’s Pathways Strategy, a framework designed to restructure the American soccer ecosystem around three core objectives: lowering program costs, expanding access to the game, and improving experiences for all participants.
“Our focus at U.S. Soccer has never been clearer: we exist in service to every player, coach, and referee in this country. And we know that people are seeking a youth soccer system that is more aligned, more transparent, more affordable, and easier to navigate,” said Dan Helfrich, Chief Operating Officer at the U.S. Soccer Federation. “This relationship with US Club Soccer is a critical first step toward making this happen, as they are a critical connector of clubs and leagues across the country.”
The strategy addresses long-standing concerns about fragmentation in American youth soccer, where multiple governing bodies, leagues, and competitive structures create complexity for families and organizations. By consolidating administrative functions, U.S. Soccer aims to reduce duplicated overhead costs that clubs ultimately pass to participants through registration fees and program expenses.
US Club Soccer serves as a significant partner in this effort given its scale. The organization connects thousands of clubs and leagues, creating a substantial network for implementing standardized systems and shared resources.
Leadership Continuity and Organizational Integration
Mike Cullina will remain as CEO of US Club Soccer and oversee the operational transition. His retention provides continuity for member clubs while facilitating integration with U.S. Soccer’s infrastructure.
“This is a momentous time for our organization and the sport,” said Cullina. “We’ve often told our staff, board and league partners: ‘If it’s good for soccer, it’s good for US Club Soccer.’ The order of that statement is intentional; we’ve always considered ourselves as serving the sport first, trusting that by doing so, even structuring ourselves as such, that our organization will grow. This is a huge step forward in unifying soccer, and we appreciate the trust placed in the US Club Soccer team to serve the sport.”
The approach allows US Club Soccer to maintain its member-facing operations and competitive programming while benefiting from U.S. Soccer’s administrative scale and capabilities. Staff members at US Club Soccer continue in their current roles with enhanced access to U.S. Soccer’s support systems.
Expansion Plans for Additional Member Organizations
U.S. Soccer indicated the US Club Soccer agreement serves as a model for future partnerships. The federation is actively engaging with other National Associations and member organizations to explore similar managed services agreements.
These discussions focus on creating greater coordination across the competitive environment and reducing operational redundancies that increase costs for clubs and families. By offering centralized administrative services to multiple organizations, U.S. Soccer aims to build a more connected system aligned with Pathways Strategy goals.
The federation stated it will work with members interested in this partnership model, though it has not specified which organizations are under consideration or the timeline for additional agreements.
Testing a New Model for Youth Soccer Coordination
The managed services approach represents a structural shift in how U.S. Soccer engages with member organizations. Rather than operating as separate entities with independent administrative functions, the model creates shared infrastructure that allows organizations to focus resources on program delivery and participant support.
Success will depend on execution across several dimensions: whether consolidation actually reduces costs for clubs, how effectively the organizations maintain service levels during integration, and whether the model creates genuine improvements in affordability and access for families.
For clubs and leagues, the practical impacts will emerge over time as systems integrate and operational efficiencies materialize. The partnership affects a substantial portion of the youth soccer landscape, with US Club Soccer’s 800,000 annual participants representing a significant test case for U.S. Soccer’s broader strategic vision.
As U.S. Soccer pursues additional managed services agreements, the organization’s ability to deliver on affordability promises while maintaining quality experiences will determine whether this model gains traction across American youth soccer.
via: US Soccer
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