Soccer fever is hitting the U.S. right now. With the FIFA World Cup coming in 2026 (Finals at Metlife Stadium in East Rutherford, NJ, the excitement continues to build on and off the pitch.
Richie Graham is arguably one of the biggest investors on every level in U.S. Soccer. Not only is he a major investor with the MLS's Philadelphia Union, he found YSC Academy and started For Soccer six years ago.
Graham joined SportsJam with Doug Doyle to talk about the state of soccer in the U.S. and why he's so passionate about developing youth soccer and branding the sports the right way.
Graham has helped build a winning culture with the Philadelphia Union. Five of his Union Academy players are members of the U.S.A. Gold Cup team that recently shutout Trinidad and Tibago 5-0.
"That was exciting to see. Five boys that started out with us when they were eight and nine years old. So to watch them grow and express themselves in the game has been really fun to watch."
Graham passion for soccer started many years ago.
"I love the game. I was a soccer player growing up in a different era. I was also a competitive ski racer. I had a chance to play college soccer under a coach by the name of Bobby Clark at Dartmouth. Bobby went on to Stanford and later as a coach with Notre Dame where he won a national championship. He was a real special person. He's still a big part of my life and influenced me in a big way. I just grew more passionate about the game, especially the idea around development. Looking at the fact that the United States hasn't traditionally top 10, top 20 players in the world on the men's side, on the women's side we've been dominant, but on the men's side we haven't. So I started to ask why is that? It's all about creating learning environments, the right coaching and giving the amazing athletes we have the right opportunity to learn the game. That's really a big part of the Philadelphia Union model that has been focused on that, a vision of producing the future of the game. That starts with the youth."
Graham says YSC Academy is an example of teaching kids the right way to approach playing soccer.
"YSC Academy provides a unique environment where education and the sport can be aligned. The reason it has been so successful I would say is the center of the bullseye is culture, culture, culture. We really believe the student athlete should own their education. They should be the builder of their education both on the field and in the classroom, meaning that they take ownership of their learning. What's happening in the classroom translates to on the field. I really proud of what has developed there."
Is the U.S. Men's national team ready to win a FIFA World Cup? Graham admits that will take more time than some fans may want. However, he is optimistic about the future.
"We have players that are contributing for some of the top clubs in the world. The number of those players that are applying their trade in the top European clubs has grown dramatically. There will continue to be growth. I think MLS is a big part of that, as is youth soccer. The quality of education our kids are getting in this country is improving dramatically. When I was young there weren't many adults who knew much about soccer. Today you have young parents who are volunteering that have may have played college soccer and really understand the game. They're able to pass on the skills and technique in those golden learning years, six through 12 in any sport is so important. So I believe that investment in development and creating these spaces is an important investment. MLS has done a tremendous job. It's really only been the last ten years that MLS has kicked its academy program into overdrive. Those academy programs, the vast majority of them, are free of costs.
Graham's investment in the Philadelphia Union franchise has really paid off. The team is having a terrific season so far.
"The Philadelphia Union was really founded by the fan base. We've been blessed with a pretty passionate Philly fan base. They let you know when things aren't going well, but when things are going well they let you know. We've had tremendous success is packed and it's really one of the great environments in the MLS."
You can SEE the entire SportsJam conversation with Richie Graham below:
