Youth Soccer

The United States qualifies for U-17 Men's World Cup with win over Guatemala

The United States have earned a spot at this year's U-17 Men’s World Cup with a hard-fought 5-3 win against Guatemala in the quarterfinals of the CONCACAF U-17 Championship. It took four goals to defeat the tournament’s hosts in an extremely hostile home atmosphere. 

U-17 USMNT continues Concacaf Championship campaign with another emphatic win over Trinidad

Today’s heroes in Guatemala are looking set to be tomorrow’s golden boys. The U-17 USMNT is in the midst of its Concacaf Championship campaign and has gotten off to about as good of a start as possible. Saturday’s comprehensive 5-0 drubbing of Barbados was followed by another dominant performance and a 3-1 win over Trinidad and Tobago on Monday night.

Up 2-1 in the 89th-minute, keeper picks the best moment to drop back-to-back skill moves

We have discovered the next Alisson Becker — it's 18-year-old Braga prospect João Carvalho, who makes Alisson look about as talented as Loris Karius in comparison. 

On Tuesday, in Portugal's Liga Revelação U-23 division, Carvalho took possession in the 89th minute with his Braga side holding a slender 2-1 advantage over Rio Ave. In this situation you're supposed to "GET RID!" by smashing the ball 30 yards out of play, but Carvalho is built different.

Mom takes a wrong turn: A youth soccer horror story

In 2020 my creative juices were flowing as I penned three award-nominated (not actually nominated) horror stories about youth soccer.

Brazilian youth lashes an 80-yard volley in São Paulo's prestigious Copinha

The São Paulo Youth Football Cup, known as the Copinha, is a world-renowned staging ground for some of Brazil's most prodigious U-20 talents. Monstrous footballers like Endrick, Kaká, Neymar and Vini Jr have all shined in the competition, and we learned a new name on Tuesday: Dieguinho.

The 19-year-old plays for Hercílio Luz's U-20 team, and they went up against Capital CF during the group stage of the competition. 

This is one of the most satisfyingly inventive indoor goals ever

If you've played indoor soccer before, you've undoubtedly been left mad as hell at your goalkeeper for making a total mess of harmless balls smashed off the walls. The corner is a particularly dangerous area for keepers with zero foot skills, but we've also all probably seen a traditional outfield player being forced into the keeper role and getting beat by the softest of efforts.

What I've never seen before is this: a player understanding all the angles, all the realities, and purposefully hammering one off the wall to outfox a keeper coming out to usher away a chance.

World's worst national team aims to inspire by giving every San Marino newborn a jersey

When we cover the San Marino national team here at The18, it's usually to report on players breaking down in tears after securing 0-0 draws with Gibraltar. 

The squad has attracted a global following by virtue of being the worst international team on the planet — San Marino sits dead last (211th) in the FIFA Rankings with an all time record of 194 matches played, one win, eight draws and 185 defeats with a goal difference of negative 770.

USMNT inspiration is working: LAFC youth cracks unbelievable bicycle kick

Landon Donovan, Clint Dempsey and Alexi Lalas told us this would happen — it's one generation inspiring the next after watching Christian Pulisic deliver and Tyler Adams dominate.

"If Shaq Moore can get 20 minutes in a World Cup, why not me?" is what these kids are asking themselves around the country, and they're heeding Donovan's advice to stop counting the days and to start making the days count.

DIRECTV is giving you a chance to win a $500 youth sports scholarship

Ingrained as they are in our social fabric, sports are crucial to bringing people and communities together. And this is especially true when we talk about youth sports. Unfortunately, it's not always a level playing field for those athletes trying to break through when the opportunities are not the same for everybody.

DIRECTV knows about these difficulties and hardships, so in partnership with LeagueSide, they decided to be an agent of change in society by offering a series of sports scholarships nationwide.

A viral goal from the All Japan High School Soccer Tournament? You know the drill

It's become an annual tradition unlike any other here at The18. Every winter the All Japan High School Soccer Tournament comes around and, like clockwork, drops the highlight of the year.

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