Soccer is one of the country's largest youth sports ecosystems. These figures put the scale of the game, the opportunity for players and the access challenges families face in one place.
Each number is linked to the organization that published it. Source dates reflect the date of the underlying data or publication.
U.S. YOUTH SOCCER AND YOUTH SPORTS
THE NUMBERS AT A GLANCE.
2.5M
players registered annually
US Youth Soccer says it registers nearly 2.5 million players each year through its member network.
SOURCE: US YOUTH SOCCER, ABOUT US YOUTH SOCCER ↗Accessed August 14, 202610,000
clubs and leagues in one national network
US Youth Soccer says its 54 state associations support 10,000 clubs and leagues, alongside nearly 1 million administrators, coaches and volunteers.
SOURCE: US YOUTH SOCCER, ABOUT US YOUTH SOCCER ↗Accessed August 14, 202665%
of youth ages 6-17 tried a team sport in 2024
The Aspen Institute reported that 65% of youth ages 6-17 participated in a team sport at least once in 2024, the highest level tracked by the Sports & Fitness Industry Association since at least 2012.
SOURCE: ASPEN INSTITUTE PROJECT PLAY, STATE OF PLAY 2025 ↗2025 report, using 2024 participation data58%
of U.S. youth participated in organized sports in 2024
Federal youth-sports data cited by the Aspen Institute shows participation rose to 58% in 2024.
SOURCE: ASPEN INSTITUTE PROJECT PLAY, YOUTH SPORTS PARTICIPATION UPDATE ↗May 5, 2026, using 2024 data36.3%
participation among children in the lowest-income households
In 2024, 36.3% of children in households below the poverty line played sports, while the gap between the lowest- and highest-income groups reached 38.5 percentage points.
SOURCE: ASPEN INSTITUTE PROJECT PLAY, YOUTH SPORTS PARTICIPATION UPDATE ↗May 5, 2026, using 2024 data$1,016
average family spend on a child’s primary sport in 2024
The average U.S. sports family spent $1,016 on a child’s primary sport in 2024, up 46% from 2019 in the Aspen Institute’s parent survey.
SOURCE: ASPEN INSTITUTE PROJECT PLAY, FAMILY SPENDING SURVEY ↗February 24, 2025, using 2024 data$3M
in 2024 U.S. Soccer grant funding
U.S. Soccer approved $3 million in 2024 Innovate to Grow funding, with the organization estimating that more than 762,000 players, coaches and referees would benefit.
SOURCE: U.S. SOCCER, INNOVATE TO GROW ANNOUNCEMENT ↗February 6, 2024WHAT THE DATA SHOWS
THE GAME IS GROWING, BUT ACCESS STILL MATTERS.
The figures show a large and active youth soccer network, plus broader growth in youth sports participation. They also show why clear costs, thoughtful coaching and a welcoming environment matter to families making decisions about where their player belongs.
Participation data and registered-player counts measure different things. A child can play a team sport without registering through a US Youth Soccer organization, so the numbers should not be added together.
METHOD AND SOURCES
HOW TO USE THIS PAGE.
This page collects published U.S. youth soccer and youth sports figures that are relevant to families, clubs and community partners. It does not estimate FC National participation, fees or outcomes. Each statistic links to its publisher, and the wording keeps the source's scope intact.
For citation, use: FC National, “Youth Soccer Statistics: Participation, Access and Cost in the U.S.,” updated August 14, 2026, https://fcnational.org/youth-soccer-statistics.
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