US Soccer Uses AI to Scout Millions of Young Players

Every talented young soccer player deserves a shot at being discovered, but scouts can't be everywhere at once.

The United States Soccer Federation is now using AI technology to scan video footage of millions of youth players around the world. The goal is to identify promising athletes who might never get noticed through traditional scouting methods.

US Soccer Federation COO Dan Helfrich explained the challenge at a Fortune event in Arizona this week. Since scouts typically focus on certain clubs, schools, and regions, they automatically miss 99.5 percent of potential talent. "How do you get your scouts to all of those places?" Helfrich said. "You can't."

The AI program analyzes skills, technique, and movements from widely available youth sports videos. It's trained to identify attributes that match what US Soccer looks for in players at specific positions.

CEO JT Batson confirmed the national team is running an early pilot program. "We're excited to figure out how do we scale that so that way more kids can be truly part of US soccer," Batson said on the talkSPORT podcast. The vision extends beyond just finding World Cup winners to supporting kids on their soccer journey, whether they play for fun or competition.

The technology could be particularly powerful for a sport as global as soccer. A gifted player in a small town or overlooked region now has a better chance of being seen.

The Bright Side

When talent gets discovered that otherwise wouldn't, everyone wins. The player gets opportunities they deserve, and US Soccer builds a stronger, more diverse talent pipeline.

The federation acknowledges that AI scouting is just one piece of a bigger puzzle. Discovery matters, but young players also need access to quality coaching, facilities, and programs that don't break the bank or require families to drive hours from home.

Still, this represents real progress in leveling the playing field. More kids getting noticed means more kids staying engaged with the sport they love. And for some talented young athletes out there right now, this technology might just change their lives.

The program is opening doors that used to stay closed, one video at a time.