December 10, 2025
U.S. Youth Soccer: The Next Generation Starts Here
Chasing the Game - Youth Soccer in AmericaAbout this episode
The next chapter of American youth soccer is being built by a new generation. Not administrators. Not executives. Players. Young adults. People who lived the system from the inside and are now fixing the gaps they experienced firsthand. In this episode, we talk with Brando Babini and Billy Pavlou , founders of Youth4Youth FC and Next Level USA , two programs reshaping development through supplemental training , real match minutes , and near-peer mentorship . As parents inside the youth system, we see the pressure, confusion, and lack of clarity that families face. This conversation explains why the future depends on new leaders who understand both the player’s world and the parent’s world. We cover: • Why supplemental training exists and how to use it the right way • Why match minutes matter more than ever • Mistakes parents make without realizing • How mentorship fills the emotional gap in youth soccer • Differences between youth clubs such as NYCFC, Red Bulls, Met Oval, and Kickers • What exposure and recruiting actually look like today • Why the U.S. is primed for soccer innovation This is the next generation of U.S. youth soccer. It starts with people like Brando and Billy. (00:00) - Start (00:09) - Remote intro and audio joke (00:33) - Present and future of youth soccer, why these guests (00:46) - Introducing Billy Pavlou and Brando Babini (04:44) - Brando’s path through NYC academies and founding Youth4Youth FC (08:34) - Billy’s journey from Australia to New York and starting Next Level USA (14:28) - What supplemental training really means (19:56) - Club identities in NYC and how they shape players (27:21) - Who drives supplemental work, parents or players (29:25) - Relationships with MLS NEXT and top clubs, guest play rules (35:50) - Youth4Youth mentorship model and near-peer support (44:34) - Showcases, college recruiting and real exposure (48:50) - Burnout, pressure and where it actually comes from (53:39) - Social media, player profiles and the showcase effect (58:30) - Why the US is fertile ground for soccer startups (01:02:24) - Rapid fire: skills, clubs, parents and advice for 12-year-olds ‘View full transcript’