Chasing the Game - Youth Soccer in America

In Part 1 of our conversation, Luis Robles, MLS NEXT Technical Director and former New York Red Bulls goalkeeper, shares his inspiring journey from underdog to MLS legend. Luis opens up about resilience, leadership, and the lessons learned on the field that now shape his work with the next generation of American players. (00:00) - Chapter 1 (00:00) - - Luis Robles on learning soccer late and almost choosing baseball (00:00) - - From immigrant family to USMNT and MLS Cup champion (00:00) - - Becoming a soccer parent and seeing pay-to-play up close (00:00) - - The grind of travel soccer and family sacrifices (00:00) - - What MLS NEXT is and why it matters (00:00) - - Can U.S. soccer build better pathways for kids? (00:00) - - Luis on goalkeeping, resilience, and identity (00:00) - - Hopes for the next generation of players

In the debut episode of Chasing the Game, co-hosts Liron Unreich and Matt Tartaglia set the stage for the series. They share their personal journeys as soccer parents, reflect on the challenges of navigating clubs, leagues, and academies, and explore why youth soccer in the U.S. can feel like a maze. Across nearly an hour of conversation, they compare American and international approaches, highlight the impact of pay-to-play, and preview the themes and guests to come this season. (00:00) - Introduction – Welcome to Chasing the Game (01:45) - Too Many Leagues, Too Little Clarity (06:30) - Matt’s Stats Corner – Fragmented System by the Numbers (09:50) - Liron’s Story – The Soccer Labyrinth at Home (13:10) - The MLS NEXT Shift (17:20) - The Pay-to-Play Paradox (21:00) - Expert Perspective – Finding Your Path (26:40) - The End Game – What Success Looks Like (29:10) - Closing – What We’ll Tackle Next

Soccer. Everywhere else, it’s four cones and a ball. In America, it’s spreadsheets, flights, and hotel bills.Chasing the Game is a new podcast from Liron Unreich and Matt Tartaglia, two soccer dads trying to understand how the world’s simplest game got so complicated in the U.S.Each week, they talk with the people who’ve lived it, from Ben Olsen and Luis Robles to Noah Ross of NYCFC’s Youth Academy — unpacking the culture, costs, and chaos of youth soccer in America.Join us as we chase the game, one story, one season, one sideline at a time.