U.S. soccer star Landon Donovan was raised by a single mom and said he wouldn’t break though today because youth sports have gotten too expensive
- Posted on July 18, 2026
- By Fortune
- 0 Views
- 1 min read
In brief
Legendary footballer Landon Donovan reflects on how escalating costs in youth sports may be preventing talented young athletes from pursuing soccer careers. The three-time World Cup veteran, who overcame humble beginnings as the son of a single mother, argues that expensive training programs and elite sports infrastructure create barriers to entry, ultimately limiting the pool of potential champions. Donovan emphasizes that true talent development requires accessible opportunities, not financial privilege.
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U.S. soccer star Landon Donovan was raised by a single mom and said he wouldn’t break though today because youth sports have gotten too expensive
“That's not a good system to create good players,” Donovan, a three-time FIFA World Cup participant, said. “How do you create good players by doing that? You can't.”
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