is an argument I saw years ago that another big issue/difference is that even if American kids are playing soccer when they're young (we actually have a very high participation rate, it just ends right around the age of 13), it's almost never the sport they play with their friends when they're just fucking around.

So there's this instinctual, totally preoccupied aspect of playing the sport that goes missing for a lot of kids, even if they were inclined to want to play soccer over other sports.

Imagine if basketball players only ever played basketball in organized, controlled environments, and never ever in pick up games from the time they were 10 years old. The sport and talent would be totally different.

This original point was made I think in an article about the God, Clint Dempsey. He grew up in a working class part of Texas and he and his very diverse group of friends always played pick up soccer first, not other sports.

Lo and behold, he's one of the best, most creative players this country has ever turned out.