Tim Howard Explains Why Men’s and Women’s Soccer In USA Are Worlds Apart

Photo by Robbie Jay Barratt - AMA/Getty Images

Tim Howard Explains Why Men’s and Women’s Soccer In USA Are Worlds Apart

Originally posted on Athlon Sports | By Emmanuel Mendez | Last updated Apr 25, 2026 9:24 AM ET

The 2026 World Cup will see the United States Men's National Team (USMNT) play another World Cup on home soil, and the expectations are mixed among the fanbase.

The USMNT has never won the World Cup and is not among the favorites to do so this summer.

This is the opposite for the United States Women's National Team (USWNT), which is the most successful women's national team at the Women's World Cup and is set to be among the favorites to win the Women's World Cup in 2027.

USMNT legend Tim Howard gave his thoughts on why he believes the USWNT has seen more success in soccer than the USMNT over the years.

Tim Howard celebrates American Airlines as the official North American Airline supplier of the FIFA World Cup 26™, in partnership with Qatar Airways, global airline of FIFA at Miami International Airport on April 02, 2026 in Miami, Florida. (Photo by Michael Simon/Getty Images for American Airlines)Photo by Michael Simon/Getty Images for American Airlines

On the Unfiltered Soccer podcast, Tim Howard gives his take on why the USWNT has been more successful in the sport than the USMNT.

Tim Howard on the Difference between the USMNT and the USWNT

Tim Howard believes that the USWNT has been very successful over the past few decades due to the number of women playing soccer in the United States.

Howard believes the United States is far ahead of other countries when it comes to women's soccer, as many girls and women play the sport in comparison to men in the United States.

Howard said, "Women's soccer in America, at every level, was so far ahead of the rest of the world...little girls were playing soccer in the country at mass... We've had such a head start that it's great that these countries are catching up to us in 2026, but they're still miles behind."

The former USMNT goalkeeper believes that there were many options to pick in sports for men in comparison to women. Howard says, "In contrast that with sort of men's sports. There's hockey, baseball, basketball, and football. There are all these sports. For women, one of the highest-level sports in America is soccer. There's only a few [sports] to play."