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Tim Howard Criticizes U.S. Youth Soccer System After Landon Donovan Remarks

Originally posted on Athlon Sports | By Pragjyoti Singh | Last updated Apr 9, 2026 4:30 PM ET

The USMNT has evolved from an underdog into a serious global competitor over the last few years.

Now, as World Cup hosts, the team has the perfect stage to prove they belong among the world's best.

However, Mauricio Pochettino’s squad is under heavy scrutiny from fans and experts alike, as recent losses have raised questions about the team's current form.

While the senior squad has its task cut out, it is the development of the younger generation that concerns USMNT legends Tim Howard and Landon Donovan.

Tim Howard Calls Out U.S. Youth Soccer System

Donovan recently aired his criticism of the youth soccer system in the U.S. The 44-year-old, who represented the Stars and Stripes in three World Cups, believes the American system is a "disaster" that lacks a proper developmental culture and still has a long way to go.

Landon Donovan walks on the red carpet at Toyota Stadium in Frisco, Texas.Carmen Mandato/USSF/Getty Images for USSF

Echoing this sentiment, Tim Howard also expressed his dissatisfaction with the system.

During an episode of the ‘Unfiltered Soccer’ podcast, Howard pointed out a major flaw in the training program,

“I had a conversation with Jozy Altidore at the last game. Because obviously, I trust his striking prowess, and I said that there was a European coach that I spoke to and he just said, ‘Your strikers, your being American strikers at whatever age, you don’t know how to operate in tight spaces, which is the 18-yard box, and you don’t train how to get shots away in tight spaces,’” Howard recollected.

“And he’s right and I’m thinking like, all the youth games I’ve watched, all the youth training sessions I’ve watched, it’s like strikers are never put in tight spaces to have to finish. It’s a finishing exercise, it’s a wide open goal, it’s like a long run to the goal.” he continued.

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Pointing out the major flaws in the training program compared to Europe, Howard said:

“And then you realize when you get these young Portuguese players, they’re in tight spaces, they don’t need a lot of time, they’ve already operated in that moment.”

The former goalkeeper, who played 10 seasons for Everton, claimed that the country remains technically behind. Regarding the state of youth development, Howard stated:

"So yeah, we’re just, we as a country are just behind technically. We are. And that’s always been the case and that goes down to academies and coaching and it ain’t there."

This article first appeared on Athlon Sports and was syndicated with permission.

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