New Hampshire Soccer Supports Historic Integration of US Youth Soccer and U.S. Soccer

New Hampshire Soccer Supports Historic Integration of US Youth Soccer and U.S. Soccer 

State Associations helped shape the decision, and will play and even larger role in creating new opportunities to strengthen soccer in communities across the country 

Manchester, NH (Aug. 29, 2026) – Today, New Hampshire joined State Associations across the country in supporting a historic step to make US Youth Soccer (USYS) part of U.S. Soccer, bringing the organizations closer together to invest more in local soccer and create better experiences for players and families. creating greater alignment across the game and new opportunities to strengthen soccer locally.  

USYS State Associations voted to approve the change during their Annual General Meeting, which will begin a two-year integration process on September 1. The decision brings USYS’s decades of experience and reaches across youth soccer closer together with U.S. Soccer’s resources and national scale.  

“This is an exciting time for soccer in New Hampshire,” said Anne Fichera, Executive Director of the New Hampshire Soccer Association. “Our clubs, players, coaches, referees and volunteers have worked hard to build a strong soccer community across the state. We are excited about the opportunity to work more closely with U.S. Soccer, build on what we have created, and provide even more opportunities for players and families in New Hampshire.”  

 What This Means for Soccer in New Hampshire   

The integration begins a two-year process in which State Associations will work closely with U.S. Soccer and USYS to help shape the future of soccer in communities around the country.  

The goal is to create a stronger and more connected soccer system that can:  

• Bring more resources and investment to soccer locally.  

• Strengthen State Associations and their ability to support and grow the game in their communities.  

• Create more opportunities for people to play and stay in the game.  

• Better support clubs, leagues, coaches and referees serving players every day.  

• Make soccer easier for families to understand and navigate.  

• Connect local communities more directly to U.S. Soccer and the resources, expertise and opportunities available nationally.  

The integration is part of U.S. Soccer’s broader Pathways Strategy, which brings together members and stakeholders from across American soccer to create a more connected future for the game. For New Hampshire Soccer, that future starts locally building on the work already happening in our communities and creating the support, investment and opportunities to help soccer reach even more people across New Hampshire.