jeffk said:
It's a FIFA rule meant to keep clubs from scouring developing nations and kidnapping their youth talent. Surely they can figure out a way to allow 16 and 17 year old players from other non-Euro countries to enter academies with their parents' permission? If the USSF leadership were to put some pressure on FIFA to change the rule, would the European NT leaders push back at all?
I'm not sure a solution is close or all that realistic.
Even without this rule, I'm not sure that Americans would necessarily find Europe a land o' opportunity.
It can be pretty hard to get your foot in the door and stick around the good youth clubs; and many of those clubs aren't even quick to bring in kids from other European countries that aren't subject to this rule. Many place a priority on domestic youth players.
It all just reiterates that we have to get our own youth development system right.
