Reflecting on an Incredible Week at the 2025 United Soccer Coaches Convention
The vast McCormick Place convention center in Chicago played host to this year's United Soccer Coaches Convention, living up to its reputation as the world's largest annual gathering of soccer coaches and administrators. For DrillBoard, it marked our 11th appearance at this unique event, a coming together of the whole soccer community, and the experience proved as enriching as ever.
The convention consistently serves as a vital platform for building new connections, gaining fresh perspectives, and reuniting with colleagues from across the soccer community. This year was particularly special, featuring some truly memorable moments.
A highlight of the convention was USWNT head coach Emma Hayes's masterclass on leadership. Hayes delivered an inspiring session focused on high-performance leadership, team culture, and Olympic preparation. Her insights were both practical and profound, emphasizing how removing distractions can unlock potential and challenging the notion that successful teams should rest on their laurels. Perhaps most importantly, she advocated for incorporating female perspectives more deeply into athlete development.
The social aspects of the convention were equally rewarding, with the Got Soccer party standing out as a particularly enjoyable evening. Our visit also held a touch of nostalgia as we had the chance to revisit Soccer House, U.S. Soccer's original headquarters, bringing back fond memories of our first soccer journey to America.
Looking ahead, the 2026 convention will return to Philadelphia, coinciding with two significant milestones: the United States' hosting of the World Cup and the nation's 250th anniversary celebrations. It promises to be an extraordinary gathering for the soccer community.
Over the years we've witnessed firsthand how the soccer landscape in America continues to evolve and grow.
When the U.S. hosted the FIFA World Cup in 1994, the country didn’t even have a professional league - and that World Cup remains the most attended World Cup in history. It will be exciting to se what happens when WC2026 touches down!
