Can CONCACAF overtake UEFA on the women’s side of the beautiful game of soccer?

Is this even the right question? Why has the women’s game been measured by the men’s performance? Does the fact that soccer’s power center, FIFA, is based in the heart of Europe (Switzerland), impact the perception of ability? The prolific media coverage and attendance of the Euros and Champions League skew the perception of the quality of the product. Don’t get me wrong, I’m not saying that the product is poor, as I love watching WSL and Women’s Champions League, but with little parity and just a few dominant teams, it’s hard to tell.

The better question to ask is: will CONCACAF continue to dominate the women’s international game (we do) and what role will the USL Super League play (it will)?

Being a women’s soccer fan, I watch a lot of different leagues and games and consume many podcasts receiving different perspectives. I get philosophical with the thoughts that swirl through my brain like: could the NCAA women’s soccer system be better than most European international teams? Look at legacy teams like Stanford and UNC who have some of the best American young stars, but also European. Many women come to NCAA to continue playing after they age out of their youth teams, for some, it’s the only option for growth and experience. College games offer competitive matches in hostile environments with two games a week. The physicality alone is enough to help develop someone from a youth player to a physically strong adult. College is a well-established fiercely competitive version of a club academy.

Many of the CONCACAF women’s teams are finding success despite their federations. They rely on the college system to develop them, expose them to top competition, and train them. CONCACAF players leave their homes to get games when many of their nations don’t set up international friendlies. Where do these women go when they graduate? Many play for clubs in Europe in smaller leagues in Iceland, Scotland, Wales, and Norway.

In the women’s game, CONCACAF is already the dominant force with the USWNT leading the charge with consistent World Cup champions stars above their crest and Olympic medals. Canada won the gold in 2020 and is always an intimidating opponent. Jamaica has shown they are willing to go toe-to-toe with the top nations until the final whistle. Haiti, Costa Rica, Panama, and Mexico are burgeoning.

Jamaica and Bunny Shaw offer a prime example of CONCACAF strength over UEFA teams. Kadeisha “Bunny” Shaw plays for Manchester City women and won the Golden Boot for the WSL in 2023-2024. She was leading the Jamaican women’s team against France in the 2023 Women’s World Cup, they could have pulled off an upset as they were the better team, until an unfortunate second yellow. Haiti held future WWC finalists, England, to a 1-0 game and frustrated them all game. CONCACAF teams confidently eliminated top international teams during the play-in for the 2023 WWC. Six teams from CONCACAF represented well at the WWC2023, the most ever from the region.

*Image courtesy of Manchester City Football Club*

FIFA president, Gianni Infantino, “… national team football is obviously based on club football…” this was said following the FIFA council meeting where they voted to add a FIFA Women’s Club World Cup in January-February 2026. Between adding the FIFA Club World Cup and the CONCACAF Women’s Champions League, players will get to experience an international club competition that mirrors international play. They experience everything from on-field stress, increased stakes, travel, workload, recovery, professionalism, media exposure, and much more.

Adding eight Division 1 women’s teams to the USA eco-system via USL Super League means more opportunities for these talented regional players to have regular competitive high-level matches post-college, or even as youth players, in a league close to home. The USLSL is continuing to expand teams and has even mentioned they expect to be at 20 teams in the next two years. More teams will need more players. More teams mean more starting spots. To be in good form, players need consistent starting minutes, more exposure to different problems, and finding the solutions on the field. Great players need to play other great players, and be in challenging situations to bring out their best.

MLS and USL Championship were created to raise the skill level and player pool for the USMNT, but instead, the reality is that they have raised it for other CONCACAF nations in tandem with them. It’s a perfect example of ‘a rising tide lifts all boats.’ The increase in opportunity has elevated the competition in the region. Canada dominated the 2022 World Cup qualifying. The starting Canadian men’s goalkeeper spent time at USLC side SAFC to get starting minutes before going to the World Cup. Jamaica has terrorized the USMNT and kept several tight games. USLC has international players filling roster spots that then go to play in meaningful international matches during the FIFA windows. We can use the instance of these two men’s domestic leagues to show the pattern that will happen with the addition of the USLSL.

USLSL reports that it has already had international players called up to play international matches. Eight players were called up to senior international matches during the October FIFA window. Spokane’s Riley Tanner played for Panama. Dallas’ Gaby Guillén for Costa Rica. Claire Constant of DC Power FC plays for Haiti. International caps are not just limited to these players.

Brooklyn’s Sydney Martinez has been logging starting goalkeeper minutes for her club and country, Puerto Rico. Several other players in the league have international experience at the youth and senior levels. As the league expands, players will see the quality and professionalism of the league and they will welcome the chance to join. More CONCACAF players will sign with USLSL clubs with the desire to compete at the highest level. The USLSL on-field play is already showing to be top in the world and it’s only just beginning. Other leagues have had 10+ years (NWSL) or 25+ years (MLS) to bring in international talent that makes the player pool diverse.

The USLSL has secured the rights with ESPN International to show their games in Latin America and the Caribbean. If you can see it, you can be it. Young women and girls in CONCACAF region can see their fellow citizens playing in professional leagues, showing them that a path exists for them as well, lighting the way forward. Watching the game is also the best way to increase a player’s soccer IQ and it will only increase in the region.

USLSL benefits from the league structure and partnerships already in place, including some internationally. In 2022, USL HQ announced a partnership with the Caribbean Football Union to help “create more professional opportunities for Caribbean players, coaches, referees, and front office staff in USLC and USL1.” This agreement specifically targets scouting, pathways, training, exposure, and opportunities.

The USLSL is already impacting CONCACAF in small ways, as it grows, that influence will be more significant and far-reaching. The league provides a place for regional international players to gain competitive consistent experience while developing their technique. CONCACAF is already a dominant international force, but with training and paid contracts at a living wage, the support will invariably lift these national teams to a new level. This impact will not be immediate but it will take several years to see it pan out. Perhaps during WWC 2031, we will hear announcers comment about CONCACAF players, “she plays on USL Super League club…”

- Danielle Gawronski