November 6, 2026
Dear Club Presidents, DOCs, and Club Leaders,
I wanted to share some exciting news about the future of soccer in Oregon and across the country.
Following the historic US Youth Soccer (USYS) vote in August to move forward with integration into U.S. Soccer, significant progress has been made toward developing a new organizational structure designed to strengthen and grow the game at every level.
I’m excited to announce that Oregon Youth Soccer Association (OYSA) has been selected as one of the initial 14 State Associations to participate in this initiative, and we have officially signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with U.S. Soccer to begin developing its proposed Local Office model.
This is an important milestone for Oregon soccer and an incredible opportunity to have a meaningful voice in shaping the future of our game, both locally and nationally.
What does this mean for Oregon?
The proposed Local Office model is designed to bring U.S. Soccer’s national resources and expertise together with the local knowledge, relationships, and experience that already exist within our State Associations and clubs.
The goal is to create a stronger, more connected soccer community by:
- Strengthening support for clubs and leagues through improved resources, shared services, and reduced administrative burdens.
- Making soccer more accessible and affordable by addressing participation costs, unnecessary travel, and access to facilities.
- Expanding opportunities for players, coaches, and referees through stronger education and development pathways.
- Bringing additional investment into Oregon through national partnerships, fundraising, and community development.
- Connecting soccer at every level, from grassroots and recreational programs to competitive, adult, and professional opportunities.
Oregon has a wonderfully diverse soccer landscape, and what works in Portland may not always work in Bend, Medford, Pendleton, or along the coast. Having a seat at the table gives us the opportunity to ensure that Oregon’s unique needs and perspectives are represented throughout this process.
What happens next?
Signing the MOU allows OYSA and U.S. Soccer to begin the next phase of detailed planning and collaboration, including discussions around governance, staffing, finances, and future operations.
Importantly, the MOU does not finalize integration, and there are no immediate changes to your club registration, your competitions, your programs, or any of your existing relationships with OYSA. Any formal transition will require additional agreements and approvals.
Over the past two years I’ve had the opportunity to participate in discussions with U.S. Soccer leadership, US Club, ECNL, GA, MLS, and all 53 other State Association executives, and I’m genuinely encouraged by the vision and the collaborative approach being taken. As many of you are aware through our discussions here locally, this has been a long journey to get to this spot. It’s incredibly exciting to be at the point where meaningful, and actionable change begins. There is still plenty of work ahead, but we’re excited to roll up our sleeves and get started!
Additional information
I’ve linked three documents that provide further details about this initiative:
- OYSA Member Update – Details of our MOU with U.S. Soccer
- U.S. Soccer Local Strategy Overview
- U.S. Soccer Local Office FAQs
I encourage you to review these materials and share them with your leadership teams.
Looking ahead
As we move forward, we will continue communicating with our members and providing opportunities for your voices to be heard. This is about building on the tremendous work already happening throughout Oregon, not replacing it.
Ultimately, the success of this initiative won’t be measured simply by a new organizational structure or a different name. It will be measured by whether we make soccer better, more accessible, and more enjoyable for the people who participate in it every day.
That’s what excites me most about this opportunity.
Thank you for your continued leadership, partnership, and commitment to soccer in Oregon. We wouldn’t be in this position without the incredible work you do for your clubs and communities every day.
As always, please reach out with any questions, thoughts, or feedback. I look forward to sharing more as we move into this exciting next chapter together.
Thanks everyone. Let’s get to work.
Simon