The United States has fostered the skills of elite women’s soccer players worldwide thanks to fights won for equality in college, professional and national leagues.

A third of World Cup 2023 athletes have played soccer in the United States, or were born here. 

Of the 32 teams that played in the group stage at the global soccer tournament, 27 have players with American ties, including, of course, the U.S. team. In the Round of 16, all but two teams, have players with U.S. experience. Most appeared on rosters in a U.S. college or professional league, according to a USA TODAY analysis. Some teams, like Jamaica, are not a surprise because of their proximity and cultural ties. But players from the opposite side of the globe also have come here for soccer opportunities.

1. America is a country of immigrants. Foreign-born residents and their U.S.-born children account for 27% of the population, according to the U.S. Census Bureau. As a result, some World Cup athletes have dual citizenship in the U.S. and another nation. 
2. Title IX — the law guaranteeing equal opportunities for women in collegiate sports — provides another development opportunity. Some colleges have sought international recruits for their squads. Players with language or cultural ties to the United States might also leverage their abilities to gain an education. But athletes must meet academic admission and visa requirements. Some national and junior national teams discourage collegiate play, however, because of the costs to bring players home for matches.
3. Professional soccer leagues in the U.S. have been crucial to global players in recent decades. Despite the bumpy history of American women’s soccer leagues, they have often drawn top international talent. Early on, the signings, like former Chinese captain Sun Wen, helped draw crowds. In today’s National Women’s Soccer League, the structure means most teams are competitive with one another. In European leagues, it’s common for one or two teams to consistently outclass the others. The U.S. influence has been challenged in recent years as other countries have established professional leagues or increased their investment in them.
4. Three countries funded salaries for some players to compete in the NWSL’s early years. The agreement with the United States, Canada and Mexico helped the league guarantee top-tier players in its first few seasons, supported its financial stability and ensured the three nations’ athletes had competitive development opportunities. The final salary supports from Mexico came in the 2015 season and from the U.S. and Canada in 2021.
5. The U.S. squad’s competitive dominance and successful advocacy for equality has inspired players worldwide. If you want to improve your game, you try to play against the best as often as possible. And members of Team USA have been gracious with their advice to athletes pushing for gender equality in other nations, which has built respect across borders.

WORLD CUP CENTRAL: 2023 Women’s World Cup Live Scores, Schedules, Standings, Bracket and More