Hurst, agreed...but by that token, you usually find soccer clubs in your more affluent areas. Having a successful club team requires investment by the players...if nothing else, athletes with leisure time to play soccer, who don't have to get part-time jobs or help working parents take care of little brothers or sisters. Unfortunately, many good athletes in less wealthy areas just don't have the money or time to invest in playing club soccer.

I do agree, though, that with the right opportunities and training, athletes from any area can rise to the top...if some of them can do as well as they do without the advantages of feeder programs, you can imagine what would be possible. I just wish it were easier to provide those opportunities to all of the players who would benefit from them.