The United States of Soccer: From the iconic DaMarcus Beasley to USMNT stalwart Tim Ream – the best players from the Midwest

The world of soccer is so often focused on the glitz of one coast and the grittiness of the other. Meanwhile, so much of American soccer’s top talent has come from the middle. Yes, the stars are in California and few can go toe-to-toe with the New York/New Jersey area as talent producers. As for the heart and soul of American soccer, though? That can be found in the Midwest.

Cities such as St. Louis, Chicago, Columbus and Kansas City have emerged as hotbeds for soccer culture over the last few decades, with a number of U.S. men’s national team legends coming from the region. The list is impressive: DaMarcus Beasley, Tim Ream, Brian McBride, Taylor Twellman, Cobi Jones, Brad Freidel, Alexi Lalas and many more.

Some regions in the U.S. have deeper player pools than others, so who is the best of the best? Which state has been the most fertile ground for developing American soccer talent?

GOAL ranks the top three men’s soccer players from each of the 50 states. Next up, the South.

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