ATLANTA (June 2, 2025) — U.S. Soccer today announced the launch of the Safe Soccer Clearance Program, a cornerstone of its new “in service to soccer” strategy and a major advancement in the Federation’s ongoing commitment to foster a safe and inclusive environment at every level of the game.
The Safe Soccer Clearance Program is a comprehensive safeguarding program designed to proactively increase protection for participants—players, coaches, referees and volunteers—while streamlining compliance for the Federation’s member organizations. By establishing a consistent national standard and a “green-light” clearance model, the program will strive to ensure that only individuals who meet stringent safety criteria are cleared to participate in the sport. This marks a shift from a more reactive response structure to a more proactive approach intended to strengthen prevention.
“Safe Soccer Clearance is a step forward in how we will help protect everyone in our game,” said Cindy Parlow Cone, U.S. Soccer President. “By taking a proactive approach to safeguarding, this program helps our members create safe, welcoming environments for every player, coach, and referee. It’s an important part of our commitment to providing the best possible experience for everyone in the sport as we continue to grow the game together.”
Key Features and Benefits:
- Centralized Safeguarding Solution: Combines SafeSport training, safeguarding education, annual contact verification, and a USOPC-compliant background check into a single platform.
- Streamlined User Experience: Seamless single sign-on and integration with major registration systems make access and compliance easier than ever.
- Administrative Ease: Custom dashboards and bulk payment options give organizations real-time oversight and flexibility in managing their participant base.
- Purpose-Built Education: Interactive modules deliver consistent, clear, and engaging safeguarding education to all participants.
- Guided Member Onboarding: A structured onboarding process and comprehensive toolkit support organizations in adopting and promoting the program effectively.
The launch of this program reflects U.S. Soccer’s unwavering commitment to setting new and higher standards in sports safety, ensuring soccer remains a space where all participants feel secure, supported and empowered. Safe Soccer Clearance was developed following extensive beta testing and key stakeholder feedback, and is now live and available for all participants and member organizations nationwide. During beta testing, 60,000 individuals were Safe Soccer Cleared and more than 250,000 completed at least one phase of the program.
How to Get Involved
Individuals interested in becoming Safe Soccer Cleared can get started here.
Organizations ready to adopt the program can access the Administrator Guide for step-by-step setup, including group creation, participant invitations, and compliance monitoring.
About the U.S. Soccer Federation
Founded in 1913, U.S. Soccer, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit, is the official governing body of the sport in the United States. Our vision is clear; we exist in service to soccer. Our ambition, working across the soccer ecosystem, is to ignite a national passion for the game. We believe soccer is more than a sport; it is a force for good. We are focused in three areas: Soccer Everywhere, ensuring everyone, everywhere experiences the joy of soccer; Soccer Success, our 27 National Teams and pro leagues winning on the world stage; and Soccer Investment, maximizing and diversifying investments to sustainably grow the game at all levels. For more information, visit ussoccer.com/ourvision.
