In the two countries there are very contrasting views of how to develop a player. As for the United States many of the kids begin playing many other sports along with soccer and as for Spain it is seen as the contrary where they’re put in a soccer team as a child and they’re propelled into thinking all about the sport 24/7.
As they begin to mature in the United States they are being pushed to be the biggest, fastest, and strongest before technical skills are really being emphasized. As for Spain they’re taught from day 1 with the ball at their feet and the progression of being a athlete will come along with the technical skills in due time.
Also many of the teams in Spain have a professional team connected with their youth teams which propels a certain style of play to be created and the skills to be really honed in on. Yet, in the United States most of the clubs have no connection to a pro team except for the MLS academies and a few USL academies, while most of if not all the teams in Spain somehow one way or another have their academy connected to their 1st team.
differences in youth soccer between countries 