U.S. Soccer

Claims

---
bcp_version: "2.0.0"
file_type: claims
parent: https://registry.encodedbrands.ai/us-soccer-785/.well-known/brand.md
last_updated: "2026-10-19"
---

# Claims

> **Legal review notice.** Encoded compiled this register from U.S. Soccer's public toolkit PDFs (November 2025) and ussoccer.com pages checked on 2026-10-19. It is not legal advice. No record has U.S. Soccer approval: `brand_approval` is `unreviewed` on the 30 usable records and `unknown` on the 13 `forbidden` records. `permitted` and `conditional` are Encoded's use classifications for reference work, not clearance. Health, comparative and fundraising uses need review by U.S. Soccer or the accountable partner organization.

How to read a record: `permitted` is usable as stated; `conditional` only with its `caveat`; `forbidden` records (`prohibited`, `expired`, `unknown`) are not usable as factual claims. `supported` means Encoded found the `evidence` source on the check date. For impact statements, `supported` means **U.S. Soccer published the statement with that citation**; Encoded did not retrieve or assess the underlying study unless stated. Keep `source_wording` when repeating a claim.

Every record also carries three Encoded fields:

- `register`: the four-way status asked for in the brief.
  - `established`: usable today as worded, with the source and caveat shown.
  - `needs_fresh_check`: the source is time-relative, incomplete (no year, unclosed or conflicting citation) or likely to change. Recheck it, or get the missing detail from U.S. Soccer, before any dated or public use.
  - `expired`: true when published, not true or not current now.
  - `forbidden`: do not state.
- `surface`: `toolkit` means Soccer Forward / Keeping Score of What Matters materials and pages. `federation` means U.S. Soccer corporate, national-team and news pages. A federation fact is not a campaign proof point, and a toolkit impact statement is not a federation position.
- `checked`: the date Encoded last read the source. PDF records also give the PDF's creation date.

| register | count | where |
| --- | --- | --- |
| established | 18 | 9 in `permitted`, 9 in `requires_caveat` |
| needs_fresh_check | 12 | 1 in `permitted`, 11 in `requires_caveat` |
| expired | 4 | `forbidden` |
| forbidden | 9 | `forbidden` (`prohibited` or `unknown`) |

## Permitted

```yaml
permitted:
  - claim: "U.S. Soccer is the governing body of soccer in all its forms in the United States."
    use_status: permitted
    register: established
    surface: "federation"
    checked: "2026-10-19"
    evidence_status: supported
    brand_approval: unreviewed
    tier: core
    source_wording: "As the governing body of soccer in all its forms in the United States, U.S. Soccer has played an integral part in charting the course for the sport in the USA for more than 100 years."
    evidence: "https://www.ussoccer.com/about (checked 2026-10-19)."
    scope: "Federation fact. 'More than 100 years' is U.S. Soccer's wording; no founding year is stated on pages read, so do not supply one."
    valid_from: "2026-10-19"

  - claim: "U.S. Soccer exists in service to soccer; its ambition is to ignite a national passion for soccer, and it believes soccer is a force for good."
    use_status: permitted
    register: established
    surface: "federation"
    checked: "2026-10-19"
    evidence_status: supported
    brand_approval: unreviewed
    tier: core
    source_wording: "U.S. Soccer exists in service to soccer. Our ambition is to ignite a national passion for soccer. We believe soccer is more than a sport, it is a force for good."
    evidence: "https://www.ussoccer.com/about (checked 2026-10-19)."
    scope: "Purpose statement. Quote; do not paraphrase into a mission the page does not state."
    valid_from: "2026-10-19"

  - claim: "U.S. Soccer consists of 119 member organizations across all 50 states and 27 national teams."
    use_status: permitted
    register: needs_fresh_check
    surface: "federation (stated on the Soccer Forward page)"
    checked: "2026-10-19"
    evidence_status: supported
    brand_approval: unreviewed
    tier: default
    source_wording: "U.S. Soccer consists of 119 member organizations across all 50 states, from grassroots to professional leagues, and 27 national teams."
    evidence: "https://www.ussoccer.com/soccer-forward (checked 2026-10-19)."
    scope: "Counts as published on 2026-10-19. Recheck before a dated campaign."
    valid_from: "2026-10-19"

  - claim: "Soccer Forward is U.S. Soccer's initiative to make soccer accessible everywhere for everyone."
    use_status: permitted
    register: established
    surface: "toolkit"
    checked: "2026-10-19"
    evidence_status: supported
    brand_approval: unreviewed
    tier: core
    source_wording: "Soccer Forward is the main driver of U.S. Soccer's generational ambition to make soccer accessible everywhere for everyone in the country by enabling the sport's proven and unparalleled ability to contribute to healthy, educated, equitable, and connected communities."
    evidence: "https://www.ussoccer.com/soccer-forward (checked 2026-10-19). Meta description: 'Soccer Forward, U.S. Soccer's legacy initiative'. Lock-up descriptor: 'A U.S. Soccer Initiative' (LOCKUP p.3)."
    scope: "Describes the initiative. 'Proven and unparalleled' is U.S. Soccer's own wording inside the mission line; do not lift it out as a standalone efficacy claim."
    valid_from: "2026-10-19"

  - claim: "Keeping Score of What Matters is Soccer Forward's campaign giving communities the tools, language and materials to showcase the power of soccer."
    use_status: permitted
    register: established
    surface: "toolkit"
    checked: "2026-10-19"
    evidence_status: supported
    brand_approval: unreviewed
    tier: core
    source_wording: "Soccer Forward's Keeping Score of What Matters campaign gives you the tools, language, and materials to showcase the power of soccer in your community – friendships made, confidence built, dreams inspired, and communities strengthened."
    evidence: "https://www.ussoccer.com/soccer-forward/keeping-score-of-what-matters (checked 2026-10-19)."
    valid_from: "2026-10-19"

  - claim: "Soccer at Schools is a national initiative led by Soccer Forward in partnership with Bank of America."
    use_status: permitted
    register: established
    surface: "toolkit"
    checked: "2026-10-19"
    evidence_status: supported
    brand_approval: unreviewed
    tier: default
    source_wording: "Soccer at Schools is a national initiative led by Soccer Forward in partnership with Bank of America."
    evidence: "https://www.ussoccer.com/soccer-forward/resource-hub (checked 2026-10-19); platform https://socceratschools.ussoccer.com/."
    scope: "Name the sponsor only as stated. Do not describe financial terms."
    valid_from: "2026-10-19"

  - claim: "Soccer Forward Foundation partners with Goal Click on the Keeping Score of What Matters campaign to share first-person stories."
    use_status: permitted
    register: established
    surface: "toolkit"
    checked: "2026-10-19"
    evidence_status: supported
    brand_approval: unreviewed
    tier: default
    source_wording: "Soccer Forward Foundation is proud to partner with Goal Click as part of the Keeping Score of What Matters campaign, sharing first-person stories from across the country of people using soccer as a force for good."
    evidence: "https://www.ussoccer.com/soccer-forward/keeping-score-of-what-matters (checked 2026-10-19)."
    valid_from: "2026-10-19"

  - claim: "Organizations can request a testimonial, a letter of support or advocacy support from Soccer Forward; requests are reviewed on a rolling basis, and U.S. Soccer asks requesters to allow 2–4 weeks for review and next steps."
    use_status: permitted
    register: established
    surface: "toolkit"
    checked: "2026-10-19 (PDF created 2025-11-26)"
    evidence_status: supported
    brand_approval: unreviewed
    tier: default
    source_wording: "Requests are reviewed on a rolling basis. Please allow 2–4 weeks for our team to review your submission and coordinate next steps. In some cases, a consultation may be scheduled to further discuss your initiative before support is provided."
    evidence: "SUPPORT p.1–7 (PDF created 2025-11-26), linked from https://www.ussoccer.com/soccer-forward/keeping-score-of-what-matters-toolkit (checked 2026-10-19)."
    scope: "Support is requested, not automatic. The example testimonials in SUPPORT (River City Soccer Club, Midstate Youth Soccer Association, South County Soccer) are illustrations, not real endorsements."
    valid_from: "2025-11-26"

  - claim: "Toolkit questions and requests for working files or the USSF Unity font go to soccerforward@ussoccer.org."
    use_status: permitted
    register: established
    surface: "toolkit"
    checked: "2026-10-19 (HOWTO PDF, Nov 2025)"
    evidence_status: supported
    brand_approval: unreviewed
    tier: default
    evidence: "HOWTO p.7, p.8, p.20; LOCKUP p.2 (published address)."
    scope: "Do not invent other addresses or phone numbers."
    valid_from: "2025-11-29"

  - claim: "U.S. Soccer administered the launch of the National Women's Soccer League in 2013."
    use_status: permitted
    register: established
    surface: "federation"
    checked: "2026-10-19"
    evidence_status: supported
    brand_approval: unreviewed
    tier: default
    evidence: "https://www.ussoccer.com/about (checked 2026-10-19)."
    scope: "Historical fact only. The same paragraph's salary-subsidy sentence is expired (see forbidden)."
    valid_from: "2026-10-19"
```

## Requires caveat

Impact statements are U.S. Soccer's published proof points for partners to use "as headlines in your creative assets" (IMPACT p.2). Use them with the citation shown, in the audience settings `boundaries.md` allows. HOWTO p.8: "add the source on the bottom right corner … small but legible."

```yaml
requires_caveat:
  - claim: "Soccer can help improve your concentration skills."
    use_status: conditional
    register: established
    surface: "toolkit"
    checked: "2026-10-19 (PDF created 2025-11-26)"
    evidence_status: supported
    brand_approval: unreviewed
    tier: core
    source_wording: "Soccer can help improve your concentration skills"
    caveat: "U.S. Soccer's own campaign example headline (GUIDE p.8; HOWTO p.4–5). IMPACT p.8 supports it only generally ('Soccer's team environment is linked with higher classroom engagement, concentration, and academic performance in children') with no citation. SOCIAL attributes a related point to 'the CDC' with no link. Use as the headline it is; do not add 'CDC says' or a number."
    evidence: "GUIDE p.8; HOWTO p.4–5; IMPACT p.8; SOCIAL p.2–3."
    valid_from: "2025-11-26"

  - claim: "Girls who play sports report 1.5 times higher life satisfaction than non-athletes."
    use_status: conditional
    register: needs_fresh_check
    surface: "toolkit"
    checked: "2026-10-19 (PDF created 2025-11-26)"
    evidence_status: supported
    brand_approval: unreviewed
    tier: default
    source_wording: "1.5x higher life satisfaction for girls who play sports compared to non-athletes (Women's Sports Foundation, 2024)."
    caveat: "It is about girls in sports generally, not soccer. The attribution is unresolved: IMPACT p.3 credits the Women's Sports Foundation (2024); p.4 credits 'Frontier Public Health, 2024' and adds reduced anxiety and depression. Until the user confirms the study, attribute as 'according to U.S. Soccer's Soccer Forward toolkit (citing the Women's Sports Foundation, 2024)' and say 'sports', not 'soccer'. Wellbeing stat: adult-facing placements only."
    evidence: "IMPACT p.3–4 (PDF created 2025-11-26). Underlying study not retrieved by Encoded."
    valid_from: "2025-11-26"

  - claim: "Recreational soccer improves cardiovascular fitness more than continuous running."
    use_status: conditional
    register: established
    surface: "toolkit"
    checked: "2026-10-19 (PDF created 2025-11-26)"
    evidence_status: supported
    brand_approval: unreviewed
    tier: default
    source_wording: "Soccer training produces greater improvements in VO₂max and cardiovascular function than continuous running (Sports Medicine, 2015)."
    caveat: "Cite Sports Medicine (2015). The study population is not stated in IMPACT and Encoded did not retrieve the study, so do not extend it to children or claim it for every player. IMPACT p.4 widens it to 'more effective than running or gym exercise for many groups' — keep 'for many groups' if you use that version. Adult-facing only."
    evidence: "IMPACT p.3–5."
    valid_from: "2025-11-26"

  - claim: "Ten weeks of recreational soccer in overweight adults led to up to 3 kg fat loss and a 13% increase in aerobic capacity."
    use_status: conditional
    register: established
    surface: "toolkit"
    checked: "2026-10-19 (PDF created 2025-11-26)"
    evidence_status: supported
    brand_approval: unreviewed
    tier: default
    source_wording: "10 weeks of recreational soccer in overweight adults led to up to 3 kg fat loss and a 13% increase in aerobic capacity (Scandinavian Journal of Medicine & Science in Sports, 2025)."
    caveat: "Adults with overweight only; 'up to'. Never apply to children and never place where children see it (body stat). Keep 'up to' and the citation."
    evidence: "IMPACT p.3–4."
    valid_from: "2025-11-26"

  - claim: "Soccer participation is linked to lower depression and anxiety among students, and recreational players report fewer depressive symptoms."
    use_status: conditional
    register: established
    surface: "toolkit"
    checked: "2026-10-19 (PDF created 2025-11-26)"
    evidence_status: supported
    brand_approval: unreviewed
    tier: default
    source_wording: "Playing soccer can help you put stress and anxiety on the sidelines. According to Frontiers in Public Health (2024), … recreational soccer players reported fewer depressive symptoms."
    caveat: "Association, not treatment: say 'linked to' or 'can help', never 'treats' or 'prevents'. Journal name is 'Frontiers in Public Health' (IMPACT p.3 misspells it 'Frontier Public Health'). Mental-health stat: adult-facing spaces only; never on field signage or where kids might feel singled out (CTA p.3)."
    evidence: "IMPACT p.3, p.5."
    valid_from: "2025-11-26"

  - claim: "75% of people experiencing homelessness say soccer helped them feel connected and less isolated (Street Soccer USA)."
    use_status: conditional
    register: needs_fresh_check
    surface: "toolkit"
    checked: "2026-10-19 (PDF created 2025-11-26)"
    evidence_status: supported
    brand_approval: unreviewed
    tier: default
    caveat: "IMPACT p.5 gives the source as 'Street Soccer USA' with an unclosed citation and no year. Use only with 'according to Street Soccer USA' and after the user confirms the year; do not generalize to all players. Represent people experiencing homelessness with dignity (SAFE p.3)."
    evidence: "IMPACT p.5."
    valid_from: "2025-11-26"

  - claim: "Playing soccer can improve body composition, blood pressure and cholesterol in kids (American Heart Association, 2018)."
    use_status: conditional
    register: established
    surface: "toolkit"
    checked: "2026-10-19 (PDF created 2025-11-26)"
    evidence_status: supported
    brand_approval: unreviewed
    tier: default
    caveat: "Body and health stat about children: adult-facing materials only (parents, funders, newsletters). Never on youth-facing signage, merch or event displays (HOWTO p.25, p.35, p.47). 'Can improve', not 'will'."
    evidence: "IMPACT p.5."
    valid_from: "2025-11-26"

  - claim: "Playing soccer can lower your risk of type 2 diabetes; playing soccer may reduce insulin resistance in at-risk youth (British Journal of Sports Medicine)."
    use_status: conditional
    register: needs_fresh_check
    surface: "toolkit"
    checked: "2026-10-19 (HOWTO PDF, Nov 2025)"
    evidence_status: supported
    brand_approval: unreviewed
    tier: default
    source_wording: "Playing soccer can lower your risk of type 2 diabetes … According to the British Journal of Sports Medicine, playing soccer may reduce insulin resistance in at-risk youth. By staying active through the game, kids can build healthier habits that protect them from long-term health risks."
    caveat: "From U.S. Soccer's initial-outreach email template (HOWTO p.39), not from the IMPACT list; no year given. Risk reduction, not prevention or treatment: keep 'can lower your risk' / 'may reduce'. The template's section head 'Kick type 2 diabetes' reads as a cure pun — do not reuse it outside that template. Health stat about children: adult-facing email or newsletter only."
    evidence: "HOWTO p.39 (rendered and read by Encoded 2026-10-19). Underlying study not retrieved."
    valid_from: "2025-11-29"

  - claim: "Soccer training is low-cost chronic disease prevention that produces greater cardiovascular function than running alone (Sports Medicine, 2015); soccer can help combat chronic disease risk by reducing blood pressure, cholesterol and body fat (BMJ Open Sport & Exercise Medicine, 2018)."
    use_status: conditional
    register: established
    surface: "toolkit"
    checked: "2026-10-19 (PDF created 2025-11-26)"
    evidence_status: supported
    brand_approval: unreviewed
    tier: default
    source_wording: "Adult soccer training can be good for your blood pressure. According to Sports Medicine (2015), soccer training is low-cost chronic disease prevention that produces greater cardiovascular function than running alone. … Soccer can be a defense for chronic disease risk. BMJ Open Sport & Exercise Medicine (2018) found soccer can help combat chronic disease by reducing blood pressure, cholesterol, and body fat."
    caveat: "Attributed, adult-facing only (IMPACT p.5 frames the first as 'Adult soccer training'). Keep the journal credit and 'can help'; never name a specific disease as prevented or treated. Body stat: never where children see it."
    evidence: "IMPACT p.5."
    valid_from: "2025-11-26"

  - claim: "Soccer contributes to Healthy People 2030 goals around physical activity, mental health and community wellbeing."
    use_status: conditional
    register: established
    surface: "toolkit"
    checked: "2026-10-19 (PDF created 2025-11-26)"
    evidence_status: supported
    brand_approval: unreviewed
    tier: default
    caveat: "IMPACT p.4 credits 'U.S. Department of Health and Human Services' for the Healthy People 2030 goals, not for a finding about soccer. Say soccer 'can contribute to' those goals; do not imply HHS endorses soccer or Soccer Forward."
    evidence: "IMPACT p.4."
    valid_from: "2025-11-26"

  - claim: "Girls in soccer were significantly more likely to describe their lives as meaningful (Women's Sports Foundation survey)."
    use_status: conditional
    register: needs_fresh_check
    surface: "toolkit"
    checked: "2026-10-19 (PDF created 2025-11-26)"
    evidence_status: supported
    brand_approval: unreviewed
    tier: default
    source_wording: "Girls in soccer were significantly more likely to describe their lives as meaningful according to a A Women's Sports Foundation survey."
    caveat: "No year or figure given (IMPACT p.7). Credit the Women's Sports Foundation; no number."
    evidence: "IMPACT p.7."
    valid_from: "2025-11-26"

  - claim: "Community-led pickup leagues such as North Carolina's Street Soccer model have been found to increase community trust."
    use_status: conditional
    register: needs_fresh_check
    surface: "toolkit"
    checked: "2026-10-19 (PDF created 2025-11-26)"
    evidence_status: supported
    brand_approval: unreviewed
    tier: default
    caveat: "No study named or dated (IMPACT p.8). Use qualitatively and attribute to the Street Soccer model as described in U.S. Soccer's toolkit."
    evidence: "IMPACT p.8 (also p.6: 'Some organizations like Street Soccer North Carolina even set up free fields for communities')."
    valid_from: "2025-11-26"

  - claim: "Soccer is a low-cost and accessible sport, and you can play it just about anywhere."
    use_status: conditional
    register: established
    surface: "toolkit"
    checked: "2026-10-19 (PDF created 2025-11-26)"
    evidence_status: supported
    brand_approval: unreviewed
    tier: default
    source_wording: "Soccer is a low-cost and accessible sport, so everyone can play. … You can play soccer just about anywhere."
    caveat: "U.S. Soccer's own framing (IMPACT p.6), uncited. Do not turn 'so everyone can play' into a claim that access is already universal: IMPACT p.7 notes 'demand for more inclusive youth soccer pathways beyond the pay-to-play model'."
    evidence: "IMPACT p.6–7."
    valid_from: "2025-11-26"

  - claim: "Supportive community clubs retain 20% more girls going into high school (Project Play)."
    use_status: conditional
    register: needs_fresh_check
    surface: "toolkit"
    checked: "2026-10-19 (PDF created 2025-11-26)"
    evidence_status: supported
    brand_approval: unreviewed
    tier: default
    source_wording: "Project Play reports supportive community clubs retain 20% more girls going into high school."
    caveat: "No year given in IMPACT p.7. Credit Project Play; do not claim it as a U.S. Soccer or Soccer Forward result."
    evidence: "IMPACT p.7. Project Play playbooks are linked from the toolkit page."
    valid_from: "2025-11-26"

  - claim: "Soccer athletes had higher graduation rates (National Federation of State High School Associations)."
    use_status: conditional
    register: needs_fresh_check
    surface: "toolkit"
    checked: "2026-10-19 (PDF created 2025-11-26)"
    evidence_status: supported
    brand_approval: unreviewed
    tier: default
    caveat: "No year or figure given in IMPACT p.7. Use only qualitatively with the NFHS credit; do not add a number."
    evidence: "IMPACT p.7."
    valid_from: "2025-11-26"

  - claim: "Youth soccer programs can increase sense of belonging for refugee kids in U.S. immigrant communities (Soccer Without Borders study)."
    use_status: conditional
    register: established
    surface: "toolkit"
    checked: "2026-10-19 (PDF created 2025-11-26)"
    evidence_status: supported
    brand_approval: unreviewed
    tier: default
    caveat: "'Can increase'; credit Soccer Without Borders. Refugee children are a high-risk group under SAFE p.4: no identifying details, consider face and name restrictions."
    evidence: "IMPACT p.6."
    valid_from: "2025-11-26"

  - claim: "Soccer Forward has supported soccer-for-good and community organizations in over half the country."
    use_status: conditional
    register: needs_fresh_check
    surface: "toolkit"
    checked: "2026-10-19"
    evidence_status: supported
    brand_approval: unreviewed
    tier: default
    source_wording: "Soccer Forward has supported soccer-for-good and community organizations in over half the country."
    caveat: "U.S. Soccer's own claim with no stated method or count. Keep the exact wording; do not convert to '25+ states' or a number of organizations."
    evidence: "https://www.ussoccer.com/soccer-forward (checked 2026-10-19)."
    valid_from: "2026-10-19"

  - claim: "This summer, more than 580 Soccer Forward Fests brought the campaign to life in communities across the country."
    use_status: conditional
    register: needs_fresh_check
    surface: "toolkit"
    checked: "2026-10-19"
    evidence_status: supported
    brand_approval: unreviewed
    tier: default
    source_wording: "This summer, more than 580 Soccer Forward Fests brought the campaign to life in communities across the country"
    caveat: "Time-relative ('this summer', page undated; read on 2026-10-19 so taken as summer 2026). Write 'more than 580 Soccer Forward Fests in summer 2026' only after confirming the year with U.S. Soccer; otherwise quote with 'U.S. Soccer reports'."
    evidence: "https://www.ussoccer.com/soccer-forward/keeping-score-of-what-matters (checked 2026-10-19)."
    valid_from: "2026-10-19"

  - claim: "Innovate to Grow grant applications for the 2026–27 cycle are open."
    use_status: conditional
    register: needs_fresh_check
    surface: "toolkit"
    checked: "2026-10-19"
    evidence_status: supported
    brand_approval: unreviewed
    tier: default
    source_wording: "Applications for the 2026–27 grant cycle are now open!"
    caveat: "Time-sensitive; no deadline captured. Recheck the Resource Hub before publishing and link to it rather than restating terms."
    evidence: "https://www.ussoccer.com/soccer-forward/resource-hub (checked 2026-10-19)."
    valid_from: "2026-10-19"

  - claim: "The USWNT has won four FIFA Women's World Cups."
    use_status: conditional
    register: needs_fresh_check
    surface: "federation"
    checked: "2026-10-19"
    evidence_status: supported
    brand_approval: unreviewed
    tier: default
    caveat: "Stated on /about (checked 2026-10-19), a page that also carries outdated text. Recheck before any dated use. Do not repeat the same sentence's Olympic count (see forbidden)."
    evidence: "https://www.ussoccer.com/about (checked 2026-10-19)."
    valid_from: "2026-10-19"
```

## Forbidden

```yaml
forbidden:
  - claim: "Soccer treats, cures or prevents depression, anxiety, obesity, heart disease or any medical condition."
    use_status: prohibited
    register: forbidden
    surface: "toolkit and federation"
    checked: "2026-10-19 (PDF created 2025-11-26)"
    evidence_status: unsupported
    brand_approval: unknown
    tier: core
    evidence: "No source supports treatment or cure. Most IMPACT and SOCIAL lines hedge ('can help', 'linked to', 'has been found to'), but some use stronger wording that must not be generalised: IMPACT p.5 'soccer training is low-cost chronic disease prevention that produces greater cardiovascular function than running alone' (Sports Medicine, 2015) and 'Soccer can be a defense for chronic disease risk' (BMJ Open Sport & Exercise Medicine, 2018); IMPACT p.6 'Adaptive soccer programs … improve … mental health' (uncited). Use those only as the attributed records in requires_caveat (adult-facing), never as 'soccer prevents/treats [named disease]'."

  - claim: "Any impact statement transferred to a different population (e.g. an adult study stated as a result for kids, a girls-in-sports stat stated as a soccer stat)."
    use_status: prohibited
    register: forbidden
    surface: "toolkit"
    checked: "2026-10-19 (PDF created 2025-11-26)"
    evidence_status: unsupported
    brand_approval: unknown
    tier: core
    evidence: "Each IMPACT statement names a population and a source; changing either makes it unsupported."

  - claim: "Adaptive soccer programs improve social integration, physical fitness and mental health for people with disabilities; youth soccer environments foster educational and social skill development for children with disabilities."
    use_status: unknown
    register: forbidden
    surface: "toolkit"
    checked: "2026-10-19 (PDF created 2025-11-26)"
    evidence_status: unknown
    brand_approval: unknown
    tier: default
    evidence: "IMPACT p.6 states both without any citation. Use only as U.S. Soccer's stated view ('U.S. Soccer's Soccer Forward toolkit says…') or with a study the user supplies; never as an independent finding."

  - claim: "Statistics attributed to the CDC about soccer and concentration (e.g. 'The CDC says playing soccer can help improve kids' concentration')."
    use_status: unknown
    register: forbidden
    surface: "toolkit"
    checked: "2026-10-19 (PDF created 2025-11-26)"
    evidence_status: unknown
    brand_approval: unknown
    tier: default
    evidence: "SOCIAL p.2–3 uses these captions with no CDC link; the CDC source was not located in the toolkit. Use the uncited campaign headline instead, or cite a CDC page the user supplies."

  - claim: "There are 265 million soccer players worldwide."
    use_status: expired
    register: expired
    surface: "toolkit"
    checked: "2026-10-19 (PDF created 2025-11-26)"
    evidence_status: supported
    brand_approval: unknown
    tier: default
    evidence: "IMPACT p.6 cites 'FIFA, 2007'. A 2007 count is not a current figure; do not present it as one."

  - claim: "Women's soccer revenue and attendance are hitting record levels (with any specific figure)."
    use_status: unknown
    register: forbidden
    surface: "toolkit"
    checked: "2026-10-19 (PDF created 2025-11-26)"
    evidence_status: unknown
    brand_approval: unknown
    tier: default
    evidence: "IMPACT p.3 cites only 'FIFA reports, UEFA reports' with no figure or date; IMPACT p.7 ('Global reports highlight the economic potential of women's soccer') cites nothing. Qualitative mention needs a current named report."

  - claim: "The USWNT has won four Olympic gold medals."
    use_status: expired
    register: expired
    surface: "federation"
    checked: "2026-10-19"
    evidence_status: supported
    brand_approval: unknown
    tier: default
    evidence: "Stated on https://www.ussoccer.com/about (checked 2026-10-19). The same page also says the USMNT 'played in seven consecutive FIFA World Cups from 1990-2014' and describes a USWNT salary subsidy with the Canadian Soccer Association, both historical. Treat the page's medal count as possibly outdated; recheck the current count on a current U.S. Soccer source before stating any Olympic total."

  - claim: "U.S. Soccer subsidizes the salaries of up to 24 USWNT players."
    use_status: expired
    register: expired
    surface: "federation"
    checked: "2026-10-19"
    evidence_status: supported
    brand_approval: unknown
    tier: default
    evidence: "Historical NWSL-era arrangement described on /about (checked 2026-10-19). Not a current-tense claim."

  - claim: "The FIFA World Cup 2026 is coming to the United States / upcoming."
    use_status: expired
    register: expired
    surface: "federation"
    checked: "2026-10-19"
    evidence_status: supported
    brand_approval: unknown
    tier: default
    evidence: "/soccer-forward still says 'With the FIFA Men's World Cup 2026, Los Angeles 2028, and the FIFA Women's World Cup 2031 all coming to the United States' (checked 2026-10-19). The 2026 tournament was scheduled for 11 June–19 July 2026, so it is not upcoming as of 2026-10-19 (a May 2026 ussoccer.com story refers to Tim Ream captaining the USMNT 'at the FIFA World Cup'). LA 2028 and 2031 may be described as upcoming. No 2026 results are recorded in this package; do not state them."

  - claim: "The Soccer Forward Foundation is a registered charity / 501(c)(3) / the same organization as the U.S. Soccer Foundation."
    use_status: unknown
    register: forbidden
    surface: "toolkit"
    checked: "2026-10-19"
    evidence_status: unknown
    brand_approval: unknown
    tier: core
    evidence: "No page read states Soccer Forward Foundation's legal form or tax status, or mentions 'U.S. Soccer Foundation'. Do not state either. Do not claim donations are tax-deductible."

  - claim: "A named partner organization is endorsed by, an official partner of, or funded by U.S. Soccer or Soccer Forward."
    use_status: prohibited
    register: forbidden
    surface: "toolkit"
    checked: "2026-10-19 (PDF created 2025-11-26)"
    evidence_status: unsupported
    brand_approval: unknown
    tier: core
    evidence: "SUPPORT p.1–7: testimonials, letters and advocacy are issued by Soccer Forward on request. LOCKUP p.3: the co-branded lock-up 'may be used … by those who are not official partners', so using it is not evidence of partnership."

  - claim: "Names, titles or tenure of U.S. Soccer's president, CEO/secretary general or national-team head coaches; current rosters; match results; ticket or Insiders prices."
    use_status: unknown
    register: forbidden
    surface: "federation"
    checked: "2026-10-19"
    evidence_status: unknown
    brand_approval: unknown
    tier: default
    evidence: "Not captured on 2026-10-19 (team hubs render client-side; governance pages list no names in fetched text). Check a current ussoccer.com page and cite it, or use a placeholder."

  - claim: "The photos in the toolkit show a specific team, program, place or named person (e.g. 'the U.S. Power Soccer National Team', 'our amputee team', 'kids at River City FC')."
    use_status: prohibited
    register: forbidden
    surface: "toolkit"
    checked: "2026-10-19"
    evidence_status: unsupported
    brand_approval: unknown
    tier: core
    evidence: "No captions, credits or releases accompany the nine PNGs. See visual.md imagery map."
```

## Impact-statement citation issues (carried from the source read)

These are defects in U.S. Soccer's own IMPACT and SOCIAL PDFs. They are the reason some records above are `needs_fresh_check` or `forbidden`. Do not silently "fix" a citation in creative. Use the attribution shown in the record, or get the correct study from U.S. Soccer.

| # | Where | Issue | Effect here |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| C-1 | IMPACT p.3 vs p.4 | The same 1.5x girls' life-satisfaction stat is credited to the Women's Sports Foundation (2024) on p.3 and to "Frontier Public Health, 2024" on p.4. p.4 also adds anxiety and depression. | needs_fresh_check; attribute via the toolkit |
| C-2 | IMPACT p.3–4 | "Frontier Public Health" is a misspelling of *Frontiers in Public Health* (p.5 spells it correctly). | Use the correct journal name |
| C-3 | IMPACT p.5 | Street Soccer USA 75% stat: the citation parenthesis is unclosed and has no year. | needs_fresh_check |
| C-4 | IMPACT p.5 | Headline "Playing soccer in your community can improve your mental health." has no citation of its own; it sits above the Street Soccer USA line. | Use only with C-3's attribution, adult-facing |
| C-5 | IMPACT p.6 | "265 million players" cites FIFA, 2007. | expired |
| C-6 | IMPACT p.6 | Adaptive-soccer and disability statements are uncited. | forbidden as independent findings |
| C-7 | IMPACT p.7 | "a A Women's Sports Foundation survey": typo, no year, no figure. Project Play 20% and NFHS graduation have no year. | needs_fresh_check |
| C-8 | IMPACT p.8 | Concentration / classroom engagement statement is uncited. The campaign headline "Soccer can help improve your concentration skills" rests on it. | established as U.S. Soccer's headline; add no number or source |
| C-9 | SOCIAL p.2–3 | Three captions credit "the CDC" with no link or page. | CDC attribution forbidden until a CDC page is supplied |
| C-10 | IMPACT p.3, p.7 | Women's soccer revenue and attendance: "FIFA reports, UEFA reports", no figure or date. | forbidden with any figure |
| C-11 | IMPACT p.4 | HHS is credited for the Healthy People 2030 goals, not for a finding about soccer. | Say "can contribute to"; no HHS endorsement |
| C-12 | HOWTO p.39 | British Journal of Sports Medicine insulin-resistance line: no year. Section head "Kick type 2 diabetes" reads as a cure claim. | needs_fresh_check; don't reuse the pun |

## Open gaps

- Underlying studies for every impact statement were not retrieved; Encoded checked only that U.S. Soccer published them with the stated citation.
- The CDC attribution in SOCIAL has no source.
- Current leadership, coaches, Olympic medal count and post-2026 World Cup facts were not verified.
- Soccer Forward Foundation's legal status is unknown.