U.S. Soccer Introduces R90+ Nationwide to Transform the Referee Development Pathway
New 24-month program gives talented officials access to coaching, mentoring and high-level match environments at no cost, beginning with 60 South Region referees
ATLANTA (October 12, 2026) - U.S. Soccer today announced the national rollout of R90+, a new referee development program designed to change what is possible for officials who have the talent and ambition to reach the next level.
The inaugural U.S. Soccer R90+ cohort brings together 60 officials from 13 State Associations across the South Region. Delivered at no cost to participants, R90+ focuses on four core elements: U.S. Refereeing Way+: technical standards, decision-making and game management; Soccer IQ+: understanding the game, reading context and tactical awareness; Fit for Purpose+: physical preparation, match demands and recovery; Perform+: preparation, mental performance, wellbeing, execution and reflection, all within a 24-month development environment.
For talented referees, the path forward has not always been clear or consistent. Where an official starts can shape what opportunities they have access to, who they learn from and whether they can afford to pursue the next level. R90+ is designed to fundamentally change the standards, structure and investment for the entire referee community.
“Talent is everywhere, opportunity is not,” said Kari Seitz, SVP, Head of Refereeing, U.S. Soccer. “For the first time in this country, we’re bringing together the people, resources and opportunities that can help create a larger, deeper, more talented pool of officials. R90+ is about creating an entirely new way to invest in the complete development of referees so they can see what’s possible and have the support to go after it.”
The South Region is the first of four planned R90+ regions with development opportunities beginning this fall as participants complete onboarding and establish their development plans ahead of MLS NEXT Fest in early December 2026, which will serve as the cohort's first major development opportunity. U.S. Soccer will expand the program nationally to include the Northeast Region (January 2027), West Region (April 2027) and Midwest & Plains Region (June 2027), with approximately 200 officials expected to participate.
The inaugural South Region cohort includes officials from Alabama (5), Arkansas (3), Florida (10), Georgia (7), Kentucky (1), Louisiana (3), Mississippi (2), North Carolina (7), North Texas (6), Oklahoma (4), South Carolina (3), South Texas (6) and Tennessee (3).
U.S. Soccer’s R90+ connects participants with coaches and mentors whose experience spans the highest levels of the game. The coaching team includes U.S. Soccer National Referee Coaches, current and former MLS and NWSL referees and a PRO2 Referee Coach with experience across USL, USL League Two and the FIFA level. The mentoring team are all FIFA officials with experience across MLS, NWSL and USL Championship with appearances that include Concacaf and FIFA tournaments, FIFA U-17 World Cup selection, the 2024 NWSL Championship and the 2025 FIFA U-17 Women's World Cup semifinal.
“I’m excited to be part of U.S. Soccer’s R90+ as a mentor and to have the opportunity to support and guide the next generation of U.S. Soccer referees,” stated Alyssa Pennington, FIFA Referee and R90+ Mentor. “Having experienced the demands of officiating at the highest level, I look forward to sharing what I’ve learned and helping these officials develop and reach their potential.”
U.S. Soccer’s R90+ is an investment in the people who make the game possible. By creating greater access to development, mentorship and meaningful opportunities, U.S. Soccer is working to make the path forward clearer for referees and stronger for the game they serve.
For more information about referee development and opportunities with U.S. Soccer, visit https://www.ussoccer.com/r90plus.