Nate Worth looks like your typical 16-year-old kid.  

His sleeves tend to furrow like curtains on his arms as he’s yet to completely fill out his 5-foot-8 frame. His face looks as if it has not met a razor in its lifetime. And his hairstyle – a dirty blonde mullet – more than reflects modern high school trends.  

But in truth, Worth couldn’t be more different than your average teen.  

For one, he’s a talented soccer player that plays professionally for FC Tulsa, which is unique for his age to put it lightly. But if you sit down and talk with Worth, you come to realize that talent isn’t the sole reason he’s one of youngest players in USL Championship history. He may look young, but he doesn’t act like it. 

At the age of 16, Worth made the decision to leave his hometown in New Jersey to go across the country to follow his soccer dream in Oklahoma. In doing so, he left family, friends, and the only place he had ever called home behind. 

“I thought it was beneficial for me to make the move, to make the jump, because I wanted to continue playing at that high level in the USL,” said Worth, who made his debut in the Championship as a USL Academy signing for the New York Red Bulls II in 2022 before the club’s move to MLS NEXT Pro this year. 

“The first few weeks were a little tough for me, just because it was my first time moving away from home. So obviously being away from family and all my friends wasn't easy at first. But I started to make friends with all my teammates, and the staff were kind of here to help me. So I'd say it took me a few weeks to get adjusted. But right now I feel like this place is like home.” 

Soon enough, Worth proved that he more than just belonged with higher competition. He excelled as a leader. He went on to captain the Red Bulls’ Under-15 team, and later on, captain the United States national team’s U-15 squad as well.  

“What a captain needs to do is lead by example; if you’re doing the right things, it encourages the other players around you to do the right things.” Worth said about his leadership philosophy. “Communication is [also] a massive tool in any aspect of life, especially on the soccer field. Communicating courage, encouraging your teammates, organizing are massive parts of the game and that makes a good leader on the pitch.” 

At his point in his career, Worth realized that playing professional soccer was more than just an abstract fantasy, it was a career within reach. Even on the precipice of what Worth considered a “blessed opportunity,” he said he knew that his talent could only take him so far. He knew he needed to continue to put the work in and continue to learn. For Worth, that’s the only way a player can continue to ascend on and off the pitch. 

“You can be technical, you can be athletic, but if you're not smart, and you don't learn, then you'll never you never make it to the next level,” said Worth.  

On June 25, 2022 he made his USL Championship debut for the Red Bulls II on the road against El Paso Locomotive FC aged just 15 years, 119 days old. After making seven appearances for the side over the campaign, he found his next stop in the form of FC Tulsa. 

Worth has now called the club home for almost seven months now since signing in March. He’s had a breakout season, making 18 appearances in Black-and-Gold overall while starting the final nine games of the campaign. Reflecting on his decision, Worth said he has no regrets.  

Even though he is the youngest player on the squad, Worth said the players and coaching staff have made him feel right at home. They’ve also helped him learn and continue to develop as a player. 

“There's definitely been a few players that have helped me tremendously,” Worth said. “Some of the captains of the team have really been there for me, put me under their wing [...] As a young player, it's really about using that knowledge that you have in front of you and how you can improve yourself on the field and off the field with the advice that they give.” 

FC Tulsa missed out on the postseason this year, but with Worth in the lineup the club showed progression under first-year Head Coach Blair Gavin. The teenager was one of the key players in the side’s 2-1 victory against 2022 Championship title winner San Antonio FC on September 3, and he then bagged his first professional goal in a season-ending 5-2 win a Hartford Athletic, providing belief in the project being built by Gavin.