 As a youth growing up in the fertile soccer hotbed of St. Louis, McBride played for his parish school team in the competitive Catholic youth leagues before moving on to high school at St. Louis University High.McBride attended St. Louis University from 1963 to 1967 where he played for the school's NCAA soccer team, known as the Billikens.He was selected a first-team All-American in 1964 and 1965.