U.S. Stalls at World Cup Round of 16 in 8 of 9 Trips as Top Athletes Choose Other Sports
Updated
Updated · Yahoo Sports · Jul 9
U.S. Stalls at World Cup Round of 16 in 8 of 9 Trips as Top Athletes Choose Other Sports
3 articles · Updated · Yahoo Sports · Jul 9
Summary
Eight of nine U.S. World Cup appearances since 1990 have ended by the Round of 16, underscoring how far the men's team remains from true title contention.
The central explanation cited is structural: many of America's biggest, fastest and strongest athletes pursue football, basketball or baseball instead of soccer.
Only 2002 broke that pattern, when the U.S. reached the quarterfinals before a 1-0 loss to Germany in a match still remembered for an uncalled Torsten Frings handball.
That record keeps reviving the same question after each setback: whether the U.S. can ever turn its broad athletic talent base into a genuine World Cup challenge.