The United States men’s soccer team (USMNT) is headed back to the World Cup. Following their catastrophic failure against Trinidad and Tobago that prevented them from qualifying for the 2018 World Cup, there was four years’ worth of concern and stress about the direction of U.S. soccer. Greg Berhalter and his young and talented squad of players were determined to put an end to those worries and reestablish the United States as a force to be reckoned with on the global stage.
This year’s qualifying slate was not without its missteps, and moments of frustration for the fans back at home. But in the end, after a 5-1 trouncing of Panama in Orlando, all the USMNT had to do was avoid a 6-goal loss to Costa Rica in the final qualifying game. A 2-0 loss later, and the job was complete. Despite not finishing with a very impressive showing at the Estadio Nacional De Costa Rica in San Jose, the United States got the job done.
The groups for the World Cup were officially drawn today, and the United States now knows that it will have to play England, Iran, and either Wales, Scotland, or Ukraine. The winner of the final European slot will not be decided until the summer as Ukraine’s semifinal game against Scotland was postponed due to the ongoing war with Russia. The winner of that game will face Wales for a chance to go to the World Cup.
The United States spent four years trying to figure out what went wrong during the qualifying campaign that left them out of the 2018 World Cup. Four years, waiting for an opportunity to avenge their failure. Now a new wait begins…eight months until Qatar. Eight months, until the United States sets foot back on a World Cup pitch in pursuit of the ultimate soccer prize.
David's Sports World 