How will the United States fare at the 2022 World Cup? Join @SteTudor123 as he looks at Team USA in his everything you need to know guide ahead of this winter's competition...
United States History at the World Cup
It may surprise that the United States men’s national team (USMNT) participated in the first two World Cup finals, even reaching the semi-finals in 1930, the tournament’s inaugural outing.
As football mushroomed into a global phenomenon, the USA held a significant presence.
Only then, for many different cultural reasons, ‘soccer’ steadily regressed in its popularity, surpassed by baseball and basketball, and dwarfed by American Football and this inevitably had a big impact on their international standing. USMNT only qualified for one World Cup between 1934 and 1990.
For the final time: This is how they stand in World Cup qualification in the Concacaf region. Canada, Mexico & the United States qualify automatically. Costa Rica heads to the playoff. pic.twitter.com/IVfqoY56R7
— Jon Arnold (@ArnoldcommaJon) March 31, 2022
That was in 1950 and at least during that competition USMNT had a moment to savour, a huge upsetting of the football betting as they beat England 1-0 in a group encounter.
The game has become known as the ‘miracle on grass’ and is still considered one of the World Cup’s unlikeliest results.
The formation – and relative success – of the North American Soccer League in the Sixties began a revolution that was three decades in the making, as the game gradually became more professional and subsequently homegrown talent slowly emerged.
An appearance at Italia ’90 was viewed as a novelty but then a hosting of the tournament four years later saw the sport grow in prominence, attracting interest which in turn attracted youngsters with natural ability.
USA ’94 was their second of six consecutive appearances, reaching the quarter-finals in 2002. Currently, USMNT are ranked 15th in the world.
USA Nickname
In the summer of 2014, just prior to their sixth World Cup outing in a row, an ultimately doomed campaign sprang up, demanding that USMNT be given a proper nickname.
Though technically they are referred to as the ‘Stars and Stripes’, in homage to the national flag, in reality, nobody calls them this.
There was a poll, and the winner was the ‘American Dream’. Regrettably, it didn’t take off.
World Cup 2022 Group
England, Wales and Iran make up their opponents in Group B and USMNT will back themselves to progress to the knock-outs, most likely as the runner-up to group favourites England.
They will know what to expect from Wales, a lot of heart and a reliance on some magic from Gareth Bale, while Iran have an array of decent, technical players. But the Americans have the beating of them both.
United States Fixtures:
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United States vs Wales - 21st November 2022
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United States vs England - 25th November 2022
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United States vs Iran - 29th November 2022
USA Kit World Cup 2022
For the first time in international football, Nike have placed their swooshes on the sleeves, rather than the front, and the uproar this prompted at least distracted from the banality of the overall design.
Official USA World Cup kit review 🇺🇸 pic.twitter.com/tdYiVWW6pm
— Jake Barford (@BFordLancer48) September 22, 2022
Bluntly-speaking, it looks like a knock-off training top, found on a market stall.
The tie-dye effect for their away shirt is supposed to celebrate diversity and youth. This of course is laudable, but it also resembles a kit accidentally put in the wash with a stray biro.
Who Is The United States Manager?
With managerial experience in Scandinavia and a five-year stint with Columbus Crew, Gregg Berhalter took the reins in 2018 and has since implemented a pressing and possession mandate that suits his best players, many of whom deploy this philosophy for their club sides.
Should USMNT go deep - and their World Cup odds suggest they might - expect some big clubs to come calling early in 2023.
Best United States Player
The golden boy of American soccer, Christian Pulisic has already amassed 52 international caps and goes into this tournament with the hopes of a vast nation on his shoulders.
The Chelsea star may flatter to deceive too often in the Premier League, but he is pivotal to all that’s good about USMNT.
.@miketirico joins Rebecca Lowe at Philly Fan Fest to talk Chelsea football and what Christian Pulisic means for Americans in the sport. pic.twitter.com/Djd1WqeZRb
— NBC Sports Soccer (@NBCSportsSoccer) October 15, 2022
United States Odds at 2022 World Cup
We’re predicting that USMNT scrape through Group B and exit at the last 16 stage, but first and foremost they have Wales to face in their opening fixture, a tricky test that sees them priced at narrow 29/20 favourites.
A friendly between the sides back in 2020 finished goalless and the smart money is on another tight, low-scoring encounter.
Bet on USA at the 2022 World Cup with 888sport today!
