At the 2014 World Cup, the U.S. Men’s National soccer team advanced to the round of 16; the furthest a U.S. Men’s team had gone since a quarterfinal appearance in 2002.

However, in 2018, the U.S. team failed to qualify, following a stunning loss to Trinidad in the final qualifying match.

The eight-year wait to get back to a World Cup is over, as the U.S. men’s team has already qualified to play in the 2022 World Cup, in Qatar later this year. During last week’s World Cup draw, the U.S. was placed in Group B along with England, Iran and either Wales, Scotland or Ukraine. The Americans won’t know their first opponent until June, when Wales faces the winner of Ukraine-Scotland for the final spot in the tournament.

This will be the U.S. team’s 12th appearance in a FIFA World Cup, dating back to the very first in 1930, where the U.S. reached the semi-finals. The U.S. then participated in the 1934 World Cup, but withdrew from the 1938 tournament.

The World Cup wasn’t held again until 1950, due in part to the fact that World War II was being fought. During the 1950 World Cup, in the group play, the U.S. turned one of the biggest upsets in World Cup history by defeating England, 1-0.

The U.S. did not qualify for the World Cup again until 1990. In 1994, the U.S. hosted the World Cup, and during that tournament, I was fortunate to get complimentary tickets to a Round of 16 match in Dallas between Sweden and Saudi Arabia. Sweden won 3-1. That year the U.S. lost to Brazil in the round of sixteen, 1-0.

The American squad qualified for five more consecutive World Cups after 1994, for a total of seven straight appearances, a feat shared with only seven other nations, becoming one of the tournament’s regular competitors and often advancing to the knockout stage. The U.S. reached the quarter-finals of the 2002 World Cup, where Germany eliminated the U.S. on a controversial no-call by the referee. Germany’s Torsten Frings handled the ball in the penalty area to prevent a Gregg Berhalter goal, and the U.S. should have been awarded a penalty kick, however, the referee didn’t call the infraction.

Failing to qualify in 2018, thanks to that stunning loss to Trinidad, was a major setback for the national team, particularly when it had appeared U.S. soccer had taken a significant step forward in the 2014 World Cup, when it advanced out of group play and was narrowly defeated, 2-1, by Belgium in the round of 16.

This year’s team is poised to make a deep run in the World Cup. The U.S. team finished third in CONCACAF qualification with a 7–3–4 record. The team is loaded with young talent and a lot of international competition experience, the U.S. team could easily make it to the quarterfinals once again. Some notable players to watch include, Christian Pulisic, Weston McKennie, and Gio Reyna.

They will play their first game Nov. 21, the opening day of the tournament. After its opener, the U.S. will then play England on Nov. 25, the day after Thanksgiving, and conclude group play against Iran on Nov. 29.

WORLD CUP 2026

In 2026, three North American countries will host the 23rd FIFA World Cup. The tournament will be jointly hosted by 16 cities in the United States, Canada and Mexico.

There will be 60 matches played in the U.S., including the quarterfinals, semi-finals, and the final. Canada and Mexico will each host 10 matches. This will be the first time the tournament will be hosted by three nations, also, this tournament will be the first to include 48 teams, expanded from 32.

I am really looking forward to it, and hoping once again to be able to attend a World Cup match here in the U.S.