United States

The United States is the most successful men's national team in CONCACAF, with seven Gold Cup titles and two Nations League crowns. The Americans reached the World Cup semi-finals in 1930 and the quarter-finals in 2002, and hosted the tournament in 1994. They missed the 2018 finals but returned in 2022 and will co-host the 2026 World Cup with Canada and Mexico. The team is widely known as the USMNT or the Stars and Stripes.

History

Early years

The United States Soccer Federation was founded in 1913 and joined FIFA the same year. The national team played at the inaugural World Cup in Uruguay in 1930, where it reached the semi-finals and finished third. Bert Patenaude scored the first hat-trick in World Cup history in a 3-0 win over Paraguay. The Americans also appeared at the 1934 tournament in Italy but were eliminated in the first round after a heavy defeat to the hosts.

At the 1950 World Cup in Brazil, the United States produced one of the greatest shocks in tournament history by beating England 1-0 in Belo Horizonte. The team did not qualify again for a World Cup until 1990, but it remained active in regional competition and helped build the professional structure that later supported Major League Soccer.

1990s breakthrough

After a 40-year absence, the United States returned to the World Cup in Italy in 1990. A young squad lost all three group matches but gained valuable experience on the global stage. Four years later, the country hosted the 1994 World Cup, which set attendance records and raised the profile of football in North America. The hosts advanced from their group and were eliminated by Brazil in the round of 16.

During the same decade, the United States won the inaugural CONCACAF Gold Cup in 1991 and established itself as the region's leading side alongside Mexico.

2002 and the modern era

The 2002 World Cup in Korea and Japan brought the best finish by a United States team in the modern era. After surviving a tough group with Portugal, South Korea and Poland, the Americans beat Mexico 2-0 in the round of 16 before losing 1-0 to Germany in the quarter-finals. Further appearances followed in 2006, 2010 and 2014, with round-of-16 exits in the latter two tournaments.

The team failed to qualify for the 2018 World Cup after a surprising defeat to Trinidad and Tobago on the final day of CONCACAF qualifying. That setback prompted a rebuild that produced a new generation led by Christian Pulisic, Weston McKennie and Tyler Adams. The United States won the inaugural CONCACAF Nations League in 2019-20 and added a second title in 2023-24.

2022 and 2026

At the 2022 World Cup in Qatar, the United States advanced from a group containing England, Iran and Wales before losing 3-1 to the Netherlands in the round of 16. The team will enter the 2026 World Cup as co-host and was drawn in Group D with Paraguay, Australia and Turkey.

FIFA World Cup results

The United States has qualified for twelve World Cups, including the 2026 tournament as co-host (FIFA World Cup qualification not included).

United States performances in the World Cup

Year	Result
2026	Hosts
2022	Round of 16
2018	Not qualified
2014	Round of 16
2010	Round of 16
2006	Group Stage
2002	Quarter-finals
1998	Group Stage
1994	Round of 16
1990	Group Stage
1986	Not qualified
1982	Not qualified
1978	Not qualified
1974	Not qualified
1970	Not qualified
1966	Not qualified
1962	Not qualified
1958	Not qualified
1954	Not qualified
1950	Group Stage
1938	Withdrew
1934	Round of 16
1930	Third place

By Anthony Ingle

References:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_States_men%27s_national_soccer_team
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_States_at_the_FIFA_World_Cup
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_States_at_the_CONCACAF_Gold_Cup