U.S. Men’s National Soccer: History

The game that has captivated the world for decades has finally started to etch a place for itself in the United States’ sports landscape. The U.S. Men’s National Soccer team has developed from an effort to simply to keep the game afloat here in the late ‘80s to an attempt to create a true national power that continuously competes for the World Cup every four years. The team now draws countless fans who rush to the box office for tickets every match.

Soccer had been on the rocks in the mid-80s in the United States after the last outdoor national soccer league folding in 1985. The United States Soccer Federation took the broken, scatter pieces of American soccer and created a surprise hit at the 1990 World Cup with the U.S. Men’s National Soccer team. The team was not even supposed to make the tournament, but a goal in the 35th minute of a qualifying match against Trinidad and Tobago by Paul Caligiuri brought the nation its first World Cup birth in 40 years.

The U.S. Men’s National Soccer team played host to the World Cup in 1994 advanced to the first round. The ultimate international tournament brought the sport to the attention of a public that had spent most of its time interested in baseball, football, and basketball. Attendance at the matches was tremendous, with tickets regularly sold out for many of the games. The next World Cup in 1998 in France, did little to advance the promise of soccer in America.

U.S. Men’s National Soccer: 21st Century

The U.S. Men’s National Soccer Team has had a tough time remaining consistent throughout the 21st century though. They advanced to the quarter finals in the 200 World Cup, but went 0-2-1 in the 2004 Cup, failing to advance to the tournament round despite a high FIFA ranking.

The USSF’s attempt to build a solid foundation of soccer talent has produced its first truly new generation of soccer stars in 2008. The U.S. Men’s National Soccer team is loaded with Freddy Adu, Landon Donovan, Eddie Johnson, and more talent that grew up watching the 1994 World Cup team as children. Tickets to these U.S. Men’s National Soccer matches are at an all time premium and the schedule promise great qualifying games as the U.S. team tries to qualify for its sixth straight World Cup.