The United States will sit out a World Cup for the first time in 32 years after failing to qualify for next year's tournament. DW analyzes what has gone wrong for the country, which had been making strides forward.
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Shock poured from the United States on Tuesday after the United States failed to get the required point against Trinidad and Tobago to qualify for the World Cup. Reactions from current and former players of the team ranged from speechlessness to outrage as the US failed to reach the tournament for the first time since 1986.
"Every single one of those players — nightmares for the rest of their lives because this is an utter embarrassment with the amount of money that is in Major League Soccer and in this sport," said former US player Taylor Twellman, who is now a pundit on American broadcaster ESPN.
"You can't get a draw, a tie, against Trinidad? You don't deserve to go to the World Cup."
The setback comes as a particular shock given the development of US football over the past few decades. The last time the United States didn't qualify for the World Cup, they lacked a professional soccer league and were relying on amateur players who played for universities. Nowadays, Major League Soccer (MLS) has added teams each of the last few seasons, and many US nationals now earn seven-figure annual salaries in MLS.
So where did it all go wrong? Here are a few reasons why the US missed the boat to Russia.
A bad start got worse
The USMNT's troubles started back at the beginning of the Hexagonal, which is the final qualifying stage in CONCACAF qualifying. They lost to Mexico 2-1 after Rafa Marquez scored just before full time, and then followed up that defeat with a 4-0 loss to Costa Rica.
The two results cost Jürgen Klinsmann his coaching job, and the United States elected to reappoint Bruce Arena, who coached the team between 1998 and 2006. Though the US improved, they still struggled away from home, failing to win any qualifiers played outside the United States. A 4-0 romping of Panama wasn't enough to keep them out of danger, and it all fell apart with Tuesday's loss to Costa Rica.
Of the players who took the field for the United States against Trinidad and Tobago, only Christian Pulisic and Bobby Wood played in a top European League. Defenders Jose Villafana and Gonzalez and forward Paul Arriola are the only players who play in Mexico.
The rest of the players are from Major League Soccer (MLS), the domestic league in the United States and Canada. Having so many MLS players in the squad is not abnormal for the United States – at least 9 players from MLS have made four of the previous five US World Cup squads.
Recently, several of the best American players, such as Michael Bradley and Jozy Altidore, have opted to spend their mid-20s in North America — and earn similar wages — rather than to continue playing in Europe. But the competition in MLS pales in comparison to that of top European leagues. The opposing players, and even teammates, of Bradley and Altidore make a fraction of what they do, and former stars such as David Villa and Bastian Schweinsteiger have come in and dominated the league in their twilight years.
For that reason, several top US players may not have improved as much as they should have and this may have made it difficult for them to bring their best stuff when it is needed most.
No clear development plan
In recent years, many American players have played with relatively successful European clubs. Pulisic and Wood both start fairly consistently in the Bundesliga. DeAndre Yedlin has returned to the English Premier League with Newcastle. Alejandro Bedoya, Clint Dempsey, Michael Bradley and Jozy Altidore also have several years of experience in top European leagues.
But many of these players were not developed in the United States. Some joined an academy team in Europe at a very young age, some moved to Europe right when they turned professional. There are also still many players who became naturalized US citizens so they could play for the United States, but who grew up elsewhere, such as German-born Bundesliga regulars like John Brooks and Fabian Johnson.
Having players with different development backgrounds is not a new phenomenon with the United States. The US's 2010 World Cup squad had players playing in nine different countries, but they still came together and qualified for the knockout stages before losing to Ghana.
"We have some good players coming up," Arena was quoted as saying by American magazine Sports Illustrated. "Nothing has to change."
But as US Soccer has moved from one generation to the next, the lack of a clear developmental strategy, like those employed in Germany or Spain, has left them directionless. Because they weren't developed under one philosophy, it is hard for them to come together once a month and play as a cohesive unit.
That may be the biggest challenge facing Arena and his squad. As they sit and watch the 2018 World Cup in Russia, they have to decide the direction of their team to ensure a 2022 or 2023 ticket to Qatar.
"If this failure doesn't wake up everyone from US Soccer to Major League Soccer … then we are all insane," Twellman said. "If we don't change it, then what are we doing? What's the point?"
World Cup 2018: The teams who have already made it
European heavyweights Germany and Spain booked their passage to Russia 2018 this week but they were far from the first to do so. DW takes a look at all the teams who have qualified so far.
Image: Getty Images/AFP/M.Rojo
Brazil
Brazil have never failed to qualify for a World Cup in 21 attempts and have already secured top spot in South American qualification thanks to Neymar (pictured) and co. They have also won the World Cup five times – more than any other nation - and will be spearheaded by Paris Saint-Germain superstar Neymar as they aim to claim an unprecedented sixth.
Image: Imago/Xinhua
Spain
The 2010 World Cup winners and 2008 and 2012 European Champions booked their ticket to Russia thanks to a 3-0 victory over Albania – and thanks to Macedonia's draw against Italy on Friday. Their nine qualifying games so far have seen them rack up a goal difference of 32. Bayern Munich midfielder Thiago picked up an ankle injury in their latest game but is expected to be a key player next summer.
Image: Getty Images/D. Doyle
France
Euro 2016 finalists France have no shortage of star power and comfortably topped the same Group A that eliminated the Netherlands from the competition. Joachim Löw recently called the French an obvious rival as Germany seek to defend their title. Anyone who remembers Manuel Neuer's 2014 quarterfinal heroics in a 1-0 win would be hard pressed to argue.
Image: picture alliance/AP Photo/M. Euler
Portugal
Despite a rocky road to qualification, Cristiano Ronaldo will go to the ball in Russia. Portugal sealed an automatic spot at Switzerland's expense on Tuesday, beating the Swiss 2-0. Aged 32, it's conceivable that Russia could be Ronaldo's last World Cup, after winning Euro 2016 with his country.
Image: imago/Photosport
Iceland
England's Euro 2016 vanquishers book their spot to a second consecutive major international tournament. So get ready for more viking clapping and cheering from the stands in Russia. Gylfi Sigurdsson, left, remains Iceland's most technically gifted player, but he has a competent crew backing him up. Iceland won Group I outright, leaving Croatia, Ukraine and Turkey in their wake.
Image: picture-alliance/AP/B. Gunnarsson
Serbia
Serbia topped Group D with 21 points, beating Georgia in the decisive final group game to book a World Cup return following their 2010 appearance. This prompted a giant team celebration, and tears from star midfielder Nemanja Matic of Manchester United. The Republic of Ireland missed out by just two points, and will have to face a playoff to reach Russia.
Image: picture-alliance/dpa/AP/D. Vojinovic
Nigeria
The Super Eagles became the first African side to qualify after a strike from Alex Iwobi (pictured) against Zambia on Saturday ensured they topped group B. The Arsenal man is one of six Premier League players in the current squad but, despite winning it in 2013, Nigeria have failed to qualify for the last two African Cup of Nations tournaments. Russia will be their seventh finals appearance.
Image: picture alliance/empics/J. Walton
Japan
Japan qualified for the World Cup in Russia by topping group B in Asia ahead of Saudi Arabia and Australia. It will only be their sixth appearance at the finals where they have never progressed beyond the last 16, going out at that stage in 2002 and 2010. In Shinji Kagawa, Yuya Osako and Yoshinori Muto, there is plenty of Bundesliga interest.
Image: Getty Images/Kaz Photography
Germany
A serene stroll through a straightforward qualifying group capped a strong 2017 for the reigning champions. Wins at the Confederations Cup and under-21 Euros showed the depth in the German game and they will enter the tournament among the favorites once again. Timo Werner looks like the answer to the longstanding striker issue, while there are a wealth of options elsewhere.
Image: imago/ActionPictures
Costa Rica
A dramatic injury time header from Kendall Watson secured a fourth qualification out of the last five for Costa Rica on Saturday. The Central American nation will look back fondly on a pair of convincing wins over the United States of America (4-0 and 2-0) that helped them finish second, behind Mexico. Russia will be their fifth finals appearance, with a quarterfinal in 2014 their best showing.
Image: Imago/Agencia EFE/J. Arguedas
Mexico
Mexico have qualified for their sixteenth World Cup, coming top of the CONCACAF qualification ahead of Costa Rica and the United States. The Mexicans reached the quarter-finals in 1970 and 1986. They are likely to be reliant on former Bayer Leverkusen frontman Chicharito (front), who now plies his goal poaching trade in the Premier League, once again.
Image: Getty Images/AFP/Y. Cortez
Iran
The winners of Asian Group A were the third team to book their ticket to Russia, after Brazil and the hosts. Under the stewardship of former Real Madrid boss Carlos Queiroz (center), the team set a new qualifying record when they went 12 games without conceding a goal before a 2-2 draw against Syria in their final match. It will be their fifth World Cup.
Image: Getty Images/AFP/Jung Yeon-Je
England
Despite an unbeaten record in World Cup qualifiers that stretches back eight years and 38 games, all is not rosy in England’s garden. A woeful Euro 2016, followed by the one game reign of Sam Allardyce has left many disillusioned. But the 1966 winners are there for the a fifth successive tornament and in Marcus Rashford, Harry Kane (pictured) and Raheem Sterling, they have some talented forwards.
Image: picture alliance/empics/PA Wire/D. Klein
Saudi Arabia
A strong home record just about got the Green Falcons through to a fifth World Cup. Despite that, former Argentina coach Edgardo Bauza recently took over from Dutchman Bert van Marwijk just days after their qualification was sealed with a 1-0 home win over Japan. Germany fans will have happy memories of the Saudis at World Cup – they beat them 8-0 in their opening game of the 2002 tournament.
Image: Imago/Kyodo News
Russia
Russia qualified for the tournament automatically as hosts and will making their 11th appearance at a World Cup. They failed to progress from their group during the Confederations Cup in the summer, losing to Portugal and Mexico despite beating New Zealand. Their most recent match saw them defeat South Korea 4-2 in a friendly in Moscow on Saturday.
Image: picture alliance/dpa/S. Fadeichev
South Korea
Another early qualifier, South Korea reached their tenth global showpiece in somewhat underwhelming fashion, with a 0-0 in Uzbekistan. The home semifinalists in 2002 have labored a little in qualifying, losing 3 of their 10 games and scoring just 11 goals. With a largely Asian-based squad, South Korea don’t have the stars of previous years but Tottenham’s Son Heung-min is a threat.
Image: picture-alliance/Yonhap
Belgium
With a wealth of attacking talent including Eden Hazard, Romelu Lukaku, Kevin de Bruyne and Dries Mertens (left), Belgium stormed their way through group G with two games to spare. After making the quarterfinals of the 2014 World Cup – their best ever showing -the Red Devils were disappointing in Euro 2016, tamely exiting to Wales in the last eight. More will be expected in Russia.
Image: Reuters/D. Ruvic
Egypt
Egypt have qualified for the World Cup for the first time since 1990, and they couldn't have left it any later against Congo. The Pharaohs needed victory in Alexandria and an injury-time penalty by Mo Salah was effectively the last kick of the game, ensuring a 2-1 win and triggering wild scenes of celebration on the field and in the country's capital, Cairo.
Image: Reuters/A.A. Dalsh
Poland
Poland sealed their first World Cup spot since 2006 after an early onslaught and a late flurry, with a goal from the impressive Bayern Munich striker Robert Lewandowski, the top European goalscorer in World Cup 2018 qualifying, ensuring a 4-2 home win over Montenegro. Despite the scoreline, the visitors made it a nervy affair having drawn level to 2-2 after being 2-0 down.
"I told the group: Messi did not owe the World Cup to Argentina, but football owed the World Cup to Messi," were the words of Argentina coach Jorge Sampaoli after a Lionel Messi hat-trick against Ecuador - the 44th of his career - ensured Argentina reached the World Cup finals. They made their fans sweat by leaving it to the last game, but the game's showpiece will have its star attraction there.
Image: Getty Images/AFP/J. Ruiz
Panama
Panama are in their first World Cup, qualifying ahead of the USA. After missing out on qualifying for the last World Cup after conceding two goals in stoppage time against the US in 2013, the world's 131st most populous nation was determined not to miss out this time around. Gabriel Torres sealed qualification with an 87th-minute header against Costa Rica, which appeared not to cross the line.
Image: Getty Images/AFP/R. Arangua
Colombia
The star of the last World Cup, James Rodriguez, will get another chance to show his talent on the international stage after Colombia qualified for Russia with a 1-1 draw against Peru, who made the play-offs. Bayern Munich's Rodriguez put Colombia in front in the 56th minute and even a Peru equalizer couldn't deny Colombia their place.
Image: Getty Images/AFP/C. Bouroncle
Uruguay
Uruguay, the first ever hosts and winners of the World Cup, will make their 13th appearance at the event. Luis Suarez scored twice as they sealed automatic qualification with a 4-2 win over Bolivia. Uruguay have been accused of having an ageing team, but coach Oscar Tabarez has successfully integrated some younger players and, as in 2010 and 2014, they will be a team no team wants to face.