The United States men's national soccer team, often referred to as the USMNT, represents the United States of America in international association football (soccer) competitions. It is controlled by the United States Soccer Federation and competes in CONCACAF (the Confederation of North, Central American and Caribbean Association Football). The team is ranked 27th in the world according to the FIFA World Rankings, and 26th in the World Football Elo Ratings. They have appeared in the last six FIFA World Cups and hosted the 1994 edition.
The men's national team competes in the FIFA World Cup and the FIFA Confederations Cup, in addition to the CONCACAF Gold Cup and other competitions by invitation. They achieved a CONCACAF-best when they reached the Semi-final in the 1930 World Cup, finishing 3rd. After qualifying for the 1934 World Cup, and withdrawing in 1938, the next World Cup participation came in the 1950 tournament, causing an upset by beating England 1–0 in their second group match. After 1950, the USA didn't qualify for the World Cup again until 1990.
After the 1990 World Cup, the USA qualified automatically as hosts in the 1994 World Cup, losing to Brazil in the round of sixteen. From then on, the team has qualified for every World Cup since, up to and including the 2010 World Cup. The national team has improved in international level, reaching the finals of the 2009 FIFA Confederations Cup, eliminating top ranked Spain in the semi-finals and narrowly losing to two time champion Brazil 3–2.
Read more about United States Men's National Soccer Team: International Rivalries, Schedule and Recent Results, Coaching Staff, Head Coaches
Famous quotes containing the words united states, united, states, men, national, soccer and/or team:
“We now in the United States have more security guards for the rich than we have police services for the poor districts. If youre looking for personal security, far better to move to the suburbs than to pay taxes in New York.”
—John Kenneth Galbraith (b. 1908)
“The real charm of the United States is that it is the only comic country ever heard of.”
—H.L. (Henry Lewis)
“Maybe we were the blind mechanics of disaster, but you dont pin the guilt on the scientists that easily. You might as well pin it on M motherhood.... Every man who ever worked on this thing told you what would happen. The scientists signed petition after petition, but nobody listened. There was a choice. It was build the bombs and use them, or risk that the United States and the Soviet Union and the rest of us would find some way to go on living.”
—John Paxton (19111985)
“Culture: the cry of men in face of their destiny.”
—Albert Camus (19131960)
“[D]rilling and arming, when carried on on a national scale, excite whole populations to frenzies which end in war.”
—Franklin D. Roosevelt (18821945)
“If we were doing this in the Falklands they would love it. Its part of our heritage. The British have always been fighting wars.”
—British soccer fan. quoted in Independent (London, Dec. 23, 1988)
“Theyre two good old friends of mine. I call them Constitution and The Bill of Rights. A most dependable team for long journeys. Then Ive got another one called Missouri Compromise. And a Supreme Courta fine, dignified horse, though you have to push him on every now and then.”
—Dan Totheroh (18951976)