After a tough road to Qatar, the United States will try to quell the naysayers as they take the World Cup stage again for the first time in eight years.
Four years ago, their inability to make the finals led to significant introspection inside the sport’s national governing body, despite the success of the women’s team.
But after a lackluster start to their campaign with draws against El Salvador and Canada, they seemed to exorcise the ghosts of that failed attempt in March by earning one of CONCACAF’s three assured World Cup slots.
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The achievement was met with relief in the US, which is set to host the 2026 finals along with Canada and Mexico.
But if the old saying “You’re only as good as your last performance” is true, the Americans have plenty to worry about.
They failed to record a shot on goal in their penultimate warm-up match, a grim 2-0 defeat by Japan in September.
Days later Saudi Arabia, ranked 51st in the world, held the US to a 0-0 draw as the Americans failed to find their rhythm.
Overall this year against World Cup contenders, the US record is worrying with one win, three draws and three losses.
Coach Gregg Berhalter said his side were moving in the right direction after the Saudi friendly, telling reporters they could be “very dangerous” when they get their confidence up.
“It comes down to a little bit of tightness, a little bit of a lack of confidence and anxiety,” he said.
“Everyone’s fighting for roster spots. And, you know, instead of coming out and really performing like the team we know we are, we lacked a little confidence.”
The US World Cup squad will be announced on November 9.
The heart of the team will be Christian Pulisic, the charismatic forward the US hope will drum up the sport’s popularity among fans usually more concerned with the NFL.
Since he was on the team in 2002, when the US last advanced to the quarterfinals, Berhalter, the 45-year-old manager who was appointed four years prior, is well-versed in the pressures of playing for the national team.
He said, “Confidence is a tough thing. We want them to engage in continuous play with the aggression, passion, and speed that we know they are capable of.
When they take on fifth-ranked England in Group B along with Iran and Wales, the 16th-ranked Americans will need every piece of quality at their disposal.
