# Can the United States win the World Cup? **URL:** \ **Category:** The Game Room\ **Created:** [June 10, 2010, 9:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-the-united-states-win-the-world-cup/542708 "2010-06-10T21:49:37Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 11\ **Page:** 5
**Author:** ![Gangster\_Octopus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/a8b319/32.png) [@Gangster\_Octopus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gangster_Octopus)\ **Post date:** [June 14, 2010, 5:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-the-united-states-win-the-world-cup/542708/81 "2010-06-14T17:04:41Z")
Well I do know that the US is the last team to beat Spain, and that victory came on the heels of something like a 45 game undefeated streak for Spain. Oh yeah, they almost beat Brazil too in that same tournament. ---
**Author:** ![Gukumatz](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/74df32/32.png) [@Gukumatz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gukumatz)\ **Post date:** [June 14, 2010, 5:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-the-united-states-win-the-world-cup/542708/82 "2010-06-14T17:05:36Z")
> [@Snarky\_Kong](#): > > Thinking the US have an easy route (they do) and thinking they have no business being there (they do) are completely different things. So much so as to be completely unrelated. > > You’re holding games from 1990 against them. You’re holding a loss against another WC team (from UEFA! OMG!!!), using their B team, against them. > > Plus Howard is one of the best keepers in the world, and Donovan was one of the top players for Everton when he was on loan there. During that time they were basically the best team in the EPL. > > **So, basically you’re full of shit.** Bolding mine. **Moderator’s Note:** **Snarky\_Kong** , the last part there is way out of line for the Game Room. Do not do this again - take it to the Pit if you have to. This isn’t a formal Warning, just a friendly reminder to keep your eyes on the forum header. 🙂 Cheers, Gukumatz Game Room Moderator ---
**Author:** ![Jas09](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/d07c76/32.png) [@Jas09](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jas09)\ **Post date:** [June 14, 2010, 5:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-the-united-states-win-the-world-cup/542708/83 "2010-06-14T17:18:09Z")
> [@Alka\_Seltzer](#): > > Howard is a decent keeper, but not top class. In his time at Manchester United, he struggled and lost his place a couple times to the distinctly average Roy Caroll, before being replaced by Edwin van der Sar. But, fortunately, he’s a fair sight better than Robert Green… 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![bucketybuck](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/898d66/32.png) [@bucketybuck](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bucketybuck)\ **Post date:** [June 14, 2010, 6:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-the-united-states-win-the-world-cup/542708/84 "2010-06-14T18:03:56Z")
> [@Snarky\_Kong](#): > > Plus Howard is one of the best keepers in the world, and Donovan was one of the top players for Everton when he was on loan there. During that time they were basically the best team in the EPL. > > So, basically you’re full of shit. You were doing alright until this bit… ---
**Author:** ![Yookeroo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/yookeroo/32/323_2.png) [@Yookeroo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Yookeroo)\ **Post date:** [June 15, 2010, 4:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-the-united-states-win-the-world-cup/542708/85 "2010-06-15T04:07:14Z")
> [@Snarky\_Kong](#): > > The team would be exactly the same. > > No women would even be close to making the bench for the u-17 team. The full women’s national team regularly plays 12 year old kids to even matches. Athleticism matters. A lot. True. When my nephew was around that age, he played the full U.S. women’s team. It was an even match (he had the unenviable duty of marking Abby Wambach), ---
**Author:** ![Declan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/ecae2f/32.png) [@Declan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Declan)\ **Post date:** [June 15, 2010, 6:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-the-united-states-win-the-world-cup/542708/86 "2010-06-15T06:16:25Z")
> [@candide](#): > > A United States win would accelerate the maturation of Major League Soccer. That would be to the detriment of European football. Everton and Wolverhampton and Stoke City and Queen’s Park Rangers, which make their bones bouncing from the Premiere to the First league all of a sudden, wouldn’t hold the cachet they once did. By chance would it also cause no end of grief for FIFA itself, if say the American Cardinals held enough leverage to tell Rome to go frak itself, so to speak. Declan ---
**Author:** ![Erdosain](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/erdosain/32/7284_2.png) [@Erdosain](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Erdosain)\ **Post date:** [June 15, 2010, 6:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-the-united-states-win-the-world-cup/542708/87 "2010-06-15T06:48:09Z")
> [@Svejk\_1](#): > > If there were a worldwide qualification for the World Cup, a number of countries that are now in there would never ever qualify in a million years. North Korea and New Zealand are cases in point, and the US, I think, also really benefits from its light road to the World Cup. At the same time, a number of countries are not there now that should have been there, such as Croatia, Russia, Ukraine, etc., if the alternative is North Korea. I see there’s a certain merit both in terms of spreading the game as well as in making more money that comes with doing it this way, but personally I’d prefer a two-tier system like they have it in hockey, with A and B countries. This could also reduce the number of senseless qualification matches against countries like San Marino, Andorra, the Faeroer Islands, or Liechtenstein. We already have the Euro competition every four years. What you’re proposing to do is basically turn the World Cup into Euro + Brazil and Argentina, and sometimes Mexico and the US. That would determine the best national team on the planet, but it wouldn’t be a World Cup. Europe has 13/32 slots this year. I guess we could poach one each from Asia, Africa, and Concacaf, but I think it makes the international flavor of the tournament suffer. Where I do agree with you, wholeheartedly, is that the US would be much better served by having a stiffer qualification test. Mexico is the only real test on schedule. However, as you note, even Euro powerhouses regularly have to beat the stuffing out of the Faroe Islanders and San Marinese just to qualify. Are you SURE this all isn’t about the Czechs missing qualification? 😉 ---
**Author:** ![Snarky\_Kong](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a183cd/32.png) [@Snarky\_Kong](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Snarky_Kong)\ **Post date:** [June 15, 2010, 10:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-the-united-states-win-the-world-cup/542708/88 "2010-06-15T10:40:12Z")
> [@Alka\_Seltzer](#): > > Everton had a very good run of form around that time, but in no sense could be described as the best team in the league. They finished 8th. While Donovan did very well at Everton, it’s ridiculous to say his presence made them the best team, he is no Messi. The return to fitness of their best player, Mikel Arteta, also had a lot to do with their good form. > > Howard is a decent keeper, but not top class. In his time at Manchester United, he struggled and lost his place a couple times to the distinctly average Roy Caroll, before being replaced by Edwin van der Sar. I never said they were the best in the league. Amazing how many people here misread that. Or chose not to read it correctly. Just during that stretch. They were 6-1-2 (W-T-L) with wins against ManU, Chelsea, and Man City and a draw against Arsenal away. Lost away to Liverpool and Tottenham. Now, that record, against those teams, might not translate to finishing top of the table, but it wouldn’t be far off. Yes, Arteta was a large part of it, but Donovan was too. He was Everton’s player of the month, and regularly abused Ashley Cole before Cole was injured. Howard absolutely is top class. He lost his place at ManU like 5 years ago after one howler. Van der Sar is great, so being behind him is no mark against Howard. While he was at ManU, he was also voted EPL keeper of the year, so there is that. Holding his ManU days against him is like saying Donovan is crap because he didn’t make the squad for Bayer Leverkusen back in the day. Now, you can always define top class however you want to specifically exclude anybody but a world best XI, but I’d think that two of the better players on a top 8 EPL (5th, 5th, and 6th the 3 previous years) qualify. ---
**Author:** ![Gyrate](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gyrate/32/3588_2.png) [@Gyrate](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gyrate)\ **Post date:** [June 15, 2010, 11:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-the-united-states-win-the-world-cup/542708/89 "2010-06-15T11:27:19Z")
> [@Jas09](#): > > But, fortunately, he’s a fair sight better than Robert Green… 🙂 Ouch. 😃 Having watched that game, I have to say that I don’t rate the US team’s chances very highly. They play a good game but even England, who are their own worst enemies, managed to get control the ball much more often than the US, and the one goal was indeed a goalkeeping fluke. If both the US and England raise their game (as I think they can) they’ll make it to the next round past Slovenia and Algeria but unless they get lucky I don’t see them getting any further. ---
**Author:** ![ivan\_astikov](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/58f4c7/32.png) [@ivan\_astikov](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ivan_astikov)\ **Post date:** [June 15, 2010, 12:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-the-united-states-win-the-world-cup/542708/90 "2010-06-15T12:19:18Z")
I had to laugh out walking the dogs yesterday. On Saturday, prior to the USA v England game, one of the gardens we passed on our route had 3 flagpoles with a Union Jack, the flag of St.George and the Stars and Stripes on them. Sunday, it was pouring down with rain, so we only went on the short route, but when we went past the garden yesterday, the Stars and Stripes flagpole had been snapped in half. “There goes the Special Relationship!”, I thought. Hey, it amused me. ---
**Author:** ![Thing\_Fish](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/ecb155/32.png) [@Thing\_Fish](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Thing_Fish)\ **Post date:** [June 17, 2010, 10:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-the-united-states-win-the-world-cup/542708/91 "2010-06-17T22:47:51Z")
> [@TimCereja](#): > > 1994 was the first World Cup for which the US had qualified since I believe 1950, and they haven’t missed one since. The US team is now considered a good one by international standards, but not elite … Nitpick: Actually the US has qualified for every World Cup since _1990_ (and IIRC that 1990 qualification was seen as a huge upset). In 1994 we “qualified” by virtue of being chosen to host. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-the-united-states-win-the-world-cup/542708.md?page=4)