The U.S. is going to the World Cup, now what?

From USA Today:

By MIKE FOSS – September 11, 2013 at 8:42am EDT
733

Yesterday’s big winner: U-S-A!

The United States punched its ticket to the 2014 World Cup with a 2-0 win over Mexico Tuesday night. Sam’s Army did its part by whipping Columbus into a frenzy, selling out Crew Stadium. The U.S. delivered another dos a cero scoreline against a rival that is struggling to hold up their end of the rivalry (Mexico hasn’t scored against the U.S. in 443 minutes). An hour after victory, the U.S. clinched a World Cup berth following Honduras and Panama’s 2-2 draw.

Now what?

This is the seventh consecutive World Cup the U.S. has qualified for. It’s no longer an achievement. We expect to be there, which by the way, is progress unto itself. But now the discussion should be focused on how the U.S. will win a World Cup. What will it take? Since qualifying for the first time in 40 years in 1990, America has added a professional league with 19 teams, an academy system, and thanks to national team manager Jurgen Klinsmann we have a deep, competitive international roster. The mechanics are in place for the U.S. to be a world soccer power.

Seriously, it could happen. In cities like Seattle, there are fans paying to see American soccer (Seattle averages over 42,000 fans per game). But there are also clubs like D.C. United who struggle to bring in a quarter of Seattle’s attendance, and MLS TV ratings are lagging.

It’s simple. If fans want the U.S. to compete for a World Cup or attract the high-profile talent of Europe, they need to support the sport beyond a single qualifier in September against Mexico. It’s time for the casual fan to step up. American soccer can’t continue to be a grassroots movement if it aspires to become an international power. At some point, soccer needs mainstream support.

Will it get it?

Se La Perdio wrote:From USA Today:

By MIKE FOSS – September 11, 2013 at 8:42am EDT
733

Yesterday’s big winner: U-S-A!

The United States punched its ticket to the 2014 World Cup with a 2-0 win over Mexico Tuesday night. Sam’s Army did its part by whipping Columbus into a frenzy, selling out Crew Stadium. The U.S. delivered another dos a cero scoreline against a rival that is struggling to hold up their end of the rivalry (Mexico hasn’t scored against the U.S. in 443 minutes). An hour after victory, the U.S. clinched a World Cup berth following Honduras and Panama’s 2-2 draw.

Now what?

This is the seventh consecutive World Cup the U.S. has qualified for. It’s no longer an achievement. We expect to be there, which by the way, is progress unto itself. But now the discussion should be focused on how the U.S. will win a World Cup. What will it take? Since qualifying for the first time in 40 years in 1990, America has added a professional league with 19 teams, an academy system, and thanks to national team manager Jurgen Klinsmann we have a deep, competitive international roster. The mechanics are in place for the U.S. to be a world soccer power.

Seriously, it could happen. In cities like Seattle, there are fans paying to see American soccer (Seattle averages over 42,000 fans per game). But there are also clubs like D.C. United who struggle to bring in a quarter of Seattle’s attendance, and MLS TV ratings are lagging.

It’s simple. If fans want the U.S. to compete for a World Cup or attract the high-profile talent of Europe, they need to support the sport beyond a single qualifier in September against Mexico. It’s time for the casual fan to step up. American soccer can’t continue to be a grassroots movement if it aspires to become an international power. At some point, soccer needs mainstream support.

Will it get it?

Never gonna happen.

To be honest, I'm bored with watching us play the same weak Concacaf teams every few years for qualification. I know it's impossible because of the different federations but I'd love to see a group of North and South American teams drawn together for qualification kinda like Europe does it.

I usually watch soccer when I cant sleep, a good 10-15 minutes of it and im snoring away. I did that with golf but soccer works its magic.

This is my 2¢ worth: this is how I see it will (future – in the next 15 years or so) happen… Fairytale  
Football (American) will diminish its popularity, due to a numerous medical issues (physical and mental ) that’s going to surround the sport…
There’s still going to be NFL- still way too much $$$ sitting at that table, but Colleges and High Schools will be getting less and less high prospects }}} because parents will start to encourage/ persuade their young athletes away from football…
One of my close friends played HS Football and Basketball, and had a chance to play College football, but declined… He’s in a mid 50’s now, and almost always hurting… He always says: “If he was a parent now, and with all we know about what football does to your body, there’s no way in >H< >E< >double hockey sticks< he would let his kid play football”…
Anyway, more kids will start playing FUTBALL (soccer)…
Also, MLS needs some BIG, BIG Money. I don’t mean where the owner of the team needs to make a profit to be successful, but a Crazy, CRAZY BIG Money- Where $100 million either way would not make him sweat… Owner that says to his wife: “Oh honey, I forgot to tell you, I bought a FUTBALL CLUB yesterday.. Oh, and it has this crazy old Brazilian coach, you gonna love him”…
And that is how it’s going to start…  


That’s how I see it on Peyote Wednesday…
 

vman wrote:This is my 2¢ worth: this is how I see it will (future – in the next 15 years or so) happen…  Fairytale  
Football (American) will diminish its popularity, due to a numerous medical issues (physical and mental )   that’s going to surround the sport…
There’s still going to be NFL- still way too much $$$ sitting at that table, but Colleges and High Schools will be getting less and less high prospects }}} because parents will start to encourage/ persuade their young athletes  away from football…
One of my close friends played HS Football and Basketball, and had a chance to play College football, but declined… He’s in a mid 50’s now, and almost always hurting… He always says: “If he was a parent now, and with all we know about what football does to your body, there’s no way in >H< >E< >double hockey sticks< he would let his kid play football”…    
Anyway, more kids will start playing FUTBALL (soccer)…
Also, MLS needs some BIG, BIG Money. I don’t mean where the owner of the team needs to make a profit to be successful, but a Crazy, CRAZY BIG Money- Where $100 million either way would not make him sweat… Owner that says to his wife: “Oh honey, I forgot to tell you, I bought a FUTBALL CLUB yesterday.. Oh, and it has this crazy old Brazilian coach, you gonna love him”…
And that is how it’s going to start…  


That’s how I see it on Peyote Wednesday…
 

Let me have one of what you're having - it appears to have some awesome effects on your brain! :-)

I think vman was a football (American) player when young.... He is LOCO !!

moveyourfeet wrote:

Hey, I’ve seen a similar thing about Hugh Hefner and few playmates >>> funny – YES... BUT Slice it and/or dice it – FUTBALL is still DA Best… 

murito wrote:I think vman was a football (American) player when young.... He is LOCO !!

Not so much on a “football (American) player when young”, but a futballer- little bit… Plus I always thought that a little PAZZO is a good thing…
And Yes I have a dream – USA in a World Cup Quarter-finals in 2030…
You got to have a dream…  

rdeal486 wrote:

I like to think that KARMA is going to take care of it….