I wrote a book about the last 40 years of US men’s soccer. Here is what I learned | Leander Schaerlaeckens

The US men’s national team have high expectations at the 2026 World Cup. To me, that signals miraculous progress The mere notion that the United States men’s national team will enter this World Cup with a plausible chance of going on a deep run represents something of a sporting miracle. Consider that after the USMNT placed third at the 1930 World Cup – as one of just 13 countries to turn up, mind you – they were almost totally absent from the global stage for six decades. They kicked around the 1934 edition of the tournament just long enough to get smashed 7-1 by the hosts Italy in the first round. And they were there in 1950, stunning England 1-0 in the group stage, an all-time upset wedged around 3-1 and 5-2 losses to Spain and Chile, respectively. Leander Schaerlaeckens’ book on the United States men’s national soccer team, The Long Game, is out on Tuesday. You can buy it here. He teaches at Marist University. Continue reading...