With a bounty of resources and players, the United States should qualify for every men’s global soccer tournament. No exceptions, no excuses.
It should, though, be expected that U.S. teams, at the bare minimum, advance out of an undaunting region known as Concacaf, which covers North and Central America and the Caribbean. Europe and South America, it is not.
Mexico and the United States begin as favorites at almost every qualifying bash, whether it’s an under-17 scrum or World Cup fight. Yet, as American soccer fans have seen at the three most prominent events, the program continues to stumble.