The United States national football team have a good history in FIFA world cup competitions. They have appeared in the last seven finals tournaments and hosted the 1994 competition.

The team caused an upset in the 2009 confederations cup when they defeated European champions, and future world cup winners, Spain in the semi-final. The United States were narrowly defeated by Brazil in the final.

Before the team’s qualification for the 1990 world cup, the United States had undergone a long absence from the finals tournament. Their last performance, before 1990, was in 1950 when they achieved a surprise 1-0 win over England.

Football has long struggled in the United States due to other sports’ popularity. Baseball is the country’s national sport. American football is the biggest spectator sport. Other sports such as basketball and ice hockey have also always traditionally been superior to football. Golf, tennis and athletics all feature Americans on the world stage.

Football in the United States has been aided by a sort of celebrity culture. Big name footballers such as David Beckham and Thierry Henry have gone to Major League Soccer and helped bring a worldwide profile to the league.

World cup history

1930

Uruguay

The United States national football team featured in the first ever world cup tournament. They progressed with maximum points from their group with two 3-0 wins over Belgium and Paraguay. As there was a limited number of teams in the tournament the next round was the semi-finals. Here they met Argentina and were convincingly beaten 6-1.

1934

Italy

Four years later the format for the World cup had been changed. Now instead of a group stage there was a straight knock-out format. The United States national football team were drawn against Italy and managed to surpass the heavy defeat they suffered four years previous. This time they went down 7-1 and were eliminated. In defence to the United States team Italy did go on to become world champions.

1950

Brazil

Having withdrawn from qualifying in 1938, and the outbreak of World War One, the United States national football team returned for the fourth edition of the tournament, which was held in Brazil. Group stages were back in and the Untied States struggled in theirs, finishing bottom with two losses and one win. Although they did not progress a memorable 1-0 win over England stood out as one of the results of the tournament. It ranked perhaps just behind the hosts being beaten by Uruguay in the final fixture.

1990

Italy

After a 40 year absence from the finals tournament the United States national football team returned in 1990. They may have wished they had stayed away as they opened the group with a 5-1 defeat to Czechoslovakia. The team followed this up with another two defeats to finish bottom with zero points. Perhaps a source of comfort could be the narrow 1-0 defeat to hosts, and eventual third placed, Italy.

1994

United States

The United States national football team played on home soil in 1994, hosting the tournament for the first time. After doubts at their appointment as hosts the nation was vindicated as the average attendances at the tournament are still a record to this day. Not to say the tournament didn’t have its mistakes. Diana Ross’ penalty comes to mind. As for the host they did manage to progress from their group as one of the best third-placed teams, after a win, a draw and a loss. The win came against Colombia and featured the infamous own goal by Andres Escobar, which many believe was the reason for his murder just days later. In the round of sixteen the United States national football team were drawn alongside Brazil and narrowly lost 1-0 to the eventual champions.

1998

France

With the implementation of the MLS in 1996, one of the conditions for their award in 1994, a sign of improvement by the national team may have been expected. Unfortunately if there was such expectation then it did not materialise. The United States national football team finished bottom of their group, suffering three defeats from three games. The most disappointing of which was definitely a 2-1 loss to Iran.

2002

Japan and South Korea

Four years previous there was not much to talk about for the United States national football team. In 2002 however, they opened their tournament with one of the big shocks. A 3-2 win over Portugal, a game where they had actually led 3-0 before half time. A draw with group winners South Korea and a loss to Poland were enough to see them through in second place. In the last sixteen a North American derby was drawn as the United States faced off against Mexico. In an upset it was the United States national football team who progressed to the quarter-finals. Beaten finalists Germany proved too much for the side in a narrow 1-0 defeat but they could be very proud of their overall performance.

2006

Germany

The World cup in 2006 was a poor one for the United States national football team. They lost to both the Czech Republic and Ghana but did manage a 1-1 draw with eventual world champions Italy. The game was eventful for the red cards more than the goals. The United States had two players dismissed after Italy had Daniele De Rossi sent off in the first half. De Rossi actually received a four match ban and only returned as a substitute in the final, scoring one of the penalties.

2010

South Africa

In South Africa the United States national football team topped their qualifications, ahead of favourites England. Two draws and a win in the final game were enough to see both teams through. The side progressed to the last sixteen where they were beaten 2-1 by Ghana after extra time.

2014

Brazil

The world cup in 2014 returned to Brazil for the first time since 1950. Germany became the first European side to win the tournament in South America. The United States national football team were in a group alongside the eventual winners. The side opened their tournament with a 2-1 win over Ghana. A 2-2 draw with Portugal followed and the side lost to Germany in the final game but still progressed. The side came up against Belgium in the last-sixteen, and battled bravely to a 0-0 draw. Belgium took over in extra-time however, and scored twice. The United States rallied towards the end but eventually lost 2-1.

2018

Russia

The United States national football team entered qualifying in the fourth round group stage. They are drawn alongside Trinidad and Tobago, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, and Guatemala.

Get Social

Find more teams

Here