US national football team

The United States national soccer team represents the United States of America on the international stage, participating in soccer matches and tournaments. The team is considered one of the strongest in the CONCACAF zone, having won the CONCACAF Gold Cup seven times. Only Mexico, with ten victories, has more titles. The team's highest achievement on the global stage was third place at the 1930 World Cup.

In June 2011, the US national team finished second at the CONCACAF Gold Cup, held in the United States. Shortly thereafter, Jürgen Klinsmann was appointed head coach. Under his leadership, the team won the 2013 CONCACAF Gold Cup and qualified for the 2014 World Cup. At the tournament in Brazil, the US was drawn in a group with Ghana (2-1), Portugal (2-2), and Germany (0-1). The team successfully advanced to the round of 16, where they lost 2-1 to Belgium in extra time. Goalkeeper Tim Howard made a record 16 saves in the match.

However, the team struggled in 2018 World Cup qualifying: after losses to Mexico (1-2) and Costa Rica (0-4), the United States fell to last place in the CONCACAF standings. This sparked a wave of criticism against Klinsmann, and on November 21, 2016, he was dismissed as head coach and technical director. The dismissal was also prompted by poor performances at the 2015 CONCACAF Gold Cup and the team's loss to Mexico for a spot in the 2017 Confederations Cup.

Bruce Arena, who succeeded Klinsmann, was unable to turn things around. On October 10, 2017, the team lost 2-1 to Trinidad and Tobago, resulting in the United States failing to qualify for the World Cup for the first time since 1986.