USMNT 2025

[ZooCougar]

Not advancing out of CONCACAF, as the behemoth, to the WC is the definition of "suck" Nice dodge there.

Why do soccer fans think they know everything, and love to tell you so?

And you don’t even know what you are saying. In 2006 we didn’t advance out of the Group IN the World Cup. The Group was Italy, Czech Republic and Ghana.

Italy, who is a soccer blue blood has now missed three World Cups in a row. Soccer is hard.

 

[ZooCougar]

So Crocker quit and ran off to Saudi.

He’s the one who brought Berhalter back so good riddance.

 

[pepband99]

And you don’t even know what you are saying. In 2006 we didn’t advance out of the Group IN the World Cup. The Group was Italy, Czech Republic and Ghana.

Italy, who is a soccer blue blood has now missed three World Cups in a row. Soccer is hard.

Was responding to your "when we make it, we advance" bit.

Us not making it out of CONCACAF vs Italy not making it out of Europe is like saying it's the same when UConn and Fairfield don't make the tourney. Come on - you're smarter than this.

 

[SubbaBub]

There is no excuse not advancing. With 48 teams every group has what should be a free win. 8/12 3rd place teams also advance to the round of 32. Absent some weird upsets, if you win your group you most likely get a cupcake in the first knock out game. Truth is the US (16) should expect to win the group because as host, we don't have another top 16 team in it. Paraguay (40), Australia (27), and Turkiye (22). My travel plans also expect them to win the group..

For the US, finish first we play a third place team from Groups B/E/F/I/J, actual match up depends on which groups produce the 3rd place teams but someone like Qatar (55) from Group B or more likely an Austria (24) or Algeria (28) from Group J or a Norway (31) from Group I. In spite of the horror of watching our CBs try to contain Haaland, the US should beat any of these teams.

Finish 2nd and we pair with the 2nd place team in Group G. While ruining my travel plans, other than Belgium (9) should they not win G, Egypt (29), Iran (21), and New Zealand (85) are should win games.

Finish 3rd because we lose again to Turkiye and drop points vs NZ or Paraguay and we end up facing the winner of Group L either England (4) or Croatia (11) in Atlanta or Group A winner Mexico (15) in Mexico City.

If the US makes the round of 16 they will have to beat a better, higher ranked side, but the most likely bracket outcomes are the Group G winner Belgium (9) or the Group H winner Spain (2).

Point is, the US should make the round of 16 unless they finish 3rd. FIFA stacked the bracket to help the US have a chance is they limp into the knockout, but otherwise they should get to the round of 16 then bow out.

 

[gtcam]

Well the "majority" won't watch any. But there will be plenty of people watching regardless of US team.

I might even bet, of those watching in the US, a majority won't be USA fans anyway.

But yes, if US team does better, the viewing numbers will be better. I figure they should be able to get to the round of 16. That's get out of the group and win 1 game. Depends on opponent whether they can get to the Elite Eight. But like I said, getting to a Semi-final....I don't see that.

Elite Eight would be a pipedream yet unrealistic
Sweet 16 cap is best bet

 

[ZooCougar]

There is no excuse not advancing. With 48 teams every group has what should be a free win. 8/12 3rd place teams also advance to the round of 32. Absent some weird upsets, if you win your group you most likely get a cupcake in the first knock out game. Truth is the US (16) should expect to win the group because as host, we don't have another top 16 team in it. Paraguay (40), Australia (27), and Turkiye (22). My travel plans also expect them to win the group..

For the US, finish first we play a third place team from Groups B/E/F/I/J, actual match up depends on which groups produce the 3rd place teams but someone like Qatar (55) from Group B or more likely an Austria (24) or Algeria (28) from Group J or a Norway (31) from Group I. In spite of the horror of watching our CBs try to contain Haaland, the US should beat any of these teams.

Finish 2nd and we pair with the 2nd place team in Group G. While ruining my travel plans, other than Belgium (9) should they not win G, Egypt (29), Iran (21), and New Zealand (85) are should win games.

Finish 3rd because we lose again to Turkiye and drop points vs NZ or Paraguay and we end up facing the winner of Group L either England (4) or Croatia (11) in Atlanta or Group A winner Mexico (15) in Mexico City.

If the US makes the round of 16 they will have to beat a better, higher ranked side, but the most likely bracket outcomes are the Group G winner Belgium (9) or the Group H winner Spain (2).

Point is, the US should make the round of 16 unless they finish 3rd. FIFA stacked the bracket to help the US have a chance is they limp into the knockout, but otherwise they should get to the round of 16 then bow out.

Have to advance. That’s the minimum acceptable performance.

 

[HuskyHawk]

Have to advance. That’s the minimum acceptable performance.

Especially in this new format. Only the dregs won't advance.

 

[Tenspro2002]

Making the 32-team knockout stage is equivalent to just making it at all prior to this.

The expectation, especially at home, isn't just making it out of group stage, it's getting to the round of 16 at least.

 

[SubbaBub]

The US problem is the massive variance in both performances and results. In the past, we could hang and occasionally get a result against all but the absolute top tier sides. We can also lose or drop points against anyone inside the top 40 and regularly again sides in the top 30, which is where most of our matches will be.

Can we lose to Paraguay and Australia, yes but it's not likely. Two draws are certainly in the realm of possibility. We know Turkiye is going to be a tough win. A 2 or 3 pt group finish is the disaster scenario. 4 would likely get us through, but it will likely take 7 to win the group, 6 at the least. Turkiye is much more likely to TCB in it's first two matches and not drop points. We go into that last match trailing 4 points to 6, we aren't winning the group. Trail 3 pts to 6 and we are probably going home.