Why Does America Suck at World Cups? 

Get up to 35% off Ekster wallets Black Friday sale when you use my link shop.ekster.com/bmonus or discount code BMONUS

European here. For me, the reason why football is one of the most popular sport in the world is because it's probably one of the sport if not the sport that requires the less equipment to play. All you need is a ball, for 10-20 kids. How many times as a youngster we would use our jacket on the ground to make a makeshift goal post and just play for hours.

USA and England draw, it is now officially Soccball

The biggest problem is that soccer in the US is Pay to Play as you have a better chance at making it by paying to play for clubs than on a school team, unlike basketball and football

This was a breath of fresh air, usually an American trying to explain football is like a 7 year old kid trying to explain quantum mechanics

On the other hand, this world cup is showing that the level of national teams is rising pretty much everywhere. South American and European teams are still considered favorites, but now they struggle more and more against teams from Africa and Asia, whom they'd have just rolled over in the past. And as the level rises pretty much everywhere, even in east Asia, world cups will become less and less predictables and harder.

Never would I have imagined, as a Nigerian, that among the football rivals US had, Ghana was one of them.

I'm honestly shocked that the lackluster recruitment methods of the U.S wasn't mentioned. (College and Academys being a focal point in U.S. meanwhile Messi literally had his first contract on a napkin)

See, the thing with soccer/football here in the US, is that potential stars are required to finish high school before going pro instead of the possibility of going pro and having a licensed educator teach you few times a week

Im from the US and lived in Ghana during the 2010 world cup and all night during the US loss to Ghana our town was going so wildthat we couldn't sleep , the next morning we were gleefully informed dozens of times that the US had been beaten by Ghana

So, as an argentine that lives in the US what I can tell you is that usmnt/mls should push the boundaries and try to compete against Conmebol… that would most definitely raise the bar. Hopefully we’ll see more of that in the future, but the American media needs to also Give more relevance to what happens futbol wise in South America… 9 world cups didn’t happen by chance. Cheers! 🍻

The fact that Soccer isn't more popular here in the states really hurts us. Yes we have a lot of kids who play soccer in their youth, but the boys in particular move on to other, more popular sports. So our best male athletes aren't playing soccer, they're playing football, basketball and/or baseball. I do think that as the game grows here, the men's team will improve. I'm not going to be so bold as to say that they'll win a world cup, but I can see them being in the mix year in and year out in the next decade or two.

Despite tapering off in his final years as coach, Jurgen Klinsmann was probably the best thing to ever happen to the USMNT. He forced the team to face uncomfortable losses against strong opponents instead of staying in the comfort of the weak CONCACAF league while drawing in coaching/playing talent from the best leagues in the world. These hard fought losses eventually turned into hard fought wins. Greg Berhalter, to his credit, has done a great job of taking the talent that Klinsmann was able to scout/develop and hone the team into a sharp sword. However, his ability as a coach off the pitch in developing the team has not translated on the pitch. What the team needs now is a new manager that can maintain the momentum, force the US to play against tough opponents, and employ strategies that work to the team's strength rather than the manager's desires. The one thing the US lacks now-that it has always lacked-is a strong finisher. The game against The Dutch has shown they can be a dominant force against a strong European team, but their inability to finish opportunities has been their downfall at every World Cup since 2002.

i think the result of the upcoming match will be relying on two factors: 1. the moral of the Iranian team 2. the formation or match plan that Iran's coach will choose. im telling you that if Iran wants to play defensive just to get a draw the USA team will actually have a really high chance of winning but if they choose to play like they did against wales then we might see a really interesting match edit: i hate it when im right XD

As a Brazilian I can say that you guys played very well against England I would say even better than England I'm surprised specially with Pulisic very good player

As a brazilian I would like to give you guys an advice for your team stop to be suckers in the world cup you need stop calling our sport soccer and start to call it football. suckers play soccer and winners play football.

The moment you call a sport in which a ball played with the foot "soccer" and one that looks like an egg held in the hand "football" how in all that is sane do you expect to win.😂

The biggest issue for the US to become a good team is lack of competition. CONCACAF is just too weak. It creates this idea that the US team is stronger than what it really is in the world stage, it just backfires badly when they actually have to play in the World Cup, when everything is on the line for the stronger national teams. There should be more tournaments that involved the entire american continent, North, Middle and South. Because then, US would have to go up against Brazil, Argentina and the resto of South America. This would show what their level really is. Because this video ain't wrong. At this time, the World Cup is basically Europe vs. South America. We're like Naruto and Sasuke in an eternal fight hahahahaha

The US is hardly the only country where soccer isn't the biggest sport.

The reason why the US struggles so much are the boundaries to play. As soon as you join a club it becomes super expensive for families and if you look at other countries some of the best players ever had little to no money and could not afford to play in the US

They need to find a proper world-class coach that has experience with winning trophies only then they might become good enough to challenge European or South American Nations.

That go go USA goal was the proudest I've ever been to be American. One of my favorite sport moments ever. Hope this young team has some more magic moments in the future

I'm still not over that miss in extra time against Belgium. Tim Howard deserved so much better from his teammates

The Colonizers vs the Colonized Cup had me ☠☠☠

"USA wins 1-1" is probably the greatest title page in history.

What's holding back the US from being a powerhouse in soccer (football)? Youth development leagues that value profit over developing talent and are actively excluding players from low-income backgrounds. AYSO & USYSA, the two main youth soccer organizations in the US (ironically classified as a non-profits, solely to be tax-exempt), are expensive to join if you don't have stable income, thanks to big annual membership fees and other expenses. If you don't develop under those youth leagues, you aren't going anywhere in US soccer. Pros like Landon Donovan, Alex Morgan, and more have all played for them as kids. Notice how the best players in any sports are often guys and girls that didn't come from affluent backgrounds. LeBron and his mother were homeless at one point, Cristiano Ronaldo grew up in poverty, etc. They often become the best because of the struggle they faced early on. Can't say the same about most of the US soccer players that grew up comfortably and pampered. Orgs like AYSO and USYSA are excluding those impoverished kids so that they can fill their pockets from wealthy parents, and in turn, produces a low-quality product for our national team.

If the US wants to Win a WC sooner they have to open the League and join Copa America, in my oponion, to increase the competition and reality checks between the World Cups. They have to get out the still somewhat US comfort zone. And with the powerful US media on board they could shift the global coverage of copa america into a 1:1 competition with the Euro.

First step to win a world cup: stop calling it soccer

The reaction in the pubs in England was a mix of this is rubbish and we’re basically through to the knockouts now

I'm brazilian and every time we plau USNT is a hard game... I remember 1x0 in 94 world cup and 3x2 in 2009 Confederations Cup final

As a Russian I love you Ghana 🇷🇺❤️🇬🇭

because the whole world loves soccer (i.e. Morocco) and you actually gotta be good to get far in the world cup

As a Ghanaian when you said fk Ghana, I felt that. 😔

You didnt have to do me like that with Guts Theme

Simply put, when a competition doesn’t prioritize height and weight America falls flat

Bro, the answer is because you don't see so much soccer there, which makes it not as competitive as other countries. 💀

“I’m dating a lesbian” that killed me 🤣🤣🤣🤣

My favorite USMNT moment will forever be Tim Howard’s 12 save game.

Greetings from Argentina. Just started watching the start of the MLS Season via Apple TV, and was pleasantly surprised, not only by the quality of the game itself, but by the crowd of roaring fans that would not back down for a second! Incredible atmosphere! World Cup 2026 gonna be lit!!

I really appreciate these videos. I enjoyed the World Cup and have been looking for digestible info about the EPL so I can feed my new soccer addiction. Your videos are helping me learn about the EPL. Hope the RU-vid stops fcking with your channel. I really enjoy it. Looking forward to the next EPL recap video.

As a Browns fan it brings me joy that Paul Brown, Otto Graham and Marion Motley were used as examples for the rise of football in the US :)

4:49 Legend says that usa beating england was so unexpected that when the news got to europe the british actually thought the message had a typo and actually meant england 10-1 usa

well this aged well lol.

that one football kid: i know I KNOW cuz they call it soccer

I'm proud my nation is responsible for as you said "the worst upset in us soccer history"

When we win the World Cup, it will henceforth be known as the Soccer Bowl

I was watching the USA-Belgium game in the stadium of my local club on a big screen, entire stadium filled with black-yellow-red colours and then there was one American fan sitting 3 rows behind me. Will never forget his super loud celebration over a quiet stadium when the USA scored there one and only goal hahaha

The problem with american soccer is in youth development. The laws in US simply do not allow youth development to the degree it’s done in the rest of the world. That initial deficiency carries up all throughout until the senior years. Watch an MLS game and focus on the team organization, then watch a game from one of the top european leagues, and you can easily tell the differnce, the european teams are much more cohesive and work much better together.

I have expressed this comment on other RU-vid channels, but I truly believe that one of the catalysts for increased interest in the global obsession that is football/soccer in the USA is RU-vid itself. There are several great compilation videos of the greatest teams, players and moments that have completely entranced Boomers, Gen X, millennials and drawn them into the game beyond the patriotic moments of USWMNT and/or USMNT. These videos often have Millions of views. Additionally, there are a few RU-vidrs who were primarily American football or NBA fans showing their reactions to CR7 and Messi or even Johan Cruyff and have grown not only in their fandom, but acquired a genuine sophisticated understanding of the game (I am speaking of channels such as Football Iconic, Luke's Sports Academy, Dunson Brothers, Da Bronco, and of course BMOnus) whose videos are funny/entertaining, enthusiastic, and show a heart-warming awe and wonder at the things soccer players can do, and the passionate (yet non-violent) fan-culture which is globally universal (Futbol passion in England, Argentina, Mexico, Turkey, Brazil is the twin to SEC College Football in the American South or the Big Ten in the Midwest) which is infectiously evangelistic in converting hundreds of thousands to the "Beautiful Game." These channels have attracted hundreds of thousands of subscribers. Also, and this may be blasphemy to many millennial anti-establishment types, but independent fan-originated podcasts (the ten or so USMNT focused fanboy video pods on RU-vid) NBC-Peacock, ESPN and Fox Sports increased access to live games, televised coverage, game recaps, match day summaries, podcasts, documentaries and just the better access has made American soccer fandom easy, and not seem so strange, exotic or down-right off-puttingly elitist. I am a futbol/soccer convert (I adopted Newcastle in 2006) from the NFL for the reasons BMOnus stated here and my own reasons (NFL is best when it is more violent, the Oakland now Las Vegas Raiders are a mess) and the heartbreak of being a Newcastle fan during the Mike Astley years has galvanized my allegiance to soccer. Also, Pope Francis is a huge soccer fan and zealot, which as a Catholic convert (and fan of his environmental and people/pastoral concerns) I find endearing and want to support; especially since is not a supporter of one of the big clubs in Argentina, but San Lorenzo FC who have a rabid but disrespected fan base in Buenos Aires. As for this World Cup, as disappointing as the draw against Wales was (especially the second half when stress, conditioning, fearful respect and wrong tactics/player selection had us on the back foot too much), the draw against a star-studded England was inspiring. We have a real chance against Iran and thus to advance to the knockout stage. Advancing to the knockouts sets us up for this extra-young USMNT to be a real threat in 2026. Especially if we have a real striker by then, or if "Triple G" puts Gio Reyna in for more minutes!

The fact ishowspeed did more for FOOTBALL in the Us, shows how wrecked the sport is in the usa

Me as a Ghanaian American love both of my country’s and love watching the rivalry between the two

The talking point about there not being a path to preofessional soccer for American is so true. The pipeline leaves so many prospects forgotten and left behind because so many high level programs do not scout players but instead are just strictly pay to play. American football and basketball friends of mine would talk about how they have coaches from this and that college looking eyeing them at a game or even reaching out to them like how European scouts watch the youth. And the only other route to be noticed is through school but American school systems require students have above like a 3.0 GPA to play sports, and the soccer team doesn’t get study hall and extra resources to help them manage sports and school like other athletes do. It’s honestly very gate kept here, and the sport as a whole is just viewed as a hobby then a “way out” I remember playing club soccer and finding out about the “FC Florida” academy team after being crushed like 5-1 by them and asked some of them how they got in. They all basically said they heard about it and went out of their own way to try out and have to pay to be in the program. It’s all very backwards, and it seems like the MLS focus is more on importing talent than growing their own talent even if they say otherwise, the way forward just isn’t evident enough for normal people or people from small towns or low income families (which is often where you find the prospects with the most drive to reach the top in America)

The craziest thing about Freddy Adu is only 33, shame he was hyped to the moon aged only 14 because he was as a very talented player and had he been allowed to develop naturally he could have been a great

Dude I got some serious laughs out of this one. Comedic timing on point, and as always thanks for the learnings

Gringos call it “soccer” and then proceed to ask why they’re are so bad at it?

Good thing for us is, we actually got 3rd in the inaugural World Cup, only beaten by Argentina, and the champions Uruguay

simple, we have barely enough competition at concacaf, it cost thousands to join an academy and there are just a lot more sport choices

Hearing that "fuck Ghana" fills me with a great sense of Joy as a Ghanaian

Watching this as a Ghanaian and all I can say is this is incredibly hilarious

And then the US follows the 2022 World Cup by crapping the bed at the 2024 CONMEBOL Copa America AS HOST

The colonized vs the colonizers is a underrated quip thrown in there

"Never even gotten close to winning the World Cup." Third place in Uruguay 1930.

As an England fan I love having the us basically be our international rivals now puts a lot more on the line when we play 🤝

I just want to add that while part of the reason the us mens team isnt good is because they had to semi restart in the 70s, part of the reason the uswnt is good is because they were one of the first to start at all after it became socially acceptable for women to play and garnered funding and facilities faster than other countries

It's not that our best athletes play in the NBA and in the NFL , but there are way too many 5'7ft and 6'4 ft athletes chasing hoop and football dreams. Trust me, our soccer talent pool would be on another level with only the point guard talent pool college level exploits.

Born in England and becoming an American citizen, I am proud of both countries. Love this video. Beautiful.

Fun fact, the word soccer originated in England

All I’ll say is a couple years ago I saw a video online from an Atlanta game and the crowd alone let me know that America is a football giant in waiting. You lot are cooking, just give it time.

Largely because….the US doesn’t really play or have a fan base for futbol/soccer, with other sports being much more popular and attracting the best athletes. In the US, soccer is mainly considered a safe sport played primarily by little girls.

Being an european (italian) who watches american sports, it would be cool as hell if north american soccer (MLS and national team) could grow and become popular and successful.

This video should be used as an American's Guide to Soccer. Well done! That first ever loss to Ghana was devastating. We had so much momentum going during that WC. I rejoiced when they finally hired Klinsmann probably 4 years too late and hung onto Bradley 4 years too long but here we are. The improvements in the program are noticeable as other teams take the US seriously now but as you say, we need another Klinsmann-type coach. Someone who understands European soccer and American culture well.

0:39 We won third place in 1930

As an American born Mexican I have decided to switch my allegiance to the US national team as the corruption inside Mexican soccer has left them with zero talent and future prospects

As a Nigerian I agree with the 'f ghana' sentiment, but for a different reason That match against Uruguay broke African hearts

Jesse Marsch from Leeds would be an awesome head coach, bundesliga and premier league experience is exactly the next step for US soccer, keep sending talent abroad and I think we can make it very far

I feel like this is just a stereotype, but still, soccer is so underrated here.

People who call futtie soccer can’t and won’t win anything.

I don’t know why this video made me so emotional but I’m super excited to see where USA men’s soccer’s goes in the next decade.

As someone that has been watching US Soccer (and playing) since the 80s, I just want to say "Thank You, David Beckham". What he did for MLS single handedly changed the future of the sport for US. Next to him, I would say only Klinsman has contributed at that level. His firing was a tragic disservice to all that he did for US Soccer. We're very bless a German and a Brit put several good years and hard work into making US Soccer shine bright.

I think the idea that only European or South American teams can win the World Cup is going to change over the next decade. This World Cup countries like Japan, Senegal, Morocco and Saudi Arabia showed that there really are no favourites in world football anymore. Even Australia gave a good showing this World Cup and the 2026 World Cup should be extremely exciting

America: wins against Nauru. Also the fans: Yeeeeaaaahhh, ‘Muricaaaaa

Hmm think again USA passed the group stage

This was beautiful to watch. Been along for the ride for 20 years and it's been a lot of unmet expectations and unexpected wins since I've started to watch. Im just happy to be here at this point, I hope they win it. They are playing like the old Italians.

First time watching your video and I couldn’t stop cracking up- I’m a fan now😂😂😂😂

As a soccer pioneer since the 1979’s who never played but coached for years and fell in love with the sport Yes I was a successful coach because strategy is similar to basketball . A sport I not only played but coached and reffed from my teenage years. A I worked hard to learn every aspect . My grandson played and one still plays at 29 in a top NYC Amateur league . I watched every World Cup game . I coached from the living room I’m a Messi fan , since his grandparents are from the same Italian region as mine and my mother told me we have relatives in Argentina so I claim him as a distant cousin

There is a whole TV show/Movie here in Serbia about the first world cup where USA got 3rd and Yugoslavia 4th. Its about the Journey to the cup, and how we got 4th because Uruguay cheated us tf out of the win. Now, its not exactly the most historically accurate, but the Match between Yugoslavia and Uruguay is said to be exactly as the show shows. In the show, US and Yugoslavia national teams played agains eachother for the third place in a backyard of a hotel, and i can't remember who won the backyard hotel match. You should give them a watch if you can find them with subtitles, its called "Montevideo, bog te video" (Montevideo, god sees you), "Montevideo, na putu za Montevideo" (Montevideo, on the way to Montevideo) and "Montevideo, vidimo se" (Montevideo, see you). In that order.

Ngl, I didn’t expect the USA to get very far, so the most I asked for was for England to not beat us. And they didn’t, so now I don’t really care about the rest of the games

Insightful Documentary...Big Up!

Ghana is America's Kryptonite

Who is here after the USA is out of the group stage? 🇺🇸

6:00 as a sudamerican, this name for north-american football totally kill me

Basketball courts being smaller can tax your stamina harder, but typically Basketball ball is not played at full throttle like soccer. In indoor soccer fields you go hard for like 10 minutes and then you sub put because of the smaller field.

Tyler Adams is quietly going to become the USA’s goat… yes I’m a Leeds fan

America doesn’t have the youth development for soccer players compared to other countries in US there aren’t enough scouts and the scouts are mostly looking at college/ university players

A Brazillian reminder that US isn't the whole America if aliens don't come here

Football is the most popular sport in the world. It is the obligation of the USA to make long-term sports planning with the aim of reaching a world cup final!

You’re videos are amazing. I am so selfish. I want breakdowns after each game, dammit. You make it so digestible.

Typing this before watching the vid- You guys have the potential to be a fantastic football nation and, if my info is correct (I'm assuming this video will cover it) you're putting more and more money in. It won't be in, say, the next ten years but in a few decades, you could be right up there as consistent contenders. As far as this World Cup goes well.... I'm from Wales and looking at what's left to come in our group, you're in much better shape than we are going forward. 😂😂

The Ghana beef made me laugh so hard

Honestly America should just make Ted Lasso the head coach of the national team at this point.