Is this the best World Cup you can remember?

@Northwest It is a genuine shame the USA didn't qualify this time. Over the long haul, US soccer is on the up and you are a big second level power now.

@Burnley123 We're just getting started. It's all about youth development. I played Baseball and Basketball. My kids, played soccer. I learned soccer rules, so I could be part of their lives.

Where I live, you have to be on the wait list for youth soccer clubs.

@Northwest I think America could yet be a major power in the global game. It takes time though. Also their is a huge gulf between being a second level power and a first level power. The European game is very strong in this WC.

@Burnley123 In most metropolitan areas, it was initially driven by immigrants. Frankly, initially I could not get what they saw in kicking a little ball around, no one was tackling no one, and some of the kids' games, interfered with college football games.

Once I started getting involved with the kids, I became a fan.

At the national level, we're still not there yet. And yes, I agree, there's a huge difference between first level and second level. Most of our pro clubs are staffed with Europeans and South Americans.

@Northwest Everyone has overseas players thesr days but the point is that the MLS is economically much weaker than the major European leagues. Like ten times weaker. It can improve because your game is developing and America has a huge market. You are also out of the loop in terms of elite youth development compared with other nations. You are getting better in that regard though your huge youth player base may not produce a men's national team better than Belgium.

Second world syndrome is a problem and the likes of Japan are seemingly stuck at that second level. A contenental power with enough money and expertise to be a regional powerhouse but never really challenging the big boys. Europe has the benefit of intense competition between players but also between ideas. Belgium and Croatia have tiny population but world class players because of good youth development and great proximity. Their players get first team football at 19 and are then snapped up by teams in big leagues.

I think you'll qualify for the next WC but your ceiling will be the quarter finals until you produce a great generation of players.

@Burnley123 Let's not forget Women.

The entire world, the US included, got started about the same time, with Women Soccer. So far, there have been 7 Women world cups. The US won three, including the first and last, and are looking good for next year's world cup (I will be attending, because a couple of my players are expected to be on the team).

Interesting thing about Japan, I did not think of it that way.

@Burnley123 Well in fairness our ceiling should be considered the semi-finals for now. I present 1930 as evidence. 😎. And also this travesty courtesy of the English referee in the 2002 quarterfinals. [media=https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=bg3psAYfOv8]

@luckranger71 LOL. I think you mean the 1950 WC, when an amateur USA team beat England in one of the biggest shocks in history.

Yes, the US should have won the 2002 quarter-final and its a game you utterly dominated in open play. The team has never been quite as good since though.

Your game has come a long way and its tough in a place where it has a lot of competition. The point I made to NorthWest though is that there is a big gap between the top-tier and the second tier. Some nations plateau in the second tier; like Colombia, Japan and Mexico.

@Burnley123 I was aware of 1950 😎 but was referring to the U.S. making the semis in the inaugural WC in 1930.