After the disappointment of missing on the 2018 FIFA World Cup, the USA redeemed themselves a few years later by qualifying for the 2022 tournament in Qatar.
America has seen something of a boom in football over the past few years, with talents from the States being picked up by major European clubs with the likes of Chelsea, Juventus and AC Milan all having regular USA international’s in their matchday squad.
Whilst form heading into Qatar hasn’t been great for the USA, there’s still a hope that Gregg Berhalter’s side could make history for the Stars and Stripes ahead of their return to the World Cup, with their group stage match against England the day after Thanksgiving one of the ties of the early tournament.
Indeed, the USA might not be a footballing powerhouse just yet, but America does have a long and rich history in the competition. And today, HITC Football will look back at their best-ever results in the World Cup ahead of the tournament in Qatar, where the likes of Christian Pulisic, Weston McKennie and Giovanni Reyna will want to make an impact.
USA create history in first-ever World Cup finals
Ask any football fan if they can name the only nation to make it to the semi-finals of a World Cup outside of Europe and South America, and they are unlikely to guess the USA, who to this day still holds the quite incredible record over 90 years since the first competition in Uruguay.
Although America lost the semi-final to Argentina 6-1 and played just two group stage matches prior to their clash, FIFA records still state that the US made it to the final four of the first ever World Cup, with the US even coming away with the third-place medal due to their superior record in the competition to Yugoslavia.
If there was ever an answer to the USA’s best-ever result in the World Cup, we can’t look any further than what the States’ achieved in Uruguay in 1930. However, there are still more impressive accolades to look at as we delve deeper into America’s history on the world’s biggest stage.
England fall to USA in 1950 in biggest World Cup shock ever
The World Cup is the pinnacle of football, and with it comes some of the biggest shock results the sport has ever seen. Whilst there are some good candidates for this title such as Germany’s 7-1 win against Brazil in 2014 or North Korea beating Italy in 1966, many historians credit the USA’s 1-0 result against England as the most surprising of the lot.
Dubbed ‘The Miracle Match’ by author Geoffrey Douglas that was eventually adapted into a film starring Patrick Stewart and Gerard Butler, the USA headed to Brazil in 1950 with a hastily built squad made entirely of bit-part players. Whilst England, competing in their first ever World Cup, were the heavy favourites for the entire tournament, with the Three Lions’ post-war international record the best in the world, at the time.
Despite the incredible odds and an England side featuring the likes of Alf Ramsey, Wolves legend Billy Wright and Preston North End’s best-ever player in Tom Finney, the USA were victors on the day, with Joe Gaetjens, a Haitian-born striker who worked as a pot-washer at the time, scoring the winning goal. Talk about an underdog story.
Ronaldo and company come seconds away from USA defeat
The USA have had some truly incredible performances in the 21st Century in the World Cup. From making it to the quarter-finals of 2002 after beating Mexico to progressing from the group stages in South Africa with a last-second Landon Donavon winner, America have had some sensational moments over the years in sport’s biggest competition.
However, if we had to choose one game that could be considered the USA’s best this in recent years, their 2-2 draw against Portugal in Brazil might take the prize, with Cristiano Ronaldo’s side being battered by Jurgen Klinsmann’s men one of the 2014 World Cup’s best fixtures.
Despite going down early thanks to Nani, the USA thought back from a thunderous hit from Jermaine Jones before Clint Dempsey looked to have claimed the win with nine minutes to go. However, winger Silvestre Varela broke American hearts everywhere with a 95th-minute equaliser. Regardless, the States still progressed, dumping Portugal out in the process.
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