{"id":13314,"date":"2017-10-11T03:10:00","date_gmt":"2017-10-11T03:10:00","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/associatednews.us\/content\/2017\/10\/11\/u-s-mens-soccer-team-wont-play-in-world-cup-for-first-time-since-1986\/"},"modified":"2017-10-11T03:10:00","modified_gmt":"2017-10-11T03:10:00","slug":"u-s-mens-soccer-team-wont-play-in-world-cup-for-first-time-since-1986","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/associatednews.us\/content\/u-s-mens-soccer-team-wont-play-in-world-cup-for-first-time-since-1986\/","title":{"rendered":"U.S. Men's Soccer Team Won't Play In World Cup For First Time Since 1986"},"content":{"rendered":"

By Christopher Dean Hopkins<\/a><\/span> <\/p>\n

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\n Team USA’s Christian Pulisic is defended by Trinidad and Tobago’s Kevon Villaroel on Tuesday night during their 2018 World Cup qualifier football match in Couva, Trinidad and Tobago. A loss, combined with other results, means the U.S. team will be staying home next year.<\/p>\n

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Luis Acosta\/AFP\/Getty Images<\/p>\n

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Luis Acosta\/AFP\/Getty Images<\/p>\n

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A win or a tie would have done it. Or even one loss or tie by the underdogs in Tuesday night’s other two qualifying games.<\/p>\n

Or beating Honduras a month ago, or beating Panama in March, or not losing both games to Costa Rica.<\/p>\n

A 2-1 loss Tuesday night to Trinidad and Tobago \u2014 the only team below the U.S. soccer team in the standings \u2014 and wins by Honduras and Panama over the qualifying tourney’s best two teams mean the Americans will miss the 2018 World Cup in Russia. They’d played in seven World Cups in a row dating back to 1990.<\/p>\n

The U.S. defense, which has taken much of the blame for the team’s poor performances, had another sloppy night. Trinidad and Tobago’s first goal came when the Americans’ Omar Gonzales shanked his attempt to clear a cross, instead blooping it in over the head of U.S. goalie Tim Howard.<\/p>\n

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??GOOOOAAAAL??
Omar, WYD?! #TRIvsUSA<\/a>pic.twitter.com\/MjV03LIH3y<\/a><\/p>\n

\u2014 beIN SPORTS USA (@beINSPORTSUSA) October 11, 2017<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<\/div>\n

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A long-range goal by Trinidad and Tobago defender Alvin Jones gave the team a 2-0 lead at halftime \u2014 and only Howard’s quick reaction to and pursuit of a later spinning free kick from Jones kept it from being 3-0.<\/p>\n