{"id":13343,"date":"2017-10-12T11:38:50","date_gmt":"2017-10-12T11:38:50","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/associatednews.us\/content\/2017\/10\/12\/how-the-u-s-men-missed-the-world-cup-and-what-it-means-for-soccer-in-america\/"},"modified":"2017-10-12T11:38:50","modified_gmt":"2017-10-12T11:38:50","slug":"how-the-u-s-men-missed-the-world-cup-and-what-it-means-for-soccer-in-america","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/associatednews.us\/content\/how-the-u-s-men-missed-the-world-cup-and-what-it-means-for-soccer-in-america\/","title":{"rendered":"How The U.S. Men Missed The World Cup, And What It Means For Soccer In America"},"content":{"rendered":"

By Tim Webber<\/a><\/span> <\/p>\n

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\n A raucous crowd cheers for Team USA during a Tuesday, July 1, 2014 World Cup soccer match between the U.S. and Belgium at a public viewing party in Detroit, Tuesday, July 1, 2014. For many fans during next year’s U.S.-free World Cup, it’ll be just another day in the office.<\/p>\n

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Paul Sancya\/AP<\/p>\n

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Paul Sancya\/AP<\/p>\n

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On Tuesday, the U.S. Men’s Soccer Team failed to qualify for the World Cup<\/a> for the first time since 1986. The stunning result brings to an end two disappointing years of qualifying matches for the United States, and reactions to those results could significantly change soccer in America.<\/p>\n

World Cup qualifying is split into regions; the U.S. plays in CONCACAF, the soccer body covering North and Central America. Its qualifying tournament often is described as “forgiving<\/a>,” as it stacks the odds heavily in favor of stronger teams, including the U.S. and Mexico. Even after one of the worst qualifying cycles in recent history, ESPN measured the U.S. odds to qualify for next year’s World Cup in Russia at 97 percent<\/a> before Tuesday night.<\/p>\n

But a 2-1 loss to Trinidad and Tobago, combined with upset wins by Honduras and Panama, meant the only scenario that could outright eliminate the U.S. became a reality. Now, the country’s soccer program must figure out how to rebuild and qualify for the World Cup in Qatar \u2014 five long years away.<\/p>\n

The impact of failing to qualify<\/strong><\/p>\n

Financially, U.S. Soccer will miss out on at least $10 million<\/a> in prize money awarded to each country at the World Cup. They’re also likely to lose tens of millions of dollars<\/a> in potential sponsorship deals, merchandise sales and television licenses. U.S. Soccer brought in about $100 million total<\/a> in 2014, the year of the most recent World Cup. That would put a significant dent in the organization’s revenue, and potentially set back the country’s next generation of soccer talent.<\/p>\n