The U.S. has a prominent place in World Cup history.
Team USA was one of 13 nations competing in the first World Cup in 1930 in Uruguay.
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An American side, that featured six British-born starters, was so much bigger than its opponents that the media nicknamed Team USA the “shot putters.” The third goal in the U.S.’ 3-0 opening match victory against Belgium by Bert Patenaude was the first header scored in a World Cup. Team USA goalkeeper Jimmy Douglas also posted the first shutout in World Cup history.
Patenaude also scored the World Cup’s first-ever hat trick four days later in a 3-0 defeat of Paraguay.
Then the inaugural World Cup turned ugly for the Americans.
The U.S. team was steamrolled by Argentina 6-1 in the tournament semifinals, leading Spain’s El Heraldo de Madrid to write in the second half, “the Americans gave the impression of being completely confused by the technique used by the Argentines.”
It wouldn’t be the last time Team USA would look lost in a World Cup knockout phase.
The U.S., winner of its first round group, meets Bosnia and Herzegovina in a Round of 32 match at Santa Clara’s Levi Stadium Wednesday, having won only one knockout round game in its history, and has never knocked off a European side after the group phase.
“To make history is to win a World Cup, it’s not to win three games in a World Cup,” U.S. coach Mauricio Pochettino said, bristling at what he took for criticism after a 3-2 loss to Turkey in the teams’ final group stage match Thursday in which he rested nine starters with a spot in the knockout phase already clinched.
“It’s a little bit petty, no, or thinking in too small terms. You have the chance to make history. What’s the point of winning three matches and miss out on the World Cup?”
Here’s a look at Team USA’s history in the knockout phase in which the Americans are 1-7 and have been outscored a combined 22-7.
1934
The second World Cup, featuring 16 teams, was played under a single elimination phase from the opening round.
The U.S. opened against host Italy before 30,000 fans at Rome’s Stadio Nazionale, including Italian prime minister Benito Mussolini, who was greeted by the Azzuri with an outstretched arm fascist salute before the match’s start. Mussolini was so pleased with Italy’s 7-1 win that he insisted footage from the match be used in propaganda films promoting his fascist regime.
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It would be another 60 years before the Americans appeared again in a World Cup knockout round match.
1994
The first World Cup held in the U.S. smashed tournament revenue and attendance records. The event’s total attendance of 3.6 million remains a World Cup record even though FIFA increased the tournament field from 24 to 32 teams four years later. This World Cup, expanded to 48 teams for the first time, is on track to smash the 1994 mark.
The U.S. was also a success on the pitch, upsetting Colombia, one of the pre-tournament favorites, 2-1 at the Rose Bowl. The Americans drew eventual World Cup champion Brazil in a Round of 16 match at Stanford. Brazil applied relentless pressure to the U.S. despite playing a man down after Leonardo was ejected in the 43rd minute for elbowing U.S. midfielder Tab Ramos in the face. Romario finally scored the match’s only goal in the 72nd minute.
2002
Team USA’s first – and only – knockout win came against CONCACAF rival Mexico in Jeonju, South Korea. The U.S. took the lead after just eight minutes when Claudio Reyna and Josh Wolff set up Brian McBride. Landon Donovan added an insurance goal in the 65th minute.
The loss haunts Mexico to this day, especially then and current El Tri manager Javier Aguirre, who later admitted making tactical mistakes in the 2002 match.
“I’m still paying consequences. On a personal level, it frees you,” Aguirre said of taking responsibility for the mistake. “Holding onto a lie leads nowhere and I still pay the consequences for my error (in 2002).
“It feels bad when you make a mistake. And your country, because of your fault, because it’s yours, is dropped out of a World Cup.”
2010
Ghana took an early lead in a Round of 16 match at Rustenburg with Donovan pulling the U.S. even, converting a penalty kick in the 62nd minute. Asamoah Gyan scored in extra time, and this time the U.S. could not respond.
2014
U.S. goalkeeper Tim Howard was nothing short of brilliant, making a World Cup record 16 saves but it still was enough in a 2-1 loss to Belgium in the Round of 16. Howard was so impressive that he was briefly listed at the U.S. Secretary of State on the office’s Wikipedia page.
2022
The U.S. was one of five sides to make it through the tournament’s group stages undefeated but proved no match for Netherlands in a 3-1 Dutch romp.
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