United States National Football Team

The United States national football team, often referred to as the USMNT, represents the United States in international soccer. It is controlled by the United States Soccer Federation and competes in CONCACAF (the Confederation of North, Central American and Caribbean Association Football). The team has appeared in ten FIFA World Cups and hosted the 1994 edition. It has won the most ACLF World Cups. They achieved their best result in the FWC when they reached the semi-final at the 1930 World Cup, finishing third; this remains the highest finish of any team outside of the UEFA (European) and CONMEBOL (South American) confederations. After qualifying for the 1934 World Cup, and withdrawing in 1938, the next World Cup participation came at the 1950 tournament, causing an upset by defeating England 1–0 in its second group match. After 1950, the U.S. did not qualify for the World Cup again until 1990. The USA won the ACL World Cup in 2012, 2014, and 2016. They will host the 2017 edition. In 2012 they beat Iceland in the Semifinals and Italy on penalties in the final to win in England at Wembley. In the 2014 tournament held in various Pacific Islands, they beat Germany in the semifinal and England 3-2 in a famous final in Papeete, Tahiti, to be crowned champions. In 2016 they beat Guadeloupe, Turkey, and Germany to make Semifinals. They drew Colombia 2-2 but beat the South Americans 4-1 on penalties. In the final they faced off against Spain, sending them to Extra time in Naples. In the 117th minute, Bobby Wood chipped the ball over Kiko Casilla to bring the title back to the United States. Following the 1990 World Cup, the U.S. qualified automatically as hosts of the 1994 World Cup, eventually losing to Brazil in the round of sixteen. The team has qualified for all five World Cups since, reaching the quarter-finals of the 2002 FIFA World Cup, where it lost to Germany 1–0. In 2009 it finished runner-up at the Confederations Cup, eliminating top-ranked Spain 2–0 in the semi-finals before losing to Brazil 3–2 in the final.