http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/FIFA_World_Cup

Think there is any possibility that the US will win the World Cup in the next 12 years? Or, will it take more than that for them to win this? I mean the Men's World Cup in soccer as the US women have already won twice. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/FIFA_Women's_World_Cup

[gemorc]

Tony Kornheiser and I both agree on this issue. "Who Cares".

[Muncle]

If, as planned, I live forever, it is vaguely possible. If not and I only live to 120 or so, it ain't gonna happen.

[chuckinca]

The US Soccer Federation has had a long time plan that was aimed at winning the CUP in 2010.

Until the lose in 2010, they are still working on their plan.

Do the Cubs have a plan?

[JohnN]

Taltarzac,
Are you limiting our lifetimes to 12 years? OUCH.

I think the women fared quite well because women's soccer around the world was just coming into its own and US women don't really have a lot of pro opportunities (ie: football, basketball, baseball, etc) and it just was a "perfect storm" for them.

The men's teams have the downside of the youth/pro sports still focused on the big 3 sports, plus the rest of the world has been developing men's soccer for decades.

So, that said.. I vote NO, not in the next 12 years. I hope, YES, in my lifetime LOL

[chuckinca]

In California, Youth soccer may have three times or more the participation than the "big three sports" combined.

And coming from the large number of youth players you are seeing more and more pro players and more pro players at the higher levels. My 24 YO son played from age 5 and still plays. I have seen about 6 or so local players that are in or near his age group that are in the MLS or playing in Europe.

It wasn't very long ago (say about 1990) that the US World Cup teams were made up of many college players and players from low tier leagues. Now you never see a college player at the national team level and maybe 70% of the national team players are playing for top division teams in Europe.

[Russ_Boston]

with Chuck.

It is a slow process but eventually as these younger plays get to play in top notch leagues the US will be able to field a cup challenger.

It will probably never challenge the big three in the US on a pro level due to television exposure and contracts mostly.

Lifetime? Well assuming that I live a nice long life (in TV hopefully) i think that we can win it or at least be in the final.

Originally Posted by JohnN

Taltarzac,
Are you limiting our lifetimes to 12 years? OUCH.

I think the women fared quite well because women's soccer around the world was just coming into its own and US women don't really have a lot of pro opportunities (ie: football, basketball, baseball, etc) and it just was a "perfect storm" for them.

The men's teams have the downside of the youth/pro sports still focused on the big 3 sports, plus the rest of the world has been developing men's soccer for decades.

So, that said.. I vote NO, not in the next 12 years. I hope, YES, in my lifetime LOL

Sure did not mean to imply that Villagers will only live on average 12 years from moving here. I have a 92 year old grandmother and her mother lived to about the same age.

[JohnN]

Taltarzac,
If I live to 92, the US will win LOLOL

And I realize soccer is a lot "bigger" today, I'm a certified soccer coach and had coached my kids for some 20 seasons (and the young Miss JohnN won 2 high school state championships). There is a lot of participation and talent .....

....... my point was the "big 3" still funnel off talent in men's soccer vs. other countries where perhaps only basketball competes for talent and on a more limited basis.

[chuckinca]

Originally Posted by JohnN

Taltarzac,
If I live to 92, the US will win LOLOL

And I realize soccer is a lot "bigger" today, I'm a certified soccer coach and had coached my kids for some 20 seasons (and the young Miss JohnN won 2 high school state championships). There is a lot of participation and talent .....

....... my point was the "big 3" still funnel off talent in men's soccer vs. other countries where perhaps only basketball competes for talent and on a more limited basis.

Around these parts, it is unusual for competitive younger soccer players (say U10 thru U14) to drop soccer and concentrate on football, basketball or baseball. It isn't rare that you see two sport athletes playing soccer and baseball or soccer and the high school football kicker but since most of the high schools around here have soccer in the winter, playing soccer and basketball can't be done.

After high school, the 1 or 2% that find room on a university team make a decision on which sport to play based on the openings on the individual sport team. I believe this is where the funneling off of soccer talent happens and there isn't much you can do about it because the players want to play and they'll play the sport where they are wanted.

[JohnN]

chuckinca,

I agree at the high school level, HOWEVER, to win a world cup, you need the very best.
And some of those potential very best athletes will instead opt for a mega-million opportunity to play baseball/football/basketball.

You just need to lose a handful of the very best athletes to be a second rate soccer team at the international level.

[chuckinca]

However, hoping that the shear large numbers of US soccer players will overcome the loss of many of their most skilled players. It only takes about 25 big league division one players to make up a top national team and they range in ages from about 20 to 32. Ten years ago, the US might have had 5 big league division one players (the MLS is a small league division one league); today there are probably more than 20 and, at the current rate of youth soccer expansion, in another 10 years there could be 60 to 80.

With a pool that large we will be on the same footing as Italy, Germany, France, England etc.

And it will help MLS to move into the ranks of a big league division one league.

[JohnN]

chuckinca,

I trust in time we'll be very competive, unsure it'll be my lifetime according to Taltarzac LOL

[SteveZ]

Without a doubt, and as the toast goes, "May you live forever, and may the last voice you hear be mine..."