Not me who is making that argument. I am pointing out FIFA won't want any focus taken away from their tournament and it would need to be a very very large amount of money. Which I am utterly sceptical that it would generate. What is the purpose of playing the games in the USA? That's my question. Given that the next 2 Gold cups are played here, half the World Cup qualifiers and the Olympic qualifying. We are on the same side of the same coin. It seems, from an outsider, that it is a case of throwing mud against a wall and seeing what sticks. Also comes back to my point about the U21/23's. You have to play that many because there is nowhere else for the kids to develop. Then the expectations come because someone is a US International. That's where the young kids who played yesterday could have played before. We've been in a development funk for years but finally the youth teams are turning the corner. They are getting used to playing together and winning. Some are making it to the full squad already., but they were initially allowed to play aware from the spotlight.
It's hilarious because it is a knee jerk reaction. Plenty of nations have missed a World Cup before. None have run off to try and create a tournament. See my reply above to Timon. If you are playing that many games then you shouldn't be in a mess. I used England because I know where to go to find how many games we have played. We have a huge amount of issues, but we seem to be on a vaguely right track. Will see over the next 10 years. I am sure it will be a similar number for, say, Paraguay or Japan.
You seem to be intent to ignore the unique situation that is the US, and/or you want to wish it away.
Things absolutely have come a long way, but that's no substitute. And I know it's unpopular, but the US has a very unique position in the world of football, and I know you know it. You may wish it different, but as long as we remain a middle-upper footballing nation with HUGE immigrant populations and several major sports, with the neighbors we have, it's always going to be true that we're the place to make money.
Yep. I know. At some point the Federation had to put a stop to the moneygrabs. Either they exist to make money or to run/develop a sport at the national level. Doesn't help that they are invested in SUM as well. Unfortunately we are seeing a similar dilemma in Columbus.
And the teams going to the Cup *will* be looking for pretournament friendlies and they *will* play most of their A team in those games. I seem to recall that folks thought the US 1998 team would do well specifically because they did well in those pretourney games. Didn't happen that way, of course...
Tournaments forever: CONCACAF Agrees to Launch New Nations League I can't wait to see more brave draws against regional powerhouses like Aruba!
https://www.fourfourtwo.com/us/feat...truggle-caleb-porter-out-timbers-head-coach-0 Porter is out in Portland, despite winning the Western Conference this year and MLS Cup in 2017. Maybe he'll come back to Ohio and take over FC Cincinnati.
So far, the only news articles seen to be in Spanish, but it appears Landon Donovan has signed with Leon.
BREAKING: In a surprise move, United States legend Landon Donovan has come out retirement to join Club Leon of Liga MX. No details yet but FOX Sports is reporting that an official announcement is imminent. Donovan last played with the LA Galaxy in 2016 pic.twitter.com/RY99uRd4fS— Premier Rumours (@PremierRumors) January 10, 2018 https://www.footbie.com/video/landon-donovan-to-leon-will-play-in-the-ligamx