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USMNT World Cup failure: United States soccer had this coming

By Colton Wesley

COUVA, TRINIDAD AND TOBAGO - OCTOBER 10: A contrast of emotions as captain Michael Bradley (C) of the United States mens national team reacts as Trinidad and Tobago pull of a win during the FIFA World Cup Qualifier match between Trinidad and Tobago at the Ato Boldon Stadium on October 10, 2017 in Couva, Trinidad And Tobago. (Photo by Ashley Allen/Getty Images)
COUVA, TRINIDAD AND TOBAGO - OCTOBER 10: A contrast of emotions as captain Michael Bradley (C) of the United States mens national team reacts as Trinidad and Tobago pull of a win during the FIFA World Cup Qualifier match between Trinidad and Tobago at the Ato Boldon Stadium on October 10, 2017 in Couva, Trinidad And Tobago. (Photo by Ashley Allen/Getty Images) /
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TORONTO, ONTARIO – DECEMBER 10: Osvaldo Alonso #6 of the Seattle Sounders defends against Jozy Altidore #17 of the Toronto FC during the 2016 MLS Cup at BMO Field on December 10, 2016 in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. Seattle defeated Toronto in the 6th round of extra time penalty kicks. (Photo: Claus Andersen/Getty Images)
TORONTO, ONTARIO – DECEMBER 10: Osvaldo Alonso #6 of the Seattle Sounders defends against Jozy Altidore #17 of the Toronto FC during the 2016 MLS Cup at BMO Field on December 10, 2016 in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. Seattle defeated Toronto in the 6th round of extra time penalty kicks. (Photo: Claus Andersen/Getty Images) /

3. MLS is bad soccer and hurts the USMNT

Major League Soccer is a vulture that devours young American talent and spits it out before it can become international-class.

MLS wants to develop homegrown talent, have a strong domestic league and build a national team out of players from that league. All of that is reasonable except for one thing: MLS doesn’t develop players. When young players enter MLS, they rarely leave for better leagues and when they do, they usually return.

Let’s not pretend that MLS is good soccer. International managers will snub players who play in MLS and the LA Galaxy nearly lost to an amateur team in the Open Cup in 2016. No MLS team has won the CONCACAF Champions League since 2000 and they’ve only reached the final twice since then. MLS players that do go to Europe do next to nothing and then come home.

If MLS wants to develop players, then it will start hiring coaches from outside the US. Only seven of the league’s 22 coaches are foreigners. It will invest more money into its academy programs. Until now, there was little financial incentive for MLS to invest in player development, as the USMNT’s success doesn’t necessarily correlate with MLS. With the team’s failure to qualify, however, it is possible that the domestic soccer interest bump that occurs during the World Cup might be smaller this year, incentivizing MLS to be more intentional about developing international talent that can win.

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