The U.S. has failed to qualify for the 2018 World Cup. A devastating 2-1 loss to Trinidad and Tobago combined with wins by Honduras and Panama, means that the USA will not be participating in next summer’s tournament in Russia. It will be the first time since 1986 that the USMNT did not qualify for the quadrennial soccer event.
Howie Long-Short: Fox Sports (FOXA) paid $200 million for the English rights to broadcast the 2018 World Cup, so financially this loss hurts them as much as anyone. Some will argue they’re losing as little as 3 big draws during the Group Stage (11 of 20 highest rated soccer games of all-time included USMNT), but I think it’s a ratings killer. The casual viewer is now out and I would think a lot of potential advertisers would be too.
Fan Marino: I can’t believe the USMNT lost to the 99th ranked team in the world, needing just a tie, with a World Cup berth on the line. The disappointment is beyond my ability to express it in words.
