Where does US Soccer go from here?

Some may think that the embarrassment is only now settling in after the United States failed to qualify for the World Cup. For many Americans, this the first World Cup where they will not see their home side play the best of the best. However, the embarrassment has been a long time coming to those who have paid attention. The highest highs of the Klinsmann Era, beating strong German and Dutch sides in the space of a week in friendlies comes to mind, were met with many startling lows, including a semifinal loss in the Gold Cup to a national team not known as El Tri (Jamaica) and losing to Guatemala in World Cup qualifying. Finally, the bottom fell through after a thrashing at the hands of Costa Rica, the breaking point for many inside and outside of the federation.

These were all incredibly embarrassing, but the most embarrassing moment of the campaign was still to come. Klinsmann was sacked and in came Bruce Arena, whose greatest accomplishment in the sport was gifted to him by the most talented team ever seen in MLS. November 22, 2016 was when the already low morale of most supporters sank to depths unfamiliar to Americans in CONCACAF play.

And Arena did nothing to quell these feelings. Some broadcasters and analysts tried to sell Arena as the one who was righting the ship, but the writing was always on the wall. Even in victory, the United States looked like a team fighting relegations by accepting draws in any possible situation; the rare full three points were just a cherry on top. The Gold Cup was propped up as a defining goal for the team—not just a mere expectation. Missing the World Cup was just Sunil Gulati’s chickens coming home to roost. So what is next?

Gulati, Arena, and their Supporters within the Federation Must Leave