Amna Nawaz
@PBSNewsHour·5.3M subscribers·62.2K videos
Why the U.S. keeps falling short in the World Cup
Posted
July 15, 2026
Views
4,938
Likes
34
Engagement
0.69%
July 15, 2026
4,938
34
0.69%
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2:09Now PlayingThe U.S. men’s national soccer team has not improved in 20 years, says sports journalist Simon Kuper.
“I think one reason is they play more games against North and Central American opponents,” he told PBS News’ Geoff Bennett. “If you're playing against even Mexico, Canada, Honduras, El Salvador, you're not playing the best football. To get better, you need to learn from the top football. The U.S. don't do that anymore.”
“Football is a game you play with your head and the Europeans are better at answering it, not just better than the Americans, but better than people from anywhere else in the world,” he later added.
Kuper spoke to Bennett for PBS News’ podcast, “Settle In.” They discussed the World Cup, the politics of FIFA and more.
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