Soccer has deep roots in America, deeper than most countries that have won the World Cup. These domestic soccer roots need to be cultivated and showcased to America's soccer fans. In When America Wins the World Cup, author Matthew Kolesky answers the questions of what it will take for America to win the World Cup and what will happen when that occurs. Intended to ride the growing wave of popularity for soccer in America and to enhance it, Kolesky: - Looks at the history of the sport through its significant mileposts in the development of the game in America - Includes his personal experiences as a fan as well as those of other fans - Provides information about the basics of the game of soccer - Shares misconceptions about the sport in and out of America - Offers insight into the continued quest for the World Cup With anecdotes included, When America Wins the World Cup illustrates that Americans can be passionate about the global game. Soccer is building again in America, and the rest of the world is slowly starting to realize the United States is taking soccer seriously at the national level.

An important read for those passionate about not only U.S. Soccer but fascinated by player development. This in-depth look uses unprecedented access and original data and analysis for the U.S. and other countries. Prior to the 2002 FIFA World Cup, the U.S. Men's National Soccer Team had won just four World Cup matches in 72 years. While the American women's team has made World Cup victories a regular expectation, the men failed to even qualify for the 2018 tournament. In What Happened to the USMNT Columbia Business School adjunct professor and acclaimed author of The Real Madrid Way Steven Mandis turns his lens inward to examine what it will take for the U.S. men to achieve lasting success on the international stage. This meticulously researched, probing investigation challenges conventional wisdom and speaks to the importance of familiarity and authenticity to cultivate an organizational identity. If the Italians have their cantenaccio, the Spanish their tiki-taka, the Dutch their "total football," and the Brazilians their ginga, Mandis argues that cultivating a unique "American way" of soccer (coined the "Spirit of 1776") is not only possible but absolutely essential. Finally, a source of reference that goes beyond recounting history without context or repeating opinions without facts or analysis.

Just in time for the 1994 World Cup, Soccer Access provides a complete handbook to watching and playing the world's most popular sport. This authoritative guide examines the professional game and the different teams around the world, provides a detailed look at soccer in North America, and contains a time line of soccer history.