US Men's Soccer team is looking to make noise in the World Cup with help from players with Texas ties
A painful era in US Soccer history ends Monday when the US Men's National team takes on Wales in the World Cup on Monday.
It will be a return to the World Cup stage for the Stars and Stripes for the first time in eight years, after failing to qualify for the World Cup in Russia in 2018.
This will mark the 11th all-time appearance by the U.S. men since 1950 when the tournament expanded to 32 teams.
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The deepest the U.S. has advanced in the tournament is the quarterfinals in 2002.
Soccer has been talked about as the sport of the future in the U.S. for years, but success has not followed the country's expectations.
"I think sometimes we like to kick ourselves for what we aren't as a soccer playing nation," said FOX analyst Alexi Lalas. "Sometimes we also have to kind of pat ourselves on the back for how far we have come. Not qualifying for the World Cup 4 years ago was, in my estimation, the biggest failure in US Soccer history."
But Lalas says that the disappointment could have led to important change.
"It gave us a chance to step back in order to go two steps forward, and this team that we are going to see in Qatar and on into 2026. I think recognizes the opportunity to use the platform that is the World Cup to show people that we have grown. That this team is worth your time and that this is a team that will make you believe again." he said.
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The team includes key players with Texas ties.
DOHA, QATAR - NOVEMBER 15: Kellyn Acosta of United States poses during the official FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 portrait session at on November 15, 2022 in Doha, Qatar. (Photo by Patrick Smith - FIFA/FIFA via Getty Images)
For Plano's Kellyn Acosta making this United States roster completed an awesome redemption story.
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Acosta was a part of the USA loss that kept the Americans from qualifying for the 2018 World Cup.
After that, he was left out of all US Soccer activity for two years before getting another shot.
"Wrote me off is not necessarily the right terminology, but they kind of just looked at others," Acosta said. "It was kind of like a reset, and I think it was needed. It helped me grow a lot and I really learned a lot about myself."
DOHA, QATAR - NOVEMBER 20: Weston Mckennie of United States looks on during the USA Training Session at Al Gharafa SC Stadium on November 20, 2022 in Doha, Qatar. (Photo by Tim Nwachukwu/Getty Images)
Weston McKennie, who plays professionally in Italy for Juventus, is excited about this chance to be visible for more people in the US than usual.
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The 24-year-old from Little Elm hopes his presence will inspire more kids where he is from, and who look like him, to gravitate toward soccer.
"In my neighborhood you rarely saw any African American kids playing soccer," McKennie said. "Now just to be able to do what you love and at the same time have an impact on the game in America for African Americans, it is amazing, because now they can look and say that can be me also."
DOHA, QATAR - NOVEMBER 15: Jesus Ferreira of United States poses during the official FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 portrait session at on November 15, 2022 in Doha, Qatar. (Photo by Maddie Meyer - FIFA/FIFA via Getty Images)
FC Dallas fans will eagerly root on hometown product Jesus Ferreira.
The 21-year-old could be the key to the US scoring attack.
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In 15 career appearances with the national team Ferreira has 7 goals and 4 assists.
Ferreira says scoring while wearing the USA jersey is an amazing experience.
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"It's a different feeling. Nothing that you can explain or express, you're not just yourself or a team you are your whole country," Ferreira said. "Just to be able to give joy to millions of people. It is an amazing feeling."
Ferreira says the team is not just satisfied with making the tournament.
"I think we all know that we're not just going there to enjoy our time. We are going there to win it all," he said. "We are able to compete with anyone. And so we are happy that we are going to be able to be in the World Cup again and we aren't just there to be happy. We're there to compete for it all."