Look back to the ‘94 World Cup. The U.S. Men’s National Team was barely known to its own host country. Then it beat Columbia—a world soccer power—on a freak own goal. It was the shock heard around the world.

It’s now 20 years later and the USMNT has superstars in its own league, the MLS. While the league is still looked down upon, every year it is getting better players, and not just Americans. The first was David Beckham, whose arrival began a slow but growing domino effect. Keane, Henry, Dempsy, and now Bradley and Defoe have graced the MLS.

With the MLS growing stronger and more teams joining the league and setting up development programs all over the country, the talent will arrive. More kids will play soccer instead of football or basketball. It’s already happened with baseball, and while that is a great sign, baseball athletes for the most part don’t really transfer well to the pitch, sadly, with the possible exception of outfielders and 2nd to 3rd basemen.

For the U.S. to emerge as a true power, soccer needs to start stealing the talents of the NBA and the NFL. Imagine seeing Russell Westbrook speed down the right or left wing and serve up a cross to Lebron. It’s not that far fetched. Kobe Bryant has always said if it wasn’t for basketball he would have played soccer. Then look at Steve Nash, that guy can ball when it comes to both sports. Too bad he’s Canadian.

When the talent arrives, and it will, the US will win a World Cup. It will happen. (We might need an American President for FIFA but that is a whole other story.)

From Lincoln Ne Home of the American Outlaws

Nate Ferguson