Why isn't the U.S. better at soccer?
Key takeaways
- It’s been a satisfying few months as a sports fan. “My” Knicks have their best chance at a championship since 1973.
- So is it too much to ask that this is also the year when the U.S. men’s soccer team breaks through, with the World Cup set to kick off this week on North American soil?1
- The 23 previous hosts2 have a pretty good track record, with 6 outright wins (though none since France in 1998).
Nate Silver Jun 07, 20268884Share Landon Donovan after scoring the winner against Algeria in 2010. Getty Images.The World Cup kicks off on Thursday, and we hope our World Cup predictions page will give you everything you need to follow the tournament. We’re monitoring injuries and friendlies as our model makes last-minute adjustments. And we’ll update the forecast after each match day to show you how the games affect everyone’s advancement and championship odds.
Most of this detail is for paying subscribers. But since more than three-quarters of the Silver Bulletin mailing list is in the United States, today’s newsletter focuses on the co-hosts.
It’s been a satisfying few months as a sports fan. “My” Knicks have their best chance at a championship since 1973. And Jack Hughes’s overtime winner over Canada in the Gold Medal Match in Milan represented a triumph for the men’s hockey team.