Australia threw their lot in with Asia to avoid the play-off with the 5th best side from South America or another potentially tricky side (they went out to Iran a few years ago). Smart move. It’s easier to qualify by beating Bahrain and Thailand than having to play Uruguay. But Australia should be a footballing minnow compared to the US. They have never hosted the WC, have a population the size of NYC and a would rank fooball well behind rugby league, union, aussie rules and cricket in terms of team sports popularity. I don’t think that US would have a problem qualifying as one of the top two in a group alongside the likes of, say, Paraguay, Bolivia, Chile, Honduras and Haiti (assuming Brz, Arg, Mex and US were 4 top seeds).

If the US wants to be taken seriously and show their mettle and develop a strong side, they need to petition to combine with the South Americans.

I do believe that one thing holding the US back is that we don’t get the opportunity to play consistently against the best teams in the world. I believe we are good enough now to compete in any World Cup Finals.

But on the other hand, you only have to look at our performance in the 2007 Copa America where we were one of two non-South American teams invited to the tournament. We suffered 3 losses to Argentina, Colombia and Paraguay, managing only 2 goals (1 penalty and 1 from open play). Granted, Bob Bradley sent a young and inexperienced team because we had just come off a victory at the CONCACAF Gold Cup, which was more important for us. Bradley was obviously trying to get a look at younger talent. But our performance in that tournament showed that the US has frighteningly little depth. That’s why Bradley recently had Beasley playing at left back – a retarded move. You would never see a European or South American team moving an attacking midfielder to a defensive position because someone got injured. It would be unthinkable. That’s where our biggest weak spot is. Take away our starting 11 and we’re left with amateurs compared to the best in the world.

But our best guys are right up there with the best in the world at times. Last year we had a series of 3 friendly matches in Europe. First was against Poland where we earned our victory in a 3-0 rout. We then suffered a 2-0 loss to England at Wembley and a 1-0 loss to Spain. England and Spain were playing those friendlies at full strength basically with their best players and they are probably the two best teams in Europe right now. So to hold them to those scores is encouraging at least.

And you don’t have to tell me how the world views CONCACAF or the US National Team. I live in Spain and I have to listen to people all the time scoff at the prospect of the US ever doing well in anything soccer related. That, by the way, is how we went up 3-0 in the first 38 minutes over favored Portugal in our opening match of the 2002 WC. We went on to win that match 3-2. That is how we drew 1-1 with Italy, who went on to win the tournament, (and, in my opinion, we outplayed them completely) in the 2006 WC. Because Europeans keep taking us for granted.

Your idea seems interesting but CONMEBOL would never go for it. They would insist that CONCACAF do a regional qualifier that sends only the best 2 teams on to final qualifying with the 10 CONMEBOL members. That’s basically what already happens with the Caribbean nations – out of all those dinky little islands only the best 2 ever go on to play North and Central American teams. Ditto the Oceania dinky islands. Did you know Australia once defeated…I forget who exactly, Vanuatu or Fiji or something…31-0 in a WC qualifying match? Why do you think Australia is now qualifying out of Asia?

Anyway, a real test for the US is coming up at next week’s Confederations Cup where we are matched in group play against Brazil, Italy and Egypt. I don’t expect to get out of the group, but I’d like to at least see some goals scored and not get crushed by more than 2 goals to either Italy or Brazil. I would consider it a success if we only lose by a goal to either of them.

We will continue to get better, build a bigger fan base (for the 2006 WC there were more requests for ‘follow your team’ tickets from the US than from any other nation) and win more matches against big teams. And one day we will win a World Cup. Given the size and wealth of our country it’s just a matter of time. It won’t happen next year and almost definitely not in Brazil in 2014. But the US is bidding to host either 2018 or 2022. And you bet your ass I’ll be there when we hoist the trophy.

The rest of the world sees the CONCACAF region as a joke and doesn’t think they deserve more than two spots – and they don’t. It’s about time, the US earned their qualification doncha fink?

Additionally, South Korea qualified out of the Asia region. And The Netherlands became the first European team to qualify.