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The United States Soccer Federation was founded on April 5, 1913, and in it's 101-year history both the men's and women's teams have suffered heart-breaking defeats, and experienced victories that have lifted a nation. The U.S. hosted the World Cup successfully in 1994, and impressed by reaching the quarterfinals of the tournament in 2002. The U.S. women came to prominence with their first world title in 1991, and breathed new life into the program with a World Cup final appearance in 2011, and a gold medal victory at the 2012 Olympics in London. The likes of McBride, Caligiuri, Akers, and Chastain built the foundation of the modern U.S. game, while names like Dempsey, Donovan, Wambach, and Morgan continue the evolution of American soccer. Looking to build on their Round of 16 performance at South Africa in 2010, the latest installment of the U.S. men's national team begin the quest for World Cup glory tonight. They'll face a familiar opponent in Ghana first, before progressing on to matches against Portugal and Germany. Take a look at how both programs got to where they are today, by reliving The Greatest Moments in U.S. Soccer History.
Written by Adam Silvers (@silversurfer103)
12. The U.S. Stuns Portugal in Their Opening Match at the 2002 World Cup
Date: 6/5/2002
Match: Portugal v. United States
Competiton: 2002 FIFA World Cup
Ground: Suwon World Cup Stadium, Suwon, South Korea
Arguably the U.S. men's most impressive showing at a World Cup came in 2002, when they made it all the way to the quarters, and it all started with their 3-2 opening Group D victory over powerhouse Portugal. This 36th-minute header from Brian McBride would prove the match winner in Suwon, and set the U.S. away on a terrific cup run that is still being built on.
11. Michael Bradley Rescues a Point Against Slovenia
Date: 6/18/2010
Match: Slovenia v. United States
Competiton: 2010 FIFA World Cup
Ground: Ellis Park Stadium, Johannesburg
After a lucky draw with England in their Group C opener, anything less than a draw against Slovenia in their second game of the 2010 World Cup would leave the U.S. in serious trouble ahead of their final match with Algeria. And a draw is exactly what they achieved thanks to this sensational volleyed finish from midfield rock Michael Bradley. Bradley kept the U.S. dream alive with his strike in the 82nd minute, and set the stage for one of the most dramatic victories in World Cup history in their final game against Algeria.
10. Clint Dempsey and Jozy Altidore Combine to Beat the World's No. 1 Team
Date: 6/24/2009
Match: Spain v. United States
Competiton: 2009 FIFA Confederations Cup
Ground: Free State Stadium, Bloemfontein, South Africa
In what has to be considered among the greatest upsets in modern soccer history, the United States defeated Spain 2-0 in the semis of the 2009 Confederations Cup. Jozy Altidore started the party in the 27th minute, and this Clint Dempsey strike in the 74th minute ensured the U.S. would progress to the final against Brazil. They would end up losing the final 3-2, after going ahead 2-0, but few expected them to go as far as they did after barely making out of the group stage with just one win.
9. The U.S. Women Head to the Gold Medal Game on Alex Morgan's Extra Time Winner
Date: 8/6/2012
Match: Canada v. United States
Competiton: 2012 Summer Olympics
Ground: Old Trafford, Manchester, England
Building off their success just one summer earlier at the 2011 World Cup, the U.S. women once again showed a flair for excitement and drama at the 2012 Olympic games in London. This time they wouldn't be denied their spoils, though, as this header from Alex Morgan in the 122nd minute propelled the team to the gold medal match. They would go on to defeat Japan 2-1 in the final, and the culmination of two long years of hard work would finally pay off.
8. Brian McBride's Well-Placed Finish Downs Rivals Mexico in the Round of 16
Date: 6/17/2002
Match: Mexico v. United States
Competiton: 2002 FIFA World Cup
Ground: Jeonju World Cup Stadium, Jeonju, South Korea
2002 remains one of the USMNT's best showings at a World Cup, as they made it all the way to the quarterfinals in Korea/Japan. They emerged from their Round of 16 clash with rivals Mexico thanks to this 8th minute strike from Brian McBride, and as a result of Landon Donovan's header in the 65th, "dos a cero," was born into American soccer vocabulary. The U.S. narrowly lost their quarterfinal clash with Germany 1-0, but this squad helped put the country on the map.
7. Benny Feilhaber's 2007 Gold Cup Final Winner
Date: 6/24/2007
Match: United States v. Mexico
Competiton: 2007 CONCACAF Gold Cup
Ground: Soldier Field, Chicago
Benny Feilhaber was just 22 years old when he scored the greatest goal of his career, but the moment couldn't have been lost on him. This terrific finish on the volley came in the 73rd minute with the U.S. locked at 1-1 with bitter rivals Mexico, and it turned out to be the goal that won the 2007 Gold Cup. As a result of this win, the U.S. would also gain automatic entry into the 2009 Confederations Cup, where they defeated the No. 1 team in the world, Spain, and barely lost to Brazil in the final.
6. Abby Wambach's Extra Time Goal Sends the U.S. to the Semis
Date: 7/10/2011
Match: Brazil v. United States
Competiton: 2011 FIFA Women's World Cup
Ground: Glücksgas Stadium, Dresden, Germany
In the summer of 2011, the U.S. women's team under head coach Pia Sundhage captured the hearts and minds of an entire nation. The likes of Morgan, solo, Rapinoe, and Wambach all became household names, and this fairy tale header from the all-time leading scorer in international soccer history in the 122nd minute of their quarterfinal clash with Brazil, catapulted the squad all the way to the final. They would fall to Japan in a heartbreaker that ended in penalties, but the groundwork for future successes had certainly been laid.
5. Earnie Stewart's Stunner in 1994 Sinks Colombia
Date: 6/22/1994
Match: United States v. Colombia
Competiton: 1994 FIFA World Cup
Ground: Rose Bowl, Pasadena, Calif.
There were few who probably knew Ernie Stewart's name before the U.S. played Colombia in their second group match at the 1994 World Cup, but that would all change after this game-winning goal in the 52nd minute. Thanks to a draw against Switzerland in their opening match, the U.S. men were dangerously close to becoming the first host nation not to make it out of the group stage, but their win against Colombia ensured their progression at their opponents expense.
4. Michelle Akers Gives the U.S. Women Their First World Title
Date: 11/30/1991
Match: Norway v. United States
Competiton: 1991 FIFA Women's World Cup
Ground: Tianhe Stadium, Guangzhou, China
Michele Akers scored both sides of a first-half Linda Medalen strike in order to lead the United States women to their first world title in team history in 1991. Her header opened the scoring on 20 minutes, and this great run, and composed finish around the Norwegian keeper won the match in the 78th minute.
3. Paul Caligiuri's Brilliant Strike Saves U.S. Soccer
Date: 11/19/1989
Match: Trinidad and Tobago v. United States
Competiton: 1989 CONCACAF Championship
Ground: Hasely Crawford Stadium, Port of Spain, Trinidad and Tobago
Not only was this strike an absolute golazo from Paul Caligiuri, it also meant that the United States would qualify for their first World Cup in 40 years. They would reach the 1990 World Cup in Italy by finishing as runners-up in CONCACAF qualifying, and it's largely believed that this goal was also responsible in large part for the U.S.'s successful bid to host tournament in 1994.
2. Brandi Chastain's 1999 World Cup Winning Penalty
Date: 7/10/1999
Match: United States v. PR China
Competiton: 1999 FIFA Women's World Cup
Ground: Rose Bowl, Pasadena, Calif.
Having already redeemed herself from an own-goal against Germany in the quarters at the '99 World Cup, Brandi Chastain and the U.S. women's story came full-circle with her winning penalty against China in the final. This superbly taken PK was worthy of a cup final win, as was the resulting celebration which will forever live in soccer lore.
1. Landon Donovan's Stoppage Time Winner Sends the U.S. to the Knockout Stage
Date: 6/23/2010
Match: United States v. Algeria
Competiton: 2010 FIFA World Cup
Ground: Loftus Versfeld Stadium, Pretoria, South Africa
32-year-old Landon Donovan has almost certainly played in his last World Cup for the United States, and he couldn't have dreamed of a better goal to go out on. In the dying moments of the U.S.'s final group game against Algeria at the 2010 World Cup, Donovan broke a scoreless draw in the 91st minute with this follow up effort. Anything but all three points would've seen the Stars and Stripes eliminated from the competition, and the U.S.'s all-time leading scorer made sure they would go on to the knockout stages.
