Nonetheless, his statements betray an underlying issue plaguing the US Soccer Federation, as well as the media tasked with covering it. Klinsmann’s notion that the US is a powerful soccer nation, that at present, is wasting its time with CONCACAF opponents is both out-dated and unfounded. This has been proven by recent losses to Canada, Jamaica, Trinidad and Tobago, as well as a close call against Curacão.

Since 2016 the USMNT has an 8-8-9 record against teams outside of CONCACAF; five of those wins came against Ecuador and Bolivia; the other three: Paraguay (2), and Ghana. Diversifying your opponents in order to test your program is a laudable endeavour, and here again Klinnsman’s point in valid. However, the idea that the USMNT has outgrown CONCACAF does not hold water.