U.S. Soccer looking into tourney for non-World Cup teams

AP

Show Caption Hide Caption Italy misses first World Cup since 1958 Italy was unable to defeat Sweden on Monday, meaning the soccer-crazed country will miss the 2018 World Cup in Russia.

The U.S. Soccer Federation is looking into the possibility of an event next year involving nations that did not qualify for the World Cup.

The idea of an exhibition tournament has been floated for soccer teams such as the United States, Italy, Chile and Ghana that won't be playing in Russia.

The USSF confirmed it was exploring the idea after a report Tuesday by Fox. The United States was eliminated from World Cup contention when it lost 2-1 at Trinidad and Tobago last month.

Welcome Ireland to the Alternative Facts NIT World Cup Invitational to take place at Yankee Stadium this summer featuring USA! Italy! Netherlands! Chile! Ghana! Wales! Not you, Scotland 👊🇺🇸😢💩 — Men in Blazers (@MenInBlazers) November 14, 2017

The tournament idea, first suggested on social media, gained traction Monday when Italy was eliminated by Sweden, which advanced with a 1-0 aggregate playoff win. The Italians will miss soccer's premier event for the first time in six decades.

It is not clear whether FIFA would allow exhibition games during the World Cup, which runs from June 14 to July 15.

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