The United States men's national association football team represents the United States in international association football competition and is controlled by the United States Soccer Federation. Though soccer has not traditionally had a high profile in American sporting life, the sport has steadily grown in popularity since the 1970s. The team is, according to the FIFA World Rankings, ranked 18th in the world and second in CONCACAF, has appeared in the last five FIFA World Cups, and will appear in the 2010 FIFA World Cup in South Africa.
The U.S. won seven of eight matches against Barbados, Cuba, Guatemala, and Trinidad and Tobago in the Second and Third Rounds of qualification for the 2010 World Cup in South Africa. This qualified the United States for the Fourth Round, or Hexagonal, against Costa Rica, El Salvador, Honduras, Mexico, and Trinidad and Tobago.
The U.S. began the Fourth Round by defeating Mexico 2–0, a win that extended the United States' unbeaten streak against Mexico on U.S. soil to 11 matches. Six weeks later, in the second match of the Fourth Round, the United States made a late rally to earn a 2–2 draw away to El Salvador. Four days later, Jozy Altidore became the youngest U.S. player to score a hat-trick, and lead the United States to a 3–0 victory over Trinidad and Tobago. Following another six week break from qualifying, the U.S. travelled to Costa Rica, where they were soundly defeated 3–1. The United States rebounded three days later when they defeated Honduras 2–1. When qualifying resumed near the end of the summer of 2009, the United States suffered a 2–1 loss to Mexico at Estadio Azteca. A few weeks later, the United States came from behind to defeat El Salvador 2–1 at home after being down 1-0. The next week, the U.S. beat Trinidad and Tobago 1-0. On October 10, 2009, the United States secured qualification to the World Cup with a 3-2 win over Honduras. Four days later, the U.S. secured first place in the Fourth Round with a dramatic 2–2 draw against Costa Rica.
Having secured their presence at the 2010 FIFA World Cup in November 2009 with a 3–2 away win over eventual fellow qualifiers Honduras, they were drawn in Group C alongside England, Algeria and Slovenia.
United States Team Profile Matches Road to 2010 FIFA World Cup South Africa
United States team last standing position 2010 FIFA World Cup Qualifying
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The U.S. won seven of eight matches against Barbados, Cuba, Guatemala, and Trinidad and Tobago in the Second and Third Rounds of qualification for the 2010 World Cup in South Africa. This qualified the United States for the Fourth Round, or Hexagonal, against Costa Rica, El Salvador, Honduras, Mexico, and Trinidad and Tobago.
The U.S. began the Fourth Round by defeating Mexico 2–0, a win that extended the United States' unbeaten streak against Mexico on U.S. soil to 11 matches. Six weeks later, in the second match of the Fourth Round, the United States made a late rally to earn a 2–2 draw away to El Salvador. Four days later, Jozy Altidore became the youngest U.S. player to score a hat-trick, and lead the United States to a 3–0 victory over Trinidad and Tobago. Following another six week break from qualifying, the U.S. travelled to Costa Rica, where they were soundly defeated 3–1. The United States rebounded three days later when they defeated Honduras 2–1. When qualifying resumed near the end of the summer of 2009, the United States suffered a 2–1 loss to Mexico at Estadio Azteca. A few weeks later, the United States came from behind to defeat El Salvador 2–1 at home after being down 1-0. The next week, the U.S. beat Trinidad and Tobago 1-0. On October 10, 2009, the United States secured qualification to the World Cup with a 3-2 win over Honduras. Four days later, the U.S. secured first place in the Fourth Round with a dramatic 2–2 draw against Costa Rica.
Having secured their presence at the 2010 FIFA World Cup in November 2009 with a 3–2 away win over eventual fellow qualifiers Honduras, they were drawn in Group C alongside England, Algeria and Slovenia.
United States Team Profile Matches Road to 2010 FIFA World Cup South Africa
 |  |  |  |  |  | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Costa Rica | – | 1–0 | 2–0 | 0–3 | 4–0 | 3–1 |
| El Salvador | 1–0 | – | 0–1 | 2–1 | 2–2 | 2–2 |
| Honduras | 4–0 | 1–0 | – | 3–1 | 4–1 | 2–3 |
| Mexico | 2 –0 | 4–1 | 1–0 | – | 2–1 | 2–1 |
| Trinidad and Tobago | 2–3 | 1–0 | 1–1 | 2–2 | – | 0–1 |
| United States | 2–2 | 2–1 | 2–1 | 2–0 | 3–0 | – |
United States team last standing position 2010 FIFA World Cup Qualifying
Team | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| United States | 10 | 6 | 2 | 2 | 19 | 13 | +6 | 20 |
| Mexico | 10 | 6 | 1 | 3 | 18 | 12 | +6 | 19 |
| Honduras | 10 | 5 | 1 | 4 | 17 | 11 | +6 | 16 |
| Costa Rica | 10 | 5 | 1 | 4 | 15 | 15 | 0 | 16 |
| El Salvador | 10 | 2 | 2 | 6 | 9 | 15 | −6 | 8 |
| Trinidad and Tobago | 10 | 1 | 3 | 6 | 10 | 22 | −12 | 6 |
