Here, world rankings have a way of losing their meaning. And the United States men’s soccer team is experiencing it yet again. Beginning last week, the Americans embarked on a three-game series of qualifying matches over seven days that they hoped would establish a baseline state of confidence for the long path to the 2022 World Cup in Qatar. Much of the last week had, instead, left them looking frazzled and unsure. A loss would have sent the team home in the beginnings of a tailspin.

Source: International New York Times September 08, 2021 22:40 UTC