If you can’t beat ’em… start an entirely new competition, just because. At least, that’s how the U.S. Soccer Federation appears to be approaching their gut-punching inability to qualify for the 2018 World Cup.
ESPN reports U.S. Soccer is exploring the option of hosting a string of international matches featuring other national teams barred from World Cup contention, including Italy, the Netherlands, Ghana, and Chile.
The friendly matches, which would take place ahead of the actual World Cup, could potentially take a tournament format. Like a bootleg World Cup, if you will.
Truth be told, it’s not a terrible idea in terms of a potential viewing audience: Italy, which was yesterday conquered by Sweden for one of the final World Cup berths, has taken their failure as a bit of a national tragedy.
Similarly, the Netherlands – a nation which bears the dubious honour of being three-times World Cup runners-up – has a ready-made audience of footy-mad punters, and lord knows they’re not supporting Germany.
Chile, reigning Copa América champions, failed to qualify for the first time since 2006; Ghana last missed out back in 2002.
Australia has its last chance to qualify for the big one tonight, thanks to a final play-off against Honduras. If the Socceroos lose that one, well… it might be nice to get revenge on the Netherlands and Chile for winning their group matches in 2014.
