Dwayne Northcutt: I Have A Dream (USMNT)

Denmark 2, Iran 0
Denmark: Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg (pen '27)
Viktor Fischer ('67)

MATCH 2 VS. ARGENTINA
The United States national soccer team produced quite a shock when they took on Argentina: They managed to score the 3-2 victory with only 10 men, as Peter Chan received a straight red card in the 17th minute. Shane Route netted 2 goals and Pete Gunner added to his hefty total with an 86th minute goal to seal the victory for the United States.

United States 3, Argentina 2
United States: Shane Route ('52) ('73)
Pete Gunner ('86)
Argentina: Franco Cervi ('34)
Paulo Dybala ('76)

Iran 1, Argentina 1
Iran: Sardar Azmoun ('90+2)
Argentina: Franco Cervi ('71)

MATCH 3 VS. DENMARK
Okay. One of the greatest Confederations Cup contests of all-time. The United States struck first with a 2nd minute goal, but soon went down 4-1 to Denmark as a hat trick from Kasper Dolberg and a goal from Yussuf Poulsen seemingly put the match away, but the United States would not die as they made an incredible comeback in the 2nd half to tie it at 4 on Pete Gunner's own hat trick and a goal from Shane Route before conceding an own goal in the 85th minute. The USA would score another equalizer, however, on Shane Route's 87th minute screamer. Craziest game ever, ladies and gentlemen.

United States 5, Denmark 5
United States: Pete Gunner ('5, '51, '71)
Shane Route ('56, '87)
Denmark: Kasper Dolberg ('5, '21, '35)
Yussuf Poulsen ('18)
Matt Miazga (o.g. '85)

SEMIFINAL:
Iceland VS. Denmark
United States VS. Canada

Iceland 2, Denmark 1
Iceland: Arnor Ingvi Traustason ('5)
Gylfi Sigurdsson (pen '35)
Denmark: Kasper Dolberg ('80)

SEMIFINAL VS. CANADA
There were no surprises here, as the United States trounced over the hosts Canada 4-1. 4 goals from Shane Route ensured the USA of a place in the Confederations Cup Final against Iceland. USA seemed to be better defensively than in most games this tournament, as they locked down on Canada for most of the game. It also helped that Canadian wonderkid defender Jean-Pierre LaFontaine was suspended for this match.

United States 4, Canada 1
United States: Shane Route ('10, '26, '48, '72)
Canada: Rayan Germain ('58)

THIRD PLACE PLAYOFF:
Denmark VS. Canada

FINAL:
United States VS. Iceland

Denmark 0, Canada 0
(Denmark win 5-4 on penalties)

FINAL VS. ICELAND
What an unbelievable moment for United States soccer! They come back from conceding a goal in the 15th minute to tie it with Pete Gunner's goal at '51. Then in extra time, in the 111th minute, substitute Gyasi Zardes scored a goal to potentially give the United States their first-ever piece of world silverware. It was marred by controversy, however, as Shane Route viciously knocked down Ingvi Sigurjonsson to win the ball and make the assist, causing a slew of protests around the referee. On the last kick of the game, Aron Gunnarsson was denied an equalizer for Iceland by an offside call.

United States 2, Iceland 1
United States: Pete Gunner ('51)
Gyasi Zardes ('111)
Iceland: Gylfi Sigurdsson ('15)

The time has finally come for another World Cup draw. Here are the teams who have qualified:

CONCACAF:
Canada (81) (Hosts)
Costa Rica (40)
Jamaica (29)
Trinidad & Tobago (61)
United States (4)

UEFA:
Croatia (21)
Denmark (3) (Holders)
France (1)
Germany (12)
Iceland (9)
Italy (7)
Kosovo (51)
Norway (22)
Poland (24)
Portugal (14)
Scotland (11)
Serbia (33)
Ukraine (18)

CONMEBOL:
Brazil (6)
Colombia (2)
Peru (23)
Uruguay (8)

AFC:
Australia (41)
Iran (=34)
Japan (26)
South Korea (43)

CAF:
Gabon (49)
Ghana (19)
Guinea-Bissau (13)
Ivory Coast (32)
Senegal (5)

OFC:
Papua New Guinea (125)

Notable countries who failed to qualify:
England, Spain, Mozambique (2-time Africa Cup of Nations champions in 2017, 2019), Netherlands, Mexico, Argentina, Georgia (Euro 2020 semifinalists), Switzerland, Sweden, Belgium, Nigeria, Algeria.

Time for the group pairings:

GROUP A:
Canada
Iran
Poland
Serbia

GROUP B:
United States
Norway
South Korea
Gabon

GROUP C:
Costa Rica
Ivory Coast
Scotland
Denmark

GROUP D:
Australia
Germany
Colombia
Ghana

GROUP E:
Brazil
Iceland
Kosovo
Trinidad & Tobago

GROUP F:
Papua New Guinea
Peru
Portugal
Senegal

GROUP G:
France
Guinea-Bissau
Jamaica
Ukraine

GROUP H:
Croatia
Italy
Japan
Uruguay

The 2022 World Cup is underway, and for the United States, they look to overcome the stretch of 2 games last year where several German Bundesliga head coaches decided to withdraw players such as Shane Route and Sage Thompson, before matches against Australia and, very suspiciously, Germany. The Americans lost 1-3 and 1-2 respectively. This prompted numerous profanities being thrown at the Bundesliga by Northcutt, and all but severed any working agreements the two footballing nations ever had, as Northcutt believed he had been conspired against. Then in the proceeding year, the same thing had happened against Italy and they lost 0-1 on an Insigne goal in the 77th minute. Immediately following this result, he banned American Bundesliga players from ever starting on the NT, forcing Shane Route, Sage Thompson, and John Brooks to find other clubs. Shane Route's departure hit Bayern Munchen particularly hard as Route was considered the greatest soccer player of all-time. Bayern Munchen's loss was CSKA Moscow's gain as they picked Route up for the next Russian Premier League season.

ROSTER:

GK - Benjamin Buckwis (Club: Feyenoord Rotterdam)
DR - Cameron Carter-Vickers (Club: Tottenham Hotspur)
DCR - Tristan Miller (Second Nationality with Kiribati) (Club: Tottenham Hotspur)
DCL - John Brooks (Club: Ipswich Town)
DL - Patricio Trejo (Second Nationality with El Salvador) (Club: Santos Laguna)
MCR - Emerson Hyndman (Club: Stoke City)
MC - Keaton Parks (Club: Belenenses)
MCL - Gabino Gutierrez (Club: Queretaro) (On loan from Santos Laguna)
STCR - Shane Route (C) (Club: CSKA Moscow)
STC - Pete Gunner (Club: RSC Anderlecht)
STCL - Sage Thompson (Club: Ipswich Town)

SUBSTITUTES:

S1 - Jack O'Neill (GK) (Club: Brann)
S2 - Kellyn Acosta (DRL, DM) (Club: Colorado Rapids)
S3 - Peter Chan (MLC, AMRC) (Club: Aston Villa) (On loan from Liverpool)
S4 - Jordan Morris (STC) (Club: Colorado Rapids)
S5 - Matt Miazga (DC) (Club: Rosenborg)
S6 - Christian Pulisic (MRL, AMRLC) (Club: Newcastle United)
S7 - Gyasi Zardes (M, AMRL, STC) (Club: D.C. United)
S8 - Tyler Adams (DL, DM) (Club: D.C. United)
S9 - Michael Bradley (DM, MC) (Club: Orlando City)
S10 - Ethan Horvath (GK) (Club: Club Brugge)
S11 - Brett Jones (DC) (Club: Houston Dynamo)
S12 - Wil Trapp (DM, MC) (Club: Columbus Crew)

2022 WORLD CUP RESULTS:

Canada 0, Poland 0

(This game was notable for Canada GK Robert Yang playing 84 minutes with a broken neck)

Serbia 3, Iran 0
Serbia: Luka Jovic ('7, '63)
Filip Kostic ('71)

MATCH 1 VS. SOUTH KOREA

What an agonizing wait for a goal. 24 shots (12 on target) for the United States. 2 shots (0 on target) for South Korea. Final score: United States 1, South Korea 0. Do you see the problem here? Pete Gunner scored the only goal of the game in the 75th minute. It makes you really wonder where the killer instinct from the 8-0 friendly away victory over France went.

United States 1, South Korea 0
United States: Pete Gunner ('75)

Norway 3, Gabon 0
Norway: Trond Pedersen ('12)
Sander Svendsen ('53)
Odd Jasper Aldersson ('89)

Ivory Coast 2, Scotland 1
Ivory Coast: Wilfried Zaha ('46)
Baba Traore ('71)
Scotland: Matt Phillips ('15)

(Scotland fans must be utterly gutted)

Costa Rica 2, Denmark 2
Costa Rica: Joel Campbell ('1)
David Ramirez ('61)
Denmark: Kasper Dolberg ('14, '79)

Germany 2, Australia 0
Germany: Axel Martensen (pen '28)
Johann Benkert ('76)

Ghana 4, Colombia 3
Ghana: Dauda Mohammed ('20)
Bernard Mensah ('28)
Fuseini Asiedu ('44)
Eugene Ansah ('90+3)
Colombia: Davinson Sanchez ('2)
Miguel Borja ('16, '47)

(Eugene Ansah won on the last kick of the game on an Olympic corner on FM... I've seen it all, now.)

Kosovo 3, Trinidad & Tobago 1
Kosovo: Bersant Celina ('14)
Fitim Azemi ('73)
Hekuran Kryeziu ('88)
Trinidad & Tobago: Ricardo John ('5)

Iceland 4, Brazil 0
Iceland: Osvald Jarl Ingolfsson ('17)
Alfred Finnbogason ('27, '62, '90+1)

Papua New Guinea 3, Portugal 2
Papua New Guinea: David Browne ('1, '37)
Rodney Mobiha ('71)
Portugal: Cristiano Ronaldo (pen '9)
Bernardo Silva ('68)

(Biggest... upset... ever...)

Senegal 4, Peru 1
Senegal: Amath N'Diaye ('8, '53)
Keita Balde ('33, '36)
Peru: Alexander Succar ('82)

Jamaica 5, France 0
Jamaica: Daniel Johnson ('12)
Leon Bailey ('36)
Tyrone Muir ('70)
Kemar Roofe ('83, '86)

Ukraine 4, Guinea-Bissau 1
Ukraine: Andriy Yarmolenko ('22)
Mykyta Burda ('28)
Artem Besedin ('48)
Olexandr Zinchenko ('61)
Guinea-Bissau: Ronaldo Vieira ('5)

Japan 0, Uruguay 0

Italy 2, Croatia 1
Italy: Gianluca Busce ('42)
Stephan El Shaarawy ('85)
Croatia: Mateo Kovacic ('64)

Canada 2, Serbia 0
Canada: Russell Teibert ('44)
Gershon Koffie ('68)

Iran 1, Poland 0
Iran: Alireza Jahanbakhsh ('65)

MATCH 2 VS. GABON
A much-needed turnaround from the South Korea game saw the United States thrash Gabon 6-0. Nice. One of the goals was Pete Gunner scoring from an nearly impossible angle in the 51st minute. He would eventually net a hat trick for the USA. We are now through to the knockout round, but there was some concerning news as Sage Thompson suffered a minor injury (bruised head) during the game.

United States 6, Gabon 0
United States: Shane Route ('6)
Pete Gunner ('28, '51, pen '57)
Sage Thompson ('32)
Gabino Gutierrez ('62)

Norway 2, South Korea 0
Norway: Odd Jasper Aldersson ('16)
Hallvard Steen ('76)

Scotland 2, Costa Rica 1
Scotland: Jack Harper ('15, '33)
Costa Rica: Lawrence McManus (og '17)

Denmark 2, Ivory Coast 1
Denmark: Niels Born Stab ('45+1, '48)
Ivory Coast: Baba Traore ('89)

Australia 3, Ghana 1
Australia: Tom Rogic ('13)
Daniel Hayes ('40, '48)
Ghana: Dauda Mohammed ('57)

Colombia 0, Germany 0

Brazil 6, Trinidad & Tobago 0
Brazil: Neymar ('4)
Gabriel Barbosa ('13, '68)
Rafinha ('40)
Otavio ('58)
Fred ('89)

Iceland 2, Kosovo 0
Iceland: Gylfi Sigurdsson ('24, '90)

Peru 2, Portugal 1
Peru: Miguel Trauco ('5)
Diego Munoz ('16)
Portugal: Goncalo Guedes ('22)

Papua New Guinea 1, Senegal 1
Papua New Guinea: Kila Iaravai ('33)
Senegal: Amath N'Diaye ('2)

(The Papuan underdog story continues...)

Guinea-Bissau 3, France 2
Guinea-Bissau: Federico Da Costa ('33, '49)
Toni Silva ('35)
France: Alexandre Lacazette ('20)
Anthony Martial ('84)

Jamaica 1, Ukraine 1
Jamaica: Leon Bailey ('23)
Ukraine: Artem Besedin ('1)

Uruguay 0, Croatia 0

Italy 4, Japan 2
Italy: Erminio Pedrini ('11)
Andrea Belotti ('19)
Federico Bernardeschi ('69, '82)
Japan: Yuta Kobayashi ('64)
Morayamo Fukujima ('84)

Iran 1, Canada 1
Iran: Mehdi Taremi ('29)
Canada: Rayan Germain ('10)

Serbia 4, Poland 3
Serbia: Filip Kostic ('31)
Nikola Stojiljkovic ('36, pen '89)
Andrija Zivkovic ('39)
Poland: Robert Lewandowski ('66)
Janusz Golaszewski ('83)
Stefan Blumer ('88)

Gabon 1, South Korea 0
Gabon: Guelor Kanga ('22)

MATCH 3 VS. NORWAY
I'm a believer in this team, ladies and gentlemen. After being down 2-1 with only 10 men on the pitch after Gabino Gutierrez's red card and needing at least a draw to seal 1st place in Group B, the United States came back and won 3-2, giving the USA fans something to remember for quite a long time.

United States 3, Norway 2
United States: Pete Gunner ('21, '49)
Sage Thompson ('52)
Norway: Lars Hvidsten ('4)
Odd Jasper Aldersson ('36)

Ivory Coast 3, Costa Rica 1
Ivory Coast: Jean-Baptiste Diomande ('15)
Baba Traore ('50, '89)
Costa Rica: Souleymane Doubai (og '40)

Scotland 1, Denmark 0
Scotland: Ryan Gauld (pen '20)

Colombia 3, Australia 1
Colombia: Miguel Borja ('5, '10)
James Rodriguez ('36)
Australia: Tom Rogic ('46)

Ghana 1, Germany 1
Ghana: Samuel Tetteh ('17)
Germany: Benjamin Ager ('9)

Brazil 1, Kosovo 0
Brazil: Neymar ('3)

Iceland 4, Trinidad & Tobago 0
Iceland: Alfred Finnbogason ('5, '50)
Ingvi Sigurjonsson ('13)
Duane Muckette (og '42)

Papua New Guinea 0, Peru 0

Senegal 2, Portugal 0
Senegal: Khouma Babacar ('84)
Pape Cheikh ('85)

Jamaica 4, Guinea-Bissau 1
Jamaica: Kemar Lawrence ('6)
Adul Seidl (og '52)
Tyrone Muir ('55)
Michail Antonio ('86)
Guinea-Bissau: Moreto Cassama ('54)

Ukraine 1, France 0
Ukraine: Sergiy Rybalka ('37)

Croatia 0, Japan 0

Uruguay 1, Italy 0
Uruguay: Nicolas Lopez ('71)

KNOCKOUT ROUND MATCHUPS:

Norway VS. Serbia
United States VS. Canada
Colombia VS. Ivory Coast
Germany VS. Scotland
Iceland VS. Papua New Guinea
Senegal VS. Brazil
Uruguay VS. Jamaica
Italy VS. Ukraine

Serbia 2, Norway 0
Serbia: Nikola Stojiljkovic ('1, '87)

ROUND OF 16 VS. CANADA
A bit of a scare at the end, but not enough for Canada to advance. Sage Thompson netted a brace in the 14th and 36th minutes to give the United States their 2nd-ever quarterfinal appearance in the World Cup, each coming after victories over one of their rivals. Canada had failed to exact revenge from the 2021 Confederations Cup against their border foes.

United States 2, Canada 1
United States: Sage Thompson ('14, '36)
Canada: Rayan Germain ('90+1)

Scotland 4, Germany 2
Scotland: Andrew Robertson ('18)
Ryan Christie ('38, '60)
Callum Paterson ('40)
Germany: Axel Martensen ('24)
Toni Probst ('42)

Colombia 1, Ivory Coast 0
Edwin Cardona ('54)

Senegal 0, Brazil 0
(Senegal win 5-4 on penalty kicks after 9 rounds)

Iceland 2, Papua New Guinea 1
Iceland: Porvaldur Sveinn Gretarsson ('72)
Ingvi Sigurjonsson ('90)
Papua New Guinea: David Browne ('24)

Italy 1, Ukraine 0
Italy: Andrea Belotti ('35)

Jamaica 2, Uruguay 1
Jamaica: Michail Antonio ('8)
Kemani Wright ('33)
Uruguay: Edinson Cavani ('69)

QUARTERFINAL MATCHUPS:

United States VS. Colombia

Serbia VS. Scotland

Senegal VS. Jamaica

Iceland VS. Italy

QUARTERFINAL VS. COLOMBIA
Dominant performance from the Rock N' Roll Children (Shane Route, Pete Gunner, Sage Thompson). All three of them managed to score in this game, with Route netting twice. Colombia had tried to erase the demons of Andres Escobar's own goal but failed on this occasion.

United States 4, Colombia 1
United States: Sage Thompson ('18)
Shane Route ('45, '62)
Pete Gunner ('57)
Colombia: Harold Preciado ('70)

Scotland 1, Serbia 0
Scotland: Anthony Ralston ('67)

(2 missed penalties, 1 apiece by both squads. What a crazy game)

Jamaica 2, Senegal 2
(Jamaica win 4-3 on penalty kicks after 5 rounds)

Italy 1, Iceland 0
Italy: Christian Ticciati ('41)

SEMIFINAL MATCHUPS:

Scotland VS. Jamaica

United States VS. Italy

Scotland 3, Jamaica 2 (aet)
Scotland: Matt Phillips ('31)
Jamie Collins ('38)
Jack Harper ('114)
Jamaica: Michail Antonio ('17)
Kemar Roofe ('89)

SEMIFINAL VS. ITALY
Here comes the final hurdle! We took a 2-0 lead over Italy to start the game, and although the Azzurri gave us a scare with an equalizing goal to make it 2-2 in the 59th minute, it wasn't enough as the United States relished a 5-3 victory. Toni Mattizimo managed to score twice for Italy against his nation of birth. There was some bad news for the USA, however, as Shane Route, who scored a hat trick in this game, was problematic for the United States in the final against Scotland with an injury.

United States 5, Italy 3
United States: Tristan Miller ('8)
Shane Route ('19, '70, '80)
Christian Pulisic ('67)
Italy: Toni Mattizimo ('25, pen '74)
Federico Bernardeschi ('59)

THIRD PLACE PLAYOFF:
Italy VS. Jamaica

FINAL:
Scotland VS. United States

Jamaica 1, Italy 0 (aet)
Jamaica: Kemar Roofe ('114)

FINAL VS. SCOTLAND
Infinite Dreams, man. After a spirited goaltending performance from Lawrence McManus of Scotland in the first 45 minutes, they finally cracked with 5 goals in the second half and couldn't recover, ensuring the title would finally come to the Stars and Stripes. I love this game sometimes (no, seriously!)

United States 5, Scotland 0
United States: Shane Route ('52)
Sage Thompson ('55, '61)
Christian Pulisic ('63)
Pete Gunner ('82)