U.S. doesn’t have ‘divine right’ to play in World Cup

Michael Bradley warned that the United States does not have a “divine right” to play in the World Cup after the team’s qualification for the 2018 tournament was jeopardized by a disappointing upset defeat to Guatemala.

Another unexpected loss to the same opponent in Columbus on Tuesday would push head coach Jurgen Klinsmann’s side to the brink of missing out on the World Cup for the first time since 1986.

For different people, they turn on the television every four years and watch World Cups and see us there and think we have a divine right to be there.

Suffers embarrassing World Cup qualifying loss in Guatemala Bradley was involved in a strange defensive lapse that allowed Guatemala’s Carlos Ruiz to run clear of the U.S.

Klinsmann’s team experienced some nervous moments during this part of the cycle four years ago, needing to beat Guatemala in Kansas City in 2012 to get through to the Hex.

not having a “divine right” to play on the biggest stage of all, the make-up of the CONCACAF region, with far less strength in depth than Europe or South America, has enabled it to participate in the last seven World Cups consecutively.