The U.S. men’s national team will be spectators during the 2018 World Cup in Russia after a 2-1 loss to at Trinidad and Tobago on Tuesday night in the final match of the hexagonal group stage. That ended a run of seven straight American appearances on the World stage.
“We let down an entire nation today,” said defender Omar Gonzalez, whose 17th-minute own goal started the collapse.
Christian Pulisic, the 19-year-old rising star, scored 47 minutes in, giving the U.S. hope.
USA needed just a draw to qualify depending on the other CONCACAF games (Honduras 3, Mexico 2; Panama 2, Costa Rica 1) but unfortunately couldn’t come back from being two goals down, ending a shocking qualifying campaign.