No matter what happens beyond group play in the 2022 World Cup, the U. S. Men's National Soccer Team will have one of its best finishes at the tournament. The U.S. World Cup history isn't particularly impressive, though the team has made a handful of deep runs.

Eight nations have won the World Cup since the first tournament in 1930, and the U.S. isn't one of them. The U.S. reached the semifinals of the inaugural World Cup when only 16 teams were in the field.

The second-best result came in 2002. The Americans made it to the tournament's quarterfinals for the second time. After advancing from Group D and defeating Mexico in the Round of 16, the U.S. was eliminated by Germany 1-0.

In 2010 and 2014, the USA nearly made it back to the quarterfinals. Ghana eliminated the USA 2-1 with an extra-time goal in a 2010 Round of 16 match. Four years later, the USA was once again defeated 2-1 in extra time, though it was Belgium that sent the Americans packing in their first knockout stage match of 2014.

The U.S. failed to qualify for the World Cup in 2018.

It was a major disappointment when the U.S. was unable to play in the last World Cup. For several decades, that was the norm.

The U.S. missed every World Cup from 1954-1986. Finally qualifying for the tournament for the first time in 10 tries, the U.S. lost all three of its matches in the 1990 group stage.

As the host nation in 1994, the U.S. made an appearance in the Round of 16 for the first time since 1934. In 1998, the U.S. finished in last place in its group.

Christian Pulisic
Christian Pulisic of the USMNT Getty Images