1930 FIFA World Cup - Uruguay (host, winner)
In the early years, the USA reached the semi-finals of the first ever World Cup (1930), although only 13 nations took part. In the semi-finals, the US was dominated by Argentina by a score of 6:1. Argentina ended up placing second in the 1930 World Cup.

1934 FIFA World Cup - Italy (host, winner)
In the 1934 FIFA World Cup, the US didn't fare so well. They were knocked out in the Preliminary Round by the eventual champions Italy by a score of 7:1. Exactly 25,000 people witnessed the beating the United States took. The only American goal scorer was Aldo Donelli.

1938 FIFA World Cup - France (host), Italy (winner)
The Americans did not qualify for the 1938 FIFA World Cup. However, defending champions Italy did qualify (automatically) and won for the second straight time, defeating Hungary by a score of 4:2.

War Hiatus
There were no World Cups in between 1938 and 1950 due to World War II. However, when 1950 rolled around, the 4th World Cup was to be played in the South American country of Brazil.

1950 FIFA World Cup - Brazil (host), Uruguay (winner)
In qualifying for the 1950 FIFA World Cup, the US was placed in a group with Mexico and Cuba. Heavy favorites Mexico dominated the group by running the table and earning 12 points. The US post a 1-2-1 record and earned 4 points. This put them three points ahead of tiny Cuba, and gave them enough to qualify.

In the World Cup, the US didn't play too well, but they did knock off England, something the US is still proud of to this day. Other teams in the group were Chile and Spain. The Americans first match was against Chile. Chile rolled to a 5:2 win. The US then had to face England. The US pulled off a miraculous upset, beating the English 1:0 behind a Joseph Gaetjens goal. The United States then had to face the eventual group winner, Spain. The US took an early surprise lead in the 17th minute. However, Spain rolled off three goals in ten minutes to earn the win.

1954 FIFA World Cup - Switzerland (host), Germany FR (winner)
In qualification for the 1954 FIFA World Cup, the US was placed in Group 11, which included Mexico and Haiti. The Mexicans again dominated the group, but the US improved on their point total from the last World Cup qualification. The US posted a 2-2-0 record, and ended up with six points. Both US wins came against Haiti. Although the US was second in the group, they did not qualify for the 1954 FIFA World Cup.

1958 FIFA World Cup - Sweden (host), Brazil (winner)
For the first time ever, the FIFA World Cup received international television coverage. The Americans were the ones watching this World Cup on TV, as they did not qualify. In the preliminaries, the US was paired with Mexico and Canada. The United States was dominated by Mexico twice (aggregate 13:2), and Canada also walked over the Americans (aggregate 8:3). The US ended up with 0 points, and missed out on the World Cup for the second straight time.

1962 FIFA World Cup - Chile (host), Brazil (winner)
US woes continued after the 1958 World Cup. In the preliminaries for the 1962 World Cup, Group 1 contained the Americans and Mexico. The US produced a 3:3 tie at Wrigley Field, but lost 3:0 on the road against Mexico, and as a result, missed the World Cup for the third time in a row.

1966 FIFA World Cup - England (host, winner)
The US continued to be off track en route to 1966 England. This World Cup's CONCACAF preliminary Group 3 include the Mexicans, the USA, and Honduras. The US again fell victim to mighty Mexico, losing on an aggregate of 4:2. The US scraped out a 1:0 win against Honduras, but in the second leg, the Americans had to settle with a 1:1 tie. The US was left out of the World Cup yet again.

The United States continued to struggle in qualifying for a FIFA World Cup for the next 24 years. Finally, in Italy 1990, the US was back on the international scene.

1990 FIFA World Cup - Italy (host), Germany FR (winner)
The US got back into the World Cup, thanks to a great qualifying run. The US opened up qualifying in the National Stadium in Kingston, Jamaica, which is still a place the US don't like to play. The United States then beat Jamaica at Busch Memorial Stadium in St. Louis, Missouri by a score of 5:1.

The US was then thrown into a final group of five teams. Those teams include the US, Costa Rica, Trinidad and Tobago, Guatemala, and El Salvador. The US started off shaky, losing 1:0 to Costa Rica on the road. However, the US avenged their loss with a 1:0 win at Busch Memorial Stadium. Next up for the US was Trinidad and Tobago. The US tied Trinidad and Tobago 1:1 on the road. With four points, the US needed a win. That win came against Guatemala, as the US won 2:1. The US continued to be hot, downing both El Salvador and Trinidad and Tobago 1:0.

In the World Cup, the US lost their hot streak. The Americans were placed in Group A, which included Italy, Czechoslovakia, and Austria. The US posted an unimpressive 0-3-0 record, and ended up with no points.

1994 FIFA World Cup - USA (host), Brazil (winner)
Since the Americans hosted the World Cup, they qualified automatically. However, the CONCACAF preliminaries were dominated by Mexico yet again.

The United States was in Group A. Group A was compromised of Romania, Switzerland, and Colombia. The US opened up the World Cup with a 1:0 loss to Romania at the Rose Bowl in Los Angeles, California. The US bounced back with a 2:1 win against Colombia. However, the Colombia game will always be remembered for Andres Escobar's own goal to give the US the lead. Shortly after returning home to Colombia, Escobar was murdered in a parking lot. To close out group play, the US tied Switzerland 1:1 in Detroit, Michigan.

In the round of 16, the US was paired up against heavy favorites Brazil. The Brazilians won narrowly by a margin of 1:0. The only goal came from the famous Bebeto in the 72nd minute. The game was watched by 84,147 people.

1998 FIFA World Cup - France (host, winner)
In preliminaries for the 1998 World Cup, the final group included the US, Mexico, Jamaica, Costa Rica, El Salvador, and Canada. The US posted a 4-1-5 record and gained 17 points, only one behind league leader Mexico.

The US again started off qualification against Jamaica at the National Stadium ("The Office"). The game ended in a 0:0 tie. The Americans then played host to their neighbors to the north, and beat them 3:0. Next up for the US was Costa Rica. The Americans played the Costa Ricans tight on the road, but Costa Rica ended up the victors, winning 3:2. The US then faced their rivals, Mexico. The US tied Mexico 2:2 at Foxboro Stadium. Next was El Salvador. The US tied the Salvadoreans 1:1. The US continued play in their large group, knocking off Costa Rica 1:0, and tying Jamaica 1:1. The US concluded it's qualification with a 0:0 tie against Mexico, and a 4:2 win against El Salvador.

The US was put in Group F, which contained a tough Germany team, as well as Yugoslavia, and Iran. The Americans bowed out of the 1998 World Cup with a 0-3-0 record, and 0 points.

2002 FIFA World Cup - (Korea/Japan, hosts), Brazil (winner)
The 2002 FIFA World Cup was the first World Cup hosted by two nations. It was also one of the best World Cups the Americans have ever had.

The US was paired with Korea Republic, Portugal, and Poland. The American's first match was against Portugal. In a shocker, the US knocked off the fancied Portuguese 3-2.

Korea was the next match for the US. The US tied Korea, thanks to a Clint Mathis goal.

To end group play, the United States gave up a 3-1 result to Poland. The result saw them end group play with four points. Thanks to Korea edging Portugal 1-0, the Stars and Stripes were through to the Round of 16.

In the Round of 16, the US knocked off hated Mexico 2-0 behind Brian McBride and Landon Donovan goals.

In the quarterfinals, the miraculous run was upended by world superpowers Germany. Although the US controlled possession and held many of the chances, Germany escaped with a 1-0 win to knock the US out of the 2002 FIFA World Cup.