Description
Book SynopsisOctober 10, 2017. The U.S. men’s soccer team loses in Trinidad and Tobago, and fails to qualify for the 2018 World Cup. Winning soccer’s greatest prize never seemed more distant. Immediate fixes—a new coach, a revamped professional league, a commitment to coaching education—won’t put the USA in the global elite. The nation is too fractious, too litigious, too wrapped up in other sports, and too late to the game. In Why the U.S. Men Will Never Win the World Cup: A Historical and Cultural Reality Check, Beau Dure shows what American soccer is really up against. Using hundreds of sources to trace more than 100 years of history, Dure delves into the culture that only recently lost its disdain for the global game and still doesn’t have the depth of soccer insight and passion that much of the world has had for generations. The difficulty isn’t any single thing—the mismanagement of failed leagues, the inability to agree on a path forward, the lawsuits that stem from an inability to agree, or the unique American culture that treasures its homegrown sports. It’s everything. And yet, Why the U.S. Men Will Never Win the World Cup is ultimately optimistic. Dure argues that with the right long-term changes, the U.S. can build a soccer environment that consistently produces quality players, strong results, and a lot more fun on the international stage. Soccer fans and skeptics alike will find this a fascinating examination of America’s past, present, and future in the beautiful game.
Trade ReviewAmerican soccer fans who can’t take a punch should avoid this book. Beau Dure systematically demolishes the argument that soccer is “the sport of the future” in our nation as it stands. His prescriptions to fix the American game should be required reading for fans and administrators everywhere. -- Jamie Trecker, veteran soccer writer
Beau Dure meticulously connects the dots on the growth—sometimes encouraging, sometimes staggered, sometimes controversial—of the game in the U.S. as he makes a compelling argument as to why the American men will never win the World Cup. It is about evolution and not revolution. -- Michael Lewis, soccer writer, Newsday and The Guardian, and author of Soccer for Dummies
Why the U.S. Men Will Never Win the World Cup is a refreshing take on the obstacles and abilities unique to American soccer's history and culture. Beau Dure lays out compelling evidence to back the title's thesis as well as describing paths to success. Anyone who wants to see the U.S. men achieve international soccer success needs to read this to understand the soccer landscape in the U.S. This book lays out the challenge and outlines the path to the promised land—a World Cup victory for the U.S. men! The title may be right....if we don't heed Beau's advice! -- Peter Wilt, veteran soccer executive
Beau Dure was one of the most diligent and responsible journalists who covered the 2018 U.S. Soccer presidential campaign, and here too in Why the U.S. Men Will Never Win the World Cup, Beau has left no stone unturned. I do not agree with all of Beau’s provocative theses expressed in this book, but I am nonetheless (as always) impressed with his thorough research and interesting ideas. Anyone who is interested in the history of U.S. Soccer and/or its future will find this book a most informative read. -- Steve Gans, soccer attorney, executive and consultant, 2018 U.S. Soccer presidential candidate
