Yanks in the World Cup? Oui!

The competition began with teams from 172 countries hustling to become one of the 30 that will join host France and reigning champion Brazil in the 1998 Soccer World Cup. Last weekend, the American team--historically a non-factor in this largest and most competitive of sporting events--gained a berth in the playoffs with a 3-0 win over Canada. While it must be noted that the best soccer in the hemisphere normally is played south of the Rio Grande, the U.S. accomplishment is a sensation and puts the Americans into the quadrennial Cup for the third time in 12 years (they qualified automatically in 1994 as the host country).

The U.S. team played match after match against the other teams of the Americas, more than 16 contests in all, yet the highest hurdle was breaking through the mainstream U.S. media’s obsession with more familiar sports.

If the U.S. team can make it to the second round, as it did in 1994, the soccer world will get a wake-up. The U.S. national program will have achieved the top plane.

Recognition goes to Steve Sampson, the first American-born coach to qualify a soccer team for the prestigious tournament. Also making a special mark are veteran players Marcelo Balboa, John Harkes and Tab Ramos, who have composed the backbone of the multiracial, multiethnic team since the 1990 World Cup in Italy. We wish the U.S. team a warm Bonne chance in France.