The US Soccer Federation has yet to make a decision on whether to participate.
Here’s why the US should accept the invite
The biggest reason why playing in the Copa America should be a no-brainer is that it would offer a huge opportunity. US players can test themselves against high quality opposition in games that matter. The US need to be in this competition because the US won’t be playing many games against higher-level opposition this year and moving forward due to its participation in the CONCACAF Nations League.
It is imperative that the US accept CONMEBOL’s invite
Since failing to qualify for the World Cup, US Soccer has done a decent job of scheduling games against quality teams. The friendlies featured three from Europe and three from South America. But they are not tournament games that matter.
Nothing can really replicate the experience and stakes of playing in a major international tournament. It is the reason why the US has missed out on the last two Olympics. The players in the player pool need more games against quality opposition. That’s a fact. If you want to be the best, you’ve got to beat the best. Teams like Argentina, Colombia and Brazil are clearly among the best in the world.
If US Soccer wants the MNT to become a premier international side, then they need to play in Copa America.
Another big reason is not so much concerned with the on-field product but more the fans of the team. After the disaster down in Trinidad & Tobago, US fans will have to go 19 months without their team playing a competitive game. In international soccer, that is an eternity.
Furthermore, US Soccer has already lost a number of fans and those that are still around are checked out on many levels. Should they accept the invite to the Copa America, the summer of 2019 will generate excitement for US Soccer.
In addition to playing in a premier international tournament, there is also the Gold Cup on home soil the following month. Always worth mentioning, should they win the Gold Cup that would qualify them for the 2021 Confederations Cup. Also, the USWNT are playing in the Women’s World Cup at the same time. There would be millions of people watching US Soccer teams for a solid two months.
At this point in time, with no World Cup to look forward to this summer, it’s an opportunity that US Soccer cannot afford to miss.
Several questions and issues
Apparently, there is a provision requiring clubs to release their players to the ten CONMEBOL teams and not to the six invited teams. That brings up an interesting dilemma: would the US send an “A” team or a “B” team?
The fact or allegation that USMMT leaders need to consider the tournament as optimal shows how far we have to go as a soccer nation. Mentally and soulfully it should never be a question as to whether we should or should not play. We should relish every chance to allow our players to develop and to gain exposure Not only exposure to the best opposition but exposure to European clubs for potentially signing on valuable team roster spots
Agreed with all of this, especially the last part. With no World Cup to show out for, the players need another big tournament to put themselves on the market for bigger and better clubs.
Send the younger generation and let them get their feet wet. I’m so convinced that the ISNT and USSF are chalked full of good ol boys and coach’s kids, that I would recommend Pulisic take his one time transfer to Croatia and get himself a solid run at a WC. My son plays at a high level (for a 15 year old and I won’t say who), he has access to a British passport and if they don’t get their sh*t together… He’s not playing for the USNT. They can kick rocks. They have shown no, zero, zilch, nada desire to field the best team possible. They ignore Hispanic kids, only give a sincere look at Academy players (excluding thousands of talented players that don’t reside near an Academy) and they refuse to spend money or incentivise clubs for development.
They are a laughing stock through and through.
Regardless of how dumb it would be for Pulisic to switch to Croatia, he can’t in any case. He’s cap-tied to the US after playing in any number of competitive games (Copa America 2016 and World Cup Qualifying). Please display some knowledge of the subject matter before saying dumb things.
What the coverage of Copa America 2019 on TV
MP & Silva acquired the rights to the tournament. They’ll sell them to interested US sports networks in the next year or two, so we won’t know for quite a while who’ll be broadcasting the games.
beIN Sports had it in 2015 and Fox Sports had it in 2016. Not sure who has it in 2019. Possible that it’s still TBD.
This is a no-brainer, the U.S should participate, they need the competition. I am even of the opinion that Copa America should be opened to all teams in All of the Americas, but that is another discussion.
Why are they inviting teams from Asia and not from the Caribbean instead? I would love to see a mini tournament with the likes of Cuba, Haiti, Trinidad, Jamaica etc… trying to qualify for a spot. If you invite Asian teams, you may as well throw in a couple of European and African teams. The whole idea is silly. Maybe not, they want to make sure a South American wins. They could invite Israel that never qualified for the WC because it has to play in Europe.
I hope the USMNT goes with a competitive team and make a strong showing, expecting them to win will be too much too ask, but if you can make it to the final then anything can happen