Biggest Wins by the USMNT
By
Blake Roberts
Founder & Editor in Chief Updated: 04 January 2023
Blake Roberts Founder & Editor in Chief
Blake Roberts is the founder of Betting.US and is currently heading the creative team as Editor in Chief. Born and raised in Morgantown, West Virginia, Blake is a great sports fan, with football and basketball being his favorite. He’s our trusted voice for all betting-related matters.
Biggest Wins by the USMNT
With the 2022 FIFA World Cup nearing its conclusion, there’s no better time than now to reflect on the USA soccer team wins of the past. The US Men’s National Team (USMNT) has done the nation proud on many occasions, and we want to highlight their most important victories in this comprehensive guide.
- 🇺🇸 About the USMNT
- ⚽ The Best Wins
- 🔟 2014 World Cup vs. Ghana
- 9️⃣ 1994 World Cup vs. Colombia
- 8️⃣ 2010 World Cup vs. Algeria
- 7️⃣ 1989 World Cup Qualification vs. Trinidad and Tobago
- 6️⃣1998 Gold Cup Semifinal vs. Brazil
- 5️⃣1930 World Cup vs. Belgium
- 4️⃣2002 World Cup vs. Mexico
- 3️⃣2009 Confederations Cup Semifinal vs. Spain
- 2️⃣2002 World Cup vs. Portugal
- 1️⃣1950 World Cup vs. England
- ❓ Frequently Asked Questions
About the USMNT
The first US national men’s soccer team was formed in 1885 for an international match against Canada. Although it wasn’t successful, the team quickly improved. Its first performance at a major international sporting tournament was at the 1904 Summer Olympics in St. Louis, where it would win silver and bronze medals.
The USA had become such a formidable team that it played in the first FIFA World Cup in 1930 in Uruguay. That year, US forward Bert Patenaude earned the distinct honor of kicking the first hat trick in World Cup history. The team would come in third place, which is its highest place in the World Cup to date.
Despite never earning a tournament victory, there are plenty of team USA soccer World Cup wins to celebrate. Many US bettors also enjoy betting on soccer games with the USMNT during the World Cup due to the huge excitement around the games and the attractive odds.
The Best Wins
In the 2022 World Cup, the USMNT was grouped with England, Wales, and Iran in Group B. The team advanced to the knockout round without losing a game, but were evicted after a 1-3 defeat to Netherlands. As the team regroups, lets take the time to acknowledge the best USA World Cup victories.
10. 2014 World Cup vs. Ghana
This Group G match was held at Estadio das Dunas in Natal Brazil, and delivered one of the most exciting games of US football in recent memory. After 31 seconds of play, the USA’s Clint Demsey kicked the first goal of the match in what would become the most viewed US soccer game.
At the 82nd minute, Ghana scored to even the score. Then, four minutes later, John Brooks netted a header to bring a 2-1 score that resulted in perhaps the best USMNT win of the tournament. It was even more poetic considering the fact that Ghana had eliminated the US in its previous two World Cups.
9. 1994 World Cup vs. Colombia
This tense game is so memorable because it was hard to tell who would win up until the very last moment. In the first round, the US had a draw with Switzerland 1-1. In the second round, the US team was facing Colombia, which before the World Cup was riding high on a 28-game unbeaten streak.
Both teams had to win to progress. The game saw both teams have great scoring opportunities but the attacks were hampered by formidable defenses. At last, US forward John Harkes managed to net the ball beyond a tight defense to bring the score to 1-0.
8. 2010 World Cup vs. Algeria
This game was extremely important as it came off the back of a disappointing performance in the 2006 World Cup. With a revamped national team led by Clint Dempsey, this debut game had soccer fans watching closely. What unfolded was a tense match that by the 90th minute still had not produced any goals.
This changed just after the 90-minute mark, after Clint Dempsey’s shot was saved by the Algerian goalie, Landon Donovan scored one of the most memorable USMNT goals off the rebound. This would put the US team in a 1-0 lead that they would hold until the whistle blew. The team would later be evicted by Ghana.
7. 1989 World Cup Qualification vs. Trinidad and Tobago
This game is considered the best USMNT win by many fans of a certain generation as it would send the team to its first World Cup in 40 years. The game was fast-paced and tense, and within the first few minutes, John Harkes made an attempt at the goal. He was unsuccessful.
After preventing two attempts at goal from the Trinidad and Tobago team, US forward Paul Caligiuri shot a left-footer to score 1-0 for the US. The goal was dubbed ‘the shot heard around the world,’ by US commentators and though their opponents tried, the score was never equalized.
6. 1998 Gold Cup Semifinal vs. Brazil
This game stunned the soccer world> when the USA defeated Brazil, who were at that point the defending World Cup champions. With the chances to win against the number 1 team looking slim, the USMNT remained determined. After US player Kasey Keller successfully defended a barrage of shot, Brazil’s Romario famously shook his hand in admiration.
Then, in the 65th minute, USA’s Preki scored in the 65th minute. Keller continued to defend the goal against a mad Brazillian attack at the goal until the whistle blew, with the US team winning 1-0. Keller saved 10 goals in total over the match in a career-defining performance.
5. 1930 World Cup vs. Belgium
This game will forever be remembered as the first US performance in a World Cup, which also happened to be the first ever FIFA World Cup. The game was held in Uruguay, and pit the US team against Belgium. It would also see Bert Patenaude scored the first hat trick in World Cup history.
The US team defeated Belgium with a 3-0 score. Surprisingly, it would later beat Paraguay with the same score. The US team went on to earn a third-place finish and established itself as a major player on the international soccer stage. This would be the first of many USA soccer team wins to remember.
4. 2002 World Cup vs. Mexico
This match is seen as many as a watershed moment that turned a previously flailing US team into a force to be respected. Before the game, it was believed that Mexico was the superior team and that the team would progress to its first fifth World Cup game.
This would not eventuate. The USA’s Brian McBride scored early in the first half to bring the score to 1-0. In the 65th minute, Landon Donovan would secure victory with a header. The 2-0 final score was considered to be one of the most significant in the US team’s history, as it helped shift the perception of the team.
3. 2009 Confederations Cup Semifinal vs. Spain
This games is considered to be one of the biggest upsets in recent football history, as the US team ended a 35-game unbeaten streak by Spain. Not only that, but the US team won by 2-0, a humbling result that sent the Spanish team licking their wounds.
In this semifinal match of the Confederations Cup, Spain had just beat Germany to become the Euros champions. Two goals from Jozy Altidore and Clint Dempsey saw the Spanish briefly dethroned as the number 1 ranked team, and would be the first goals the Spanish team had conceded in 17 games.
2. 2002 World Cup vs. Portugal
At the beginning of the 2002 World Cup, many had picked Portugal to be a favorite to win the tournament. Then, in the opening match of the US team, the USA would prove that they were a force to be reckoned with by winning the match with a 3-2 score.
The game got off to an explosive start, with the US team scoring three first-half goals to end the half with a 3-0 score. Despite conceding two goals in the second half, the US team hung on to their lead. The US team would eventually make it to the quarterfinals in their best performance since the 1930 World Cup.
1. 1950 World Cup vs. England
Our pick for the USMNT biggest win has to be the showdown between the USA and England in the 1950 World Cup. Leading up to the match, the US team was considered to be the underdogs that stood little chance of taking on the formidable English team.
To the shock of the football world, the US team would win 1-0 in what is called the ‘Miracle on the Grass.’ This would be the last World Cup for the US team in 40 years, so the event would become immortalized as a high point for the team.
