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FIFA World Cup 2022 Qualified Team: United States
National Team
The USA has appeared at the World Cup 10 times. They hosted the tournament in 1994 and will co-host the World Cup in 2026 with Canada and Mexico.
Tim Howard saved 121 goals for USA and played at South Africa 2010 and Brazil 2014. Unfortunately, Howard retired from professional soccer/football and will not be seen in the World Cup this year.
Instead, at Qatar 2022 the USMNT will pin their hopes on Christian Pulisic who plays also as a winger for Chelsea and center back Walker Dwaine Zimmerman who plays for Nashville SC. The USA is in Group B with Iran who they lost to at France 1998. Is this their year to win back that loss?
Touring the United States
The USA doesn’t have an official language, but English is the most widely spoken followed by Spanish.
The ideal time to visit the USA would be either in the Spring or the Autumn when the weather is milder and the crowds are smaller. That being said, if you enjoy winter sports their are plenty of states that offer you the best slopes for the winter season.
You can’t visit the USA and not see the Grand Canyon National Park in South West Arizona. The Grand Canyon is a gorge that stretches 300km long and is 15km wide. It can take a full two days to tour the Grand Canyon and entrance fees are around USD$45. People can enjoy guided tours, mule trips or rafting along the Colorado River. There is also a Tusuyan Museum in the Park which has the remains of a small Ancestral Puebloan village.
Arguably the most famous city in the world ,New York, should be on everyone’s top destinations when touring the USA.
Famous sites to see include the Empire State Building, Rockefeller Plaza, and obviously Central Park that is located in Manhattan. Stroll through the city shopping and dining until your heart’s content.
At night you can catch a Broadway show or laugh at at a comedy standup bar. Don’t forget to see the Statue of Liberty which was the first thing many immigrants saw when entering the country. This statue is regarded universally as a symbol of freedom and democracy. The statue was a gift from France to the USA and was unveiled in 1886.
Music lovers can flock to the city of New Orleans, the birthplace of Louis Armstrong who is considered the godfather of jazz. New Orleans also has a fantastic World War II museum and the African American Museum.
For two weeks around Easter, Mardi Gras hits Louisiana and New Orleans where people celebrate with daily parades, dancing, and partying.
I can go on to explain more great cities, but in a country with over 19k cities, it is safe to say that there is a city and a site for everyone to enjoy.
Very briefly, some more great cities and their famous sites that are worth mentioning are:
Las Vegas, Nevada and the world-famous Vegas strip
Chicago, Illinois and Cloud Gate (also known as "The Bean")
Washington, D.C., and the Whitehouse
Los Angeles, California and the iconic "Hollywood" sign
Dining
The USA has some iconic dishes. Let's explore a few.
This may sound funny, but there is nothing like a good hot dog, especially from a street vendor. You'll definitely need to try a hot dog if you ever go to a baseball game - which you should!
In 1802 Thomas Jefferson after a trip to France introduced Mac and Cheese at a state dinner. This is the ultimate comfort food and can be topped with dozens of toppings.
If you are brave and happen to be in Colorado, try Rocky Mountain Oysters or criadillas which are fried bulls testicles.
Key Lime pie is delicious and is enjoyed in the Keys of Florida which is worth a visit itself. This pie is both tart and sweet and impossible to stop at just one slice.
Due to its unique diversity, the soccer/football players also have a lot to offer in international tournaments. This can be the year that the United States show their greatest talent ahead of their 2026 hosting of the World Cup.
