Until 2018...

Four years ago, this was how it ended. 

Yesterday Belgium dominated the match. Fifa's stats show US had possession 52-48, but for scoring attempts Belgium had 38. US only 14.

Tim Howard had a record 16 saves. The Belgian goalie, 4.

Belgium had chance after chance, in great space, and couldn't get it by Howard. Honestly, it seemed that most of them were not the best of finishes, mostly going right at Howard. There were a couple that Howard got just an inch of boot on, enough to redirect it. Moving forward it is worrisome how much our team was consistently outplayed and had to rely on superb goalkeeping.

After all that, right at the end of normal time, Wondolowski had a point blank chance at an open net and pushed it over. It happens.

And then in Extra Time, Belgium had two quick goals and it was all over. Might as well put in Julian Green, the 19-year-old who was often cited as someone who should have been left off the roster in favor of Donovan. Two minutes in, his first touch finds the back of the net.

And suddenly, after the game was all over, the US side unleashes their best attack yet. Ten minutes of pressure and excitement. Jones had a chance in front of the net and pushed it wide. Dempsey was on the receiving end of a brilliant set piece and should have, could have, sent the game to penalties.

In the end, Belgium got the win they deserved. But the last gasp of the Americans showed promise for the future.

I've been a fan of the World Cup since 1998. 2010 was really the first time that I got into the US team. (I really blew it in 2002) But now I'm in.

In July 2015, the USA will play in the CONCACAF Gold Cup. (The US have won this 5 times, most recently in 2013.)

In June 2016, the USA will play in a special 100th anniversary (of CONMEBOL) tournament called the Copa Americao Centenario, hosted in the US, featuring the best teams from North America and South America.

In June 2017, there is the Fifa Confederations Cup. This is an 8-team tournament held a year prior to the World Cup, in the World Cup's location. This features the current champions of the 6 regions, the reigning World Cup holder, and the host nation. (For the record, in 2013 Spain was both the reigning World Cup holder (2010) and the champion of Europe (Euro 2012). As the runner-up of Euro 2012, Italy represented the European spot.) The CONCACAF spot is determined by a play-off game between the winners of the 2013 and 2015 Gold Cup. Since the USA won the 2013 contest, winning the 2015 Gold Cup would secure their spot in the Confederations Cup. (Also for the record, something I knew nothing about in the lead-up to the 2010 World Cup, the US actually finished second at the 2009 Confederations Cup and had a 2-0 lead at half-time over Brazil, before losing 2-3. They beat Spain 2-0 in 2009, in the middle of Spain's run of three consecutive major trophies (Euro 2008, World Cup 2010, Euro 2012).

And then of course in June 2018, the US will have another shot at the World Cup. Which is really the only trophy that matters for international teams. The US team will likely look much different and may not be prepared yet for a deep run. But based on recent success of advancing out of the group stages, I suspect that a deep run will be coming in the next 20 years. Perhaps 2022, perhaps 2026 when the US could be a potential host nation. It may not be coming soon, but I believe it is coming.