USMNT (US Men’s National Team) manager of five and a half years, Jürgen Klinsmann was sacked on November 21st, following a devastating 4-0 loss against Costa Rica. The former German international was under immense pressure as the U.S failed to earn a single point in the opening two World Cup qualifying matches against Mexico and Costa Rica. As reports of his dismissal as manager emerged, Klinsmann lashed out, stating that his critics “don’t understand soccer or the team.”

Klinsmann’s five and a half year tenure came to a disappointing conclusion as Bruce Arena, former national team manager and member of the National Soccer Hall of Fame, was announced to become the German’s successor. Arena takes over a fractured team floating at the bottom of the World Cup qualifying group raising concerns as to how the U.S will qualify for the Russia 2018 World Cup. The U.S has not failed to qualify for a World Cup since 1994, when they were the host nation. U.S soccer fans will look to Arena to continue to uphold the tradition of World Cup participation with positive results from the remaining eight matches in the qualifying round.

The USMNT faces off against Honduras on March 24th, 2017 on the third matchday of the qualifiers. U.S soccer fans will look to Arena to deliver a much needed win to qualify for Russia 2018.