It’s Still Possible to Be Excited About the World Cup

Photo: Vincent Carchietta/USSF/Getty Images I have been writing about my optimism and excitement over the future of the United States Men’s Soccer Team (USMNT) for so long that there are pieces than ran in this publication (“Leitch: Is 2014 the Year Soccer in America (Truly) Goes Mainstream?”) almost as old as players on the current team. I’ve long adored the USMNT because of its specific place in the American sporting landscape: It’s the only real national team we