ORLANDO, Fla. — In the last World Cup qualifying cycle five years ago, the U.S. went into its penultimate game, in Orlando, needing a win over Panama to all but ensure a spot in the tournament.
The Americans won that game, but four days later they lost in Trinidad and Tobago, setting off a chain of bizarre events that ended with the U.S. missing the World Cup for the first time in 32 years.
Gregg Berhalter remembers viewing that last game helplessly from his living room in Columbus, Ohio.
