Why 2014 World Cup was different

One feature of the modern world is when nations want to advertise themselves their first thought is not to hold exhibitions of the sort Prince Albert, the consort of Queen Victoria, patented in the 19th century but to organise global sporting events. This has given Olympics and football World Cups a much higher profile than the Expos. But what makes the football World Cup special is that it is the one major event, and not just in sport, where the US is a minor player.

The US team failed to qualify for the World Cup for 40 years between 1950 and 1990 and, while its German coach Jurgen Klinsmann coaxed a good performance, it still came as a surprise that the country which calls football soccer even plays it , let alone at the highest level and with some distinction.