Why are all the good players that are on the USA team, not american?

Question

Players like Claudio Reyna whos argentinian, Freedy Adu whos from Ghana, Ogugi Onwybu whos from Nigeria, Pablo Maestroini whos also argentinian, Lee Nuygen who Vietnameese and Carlos Bocanegra whos mexican. I bet in 5 years most of the players from the national team will not American.

Answer 1

The US team is a good representation of this country it has players with different cultural backgrounds but who are still as American as you and me. I believe that not to many players who are American with no Hispanic or African background were brought up playing baseball or football and not soccer. Argentina,Ghana,Nigeria and Mexico are countries where soccer is the number one sport. I agree with you about the players not being American in 5 years but I'm sure they will represent the US with the same respect and passion that the current team does.

Answer 2

Thats a valid question, and maybe in 5 years the USA may have all American players as a result of their emerging soccer academies.

I don't live in the states but I can imagine that the reason why the team has so many foreigners could be because it is not a traditional American sport and the interest shown in the game thus far is from immigrants; especially from latin America.

Answer 3

Reyna was born in New Jersey, Onyewu in Washington, Bocanegra in southern California. Adu moved here when he was eight, Mastroeni when he was four. You didn't mention some other "great" players, such as Frankie Hejduk and Landon Donovan (both southern California), Kasey Keller (Washington state), and DaMarcus Beasley (Indiana) -- and recently retired players, like Claudia Reyna. Then there's our 1950 squad that beat England in the World Cup....
You've already lost that bet of yours, bro.

Answer 4

Saying Onyewu is from Nigeria or Bocanegra is from Mexico is like saying I am Scottish. America is a land of immigrants, that's what makes us so powerful. We work through our differences. They are as American as apple pie if you ask me. Maybe the reason is our ancestors were the only ones with any determination left in this cruel world.

Answer 5

Because Americans are interested in football as a culture, and therefore very few players have the support and encouragement to become good players. Not to mention, as much as people may argue I think great football often runs in the blood, I guarantee you every good player has had someone who interested in/played football in their family. They also have cultures that are infused with football, making it a part of everyday life.

Answer 6

Because US is a country of immigrants. The only real Americans are the native American Indians. All other Americans have parents or grandparents or great-grandparents or ancestors from several generations back who came from another country and moved to the US.

Answer 7

In response to Tommiecat, American Football doesn't really need to be called football as there are very few times that the players use thier feet to move the ball, instead it needs to be called Tackle Ball as that's what the players do most of.

Answer 8

Because that's what America is all about. A nation of immigrants, a nation of opportunity. We are the world's melting pot, and there is no other nation on Earth so diverse, and so tolerant as the USA---that is and continues to be the great source of strength of this country. I'm proud of that.

PS--you also forgot Benny Feilheiber, born in Brazil.

Answer 9

Thats america for you, there is no such thing as an american since this whole place is scoundered by diffrent cultures, i am german and i live in america, i cheer for germany during the world cup, but i also supported my home country in the US, btw benny was from austria i bealive

Answer 10

actually they are american just from different backgrounds that is what makes the usa as a country great and the usa soccer team should take advantage of that