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The United States men’s national team punched its ticket for 2022 World Cup in Qatar — with a rather disappointing 2-0 loss to Costa Rica — on Wednesday for the first time since 2013. Just under a decade has passed since the last time USA qualified for World Cup.
The world looked quite different on Sept. 10, 2013, when the USMNT defeated Mexico 2-0 to secure a place at the 2014 World Cup. Landon Donovan and Eddie Johnson scored the two goals in that game. It has already been over six years since the two players retired, with Johnson calling it a career in 2015 and Donovan in 2014 (Donovan would unretire a couple times afterwards).
The author of this article was just starting high school back when the USMNT was World Cup bound. Needless to say, it’s been quite a long time. Here’s a list of some other topics going on in 2013 to show how different the world looked.
How Different The World Looked The Last Time USA Qualified For World Cup
A total of 3,123 days passed between the U.S. qualifying for the World Cup. Thanks for that, Trinidad and Tobago. Here’s what else was going on at the time.
Katy Perry’s “Roar” Was The No. 1 Song
This is aging me horribly, has it really been that long? Yes, it has. Who knows, the USMNT might have played this in the locker room after securing a trip to Brazil. “Roar” overtook Robin Thicke’s “Blurred Lines” at No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100. Perry lasted two weeks at No. 1 before Miley Cyrus came in like a wrecking ball.
Vine Was The Most Popular Free App On The App Store
People were doing the Harlem Shake trend and shouting phrases like “do it for the Vine!” the last time the U.S. qualified for the World Cup. If that doesn’t age you, I don’t know what will.
Gas Prices Were $3.51 Per Gallon
We’ve really come full circle, haven’t we?
Barcelona Just Signed This Talented Kid Named Neymar
Three months before the USMNT qualified for the World Cup, Barcelona spent nearly $100 million on this talented kid from Brazil who was playing for Santos. I wonder how his career will turn out.
Pulisic Would Turn 15 One Week Later
On Sept. 10, 2013, the U.S. qualified for the Brazil World Cup. Eight days later, Christian Pulisic turned 15 and was still playing club ball in Pennsylvania. In 2015 he headed overseas to Dortmund, and in 2022 he scored a hat trick to send the U.S. to Qatar. Time flies.
