US coach wants more support for World Cup dream

A serious World Cup challenge by the United States will require better backing from football supporters, US coach Bruce Arena, seen here 2002, said as his squad prepares for a qualifying showdown here against Mexico

A serious World Cup challenge by the United States will require better backing from football supporters, US coach Bruce Arena said as his squad prepares for a qualifying showdown here against Mexico.

Low US interest has condemned the US telecast of Saturday's match, which could clinch a US spot at the 2006 World Cup in Germany, to ESPN Classic, a cable sports network known for showing videotapes of events from bygone days.

"If we want this sport to grow, if we want to truly position ourselves to win a World Cup one day, we need to support the game at a higher level," Arena said in a Wednesday teleconference. "I think it's critical."

Citing the US team's rise from a woeful effort in 1998 at France to the 2002 quater-finals in South Korea, Arena said a similar jump is needed by supporters to enable Americans to join the ranks of football's global elite.

"It's time the American public steps forward and supporters of soccer in this country support our game by watching, by attending games, by buying soccer products, by being good consumers," Arena said.

"It's time for us to put up or shut up."

Arena said he understood how low ratings justify network decisions to dump US matches to lesser-seen outlets.

"It's the job of supporters of soccer in this country to be better supporters of the game," he said. "When we demonstrate better ratings, we have a case to deserve prime time."

The fifth-ranked Mexicans lead qualifying at 5-0 with one draw. The sixth-rated US squad is 5-1, the lone defeat a 2-1 loss at Mexico in March. A win by either would clinch a trip to Germany with three matches remaining.

"What defines where you can rate yourself is the World Cup," Arena said. "You have to show what you are about at the World Cup. Hopefully we will get to show what we can do."

Arena downplayed the idea his team could be a top-eight seeding in Germany, saying lackluster 1994 and 1998 results make it unlikely. But he does like the improvement his team has shown since ousting Mexico at the 2002 World Cup.

"There's a different level of maturity, positive experiences," he said. "We have had momentum since the 2002 World Cup. We've made steady progress. It hasn't always been perfect but you can see there is an air of confidence."

Arena said US-Mexico matches could one day rival the Brazil-Argentina and German-Dutch rivalries but added that smaller regional rivals would keep the continental qualifying a strong preparation for World Cup finals action.

"We haven't outgrown CONCACAF," Arena said. "I think you are going to see the smaller countries will continue to grow and we're going to have a very difficult time qualifying for the 2010 World Cup."

The only major absence from the US roster for Mexico is Manchester United goalkeeper Tim Howard, who is expecting the birth of his first child this week.