The USMNT has faced challenges in achieving greater success in international soccer despite the United States being a global leader in other major sports. The team's performance in the World Cup has been limited, with early exits in multiple tournaments and only a few deep runs in its history. This underperformance is notable given the country's population and overall athletic infrastructure.
Soccer also contends with deeply entrenched competition from sports like American football, basketball, and baseball, which dominate the cultural and media landscape. As a result, soccer has a smaller share of youth participation, media attention, and investment compared to these sports, which may hinder the development of elite-level talent. The domestic popularity of soccer remains lower than that of other major leagues, affecting long-term player development and national team competitiveness.
Sources: https://www.morningbrew.com/stories/why-is-the-usmnt-not-better-at-soccer