- The United States men's
soccer team failed to qualify for the Olympic Games for a third consecutive time.. - Jason Kreis' side was beaten by Honduras 2-1 on Sunday.
- "We're devastated, absolutely devastated," Kreis said after.
The United States men's soccer team failed to qualify for a third consecutive Olympic Games as it was beaten in the semifinals of the CONCACAF qualifying tournament by Honduras on Sunday night.
Goals either side of half-time from Juan Carlos Obregón Jr. and Luis Palma sealed a 2-1 victory for Honduras, with San Jose Earthquakes midfielder Jackson Yueill scoring for the US.
Honduras, a tiny Central American nation with a population similar to that of Michigan, also beat the US at the same stage in qualification for the 2016 Rio Olympics.
Victory on Sunday booked its place in Tokyo, with the winners of both semifinals qualifying for this summer's Games.
"Obviously, we're devastated, absolutely devastated," head coach of the U23s Jason Kreis said after the match. "In our locker room, the guys are like it's a tragedy.
"We lose an opportunity to play in an international tournament with more pressure, where these players have to be in these environments and continue to improve with that pressure."
-U.S. Soccer YNT (@USYNT) March 29, 2021
The US men's soccer team last featured at the Olympics in 2008, when its roster featured a number of high profile names such as Freddy Adu, Michael Bradley, and Jozy Altidore.
Sunday's defeat to Honduras means it will now miss three consecutive Olympics for the first time in 50 years.
"I don't know that if I've ever seen a game where we've had players miscontrol the ball so much by going under people's feet, passing out of bounds," Kreis added.
"These are things that are just really - you just really kind of scratch your head, you think of, 'What's going on here?' But I also have been around the game enough in our country at a pro level to tell you this is what you see in pre-seasons and at the beginning of MLS seasons, it's typical."
Mexico beat Canada 2-0 in the second semifinal. The two nations will face off in what is essentially a friendly match on Tuesday.
By contrast to the failure of the men's team to qualify, the US Women's national team has not only qualified for the Tokyo Games, but is also heavy favorite to take home the gold.
The USWNT has won gold in four of the six Olympics in which women's soccer has been played, although in Rio 2016 the team finished only fifth.