I Believe That We Will Win

May 15, 2018

West (The United States of Soccer) looks at all aspects of the U.S. men's national soccer team's prospects of winning the program's first World Cup. This analysis also includes the history of the World Cup and perspectives on the future of the U.S. men's program, with a strong emphasis on player development. As the U.S. team failed to qualify for the 2018 World Cup for the first time in several years, this is an incredibly timely and heavily researched book presents a road map for the United States winning the World Cup, or at least becoming more competitive in the future. The author is incredibly knowledgeable and interviews several players and analysts to get a better perspective on the team's chances of success. VERDICT Recommended for all soccer fans and readers interested in a deep dive into the U.S. men's soccer team, specifically the developmental program. Casual sports fans or readers may have a difficult time owing to West's lack of narrative style, making for an occasionally dense read.--Pamela Calfo, Baldwin Borough P.L., PA

Copyright 2018 Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

May 1, 2018
Call it an optimist's manifesto. The U.S. Men's National Team may be missing its first World Cup since 1986, but West, in a book titled with the popular fan chant, lays out his reasons for hope. Building in many ways on his The United States of Soccer (2016), he recaps how we got here, before surveying advancements in player-development academies, the rise of dual-national players, the next generation of U.S. stars in the making, traveling support, home-field advantage (the U.S. could be co-hosting the next World Cup in 2026), and how the rest of the world sees us. The wealth of information will certainly educate spectators whose moods swing with the score lines, and West's enthusiasm might even convince doubters that early youth-tournament exits aren't always the end of the world. On the other hand, this book is probably best suited for those passionate fans who've already jumped to conclusions of their own?but if West can play those doubters to a draw, he'll probably see that as a win.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2018, American Library Association.)