A short story, buried on the fourth page of the sports supplement: that's how the New York Times, one of America's most globally orientated of newspapers, marked what remains as U.S. Soccer's most sensational result to date and possibly one of the greatest underdog victories of any World Cup. In front of 10,000 fans in Belo Horizonte, a U.S team fielding three part-time players lined up for their second match of the 1950 World Cup hosted by Brazil. It was a fixture that promised only humiliation for the 500-1 outsiders, as their opponents were the supremely confident, superstar-studded and much-lauded originators of the game: England.
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U.S. faces Belgium in World Cup last-16 clash in Brazil on Tuesday
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Americans shocked the world by beating England in 1950 tournament
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Soccer is growing in popularity in U.S. as coverage spreads
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Team USA's success in group stage brought record audiences
"The average sports fan in the @placeholder is getting into football during this World Cup like never before.