[browna]

Originally Posted by Sidney Crosby's Hat

They got into the fourth round in 1998:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1998_FI...%28CONCACAF%29

And in 1994, they were second only to Mexico and likely would have made it if it was 32 teams at that point. In fact, they were penalty kicks away from advancing after splitting two games 2-1 with Australia.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1994_FI...%28CONCACAF%29

Choked away 1998...Good in the group stages, but in the final round tying Jamica and Hondurus at home after get the doors blown off by the US and Mexico and that was it after 4 games of the 10 in that stage.

1994 was as close as possible, with a veteran team...had a chance against Mexico, at home, in the final game...win and they're in, and they tie the game. But lose that game, then onto Australia where they had the PK's (and TSN's feed went bad in extra time of that game) to get in.

Chicken and egg...the amount of money the CSA would've got from making the world cup is probably 20x thier current annual budget, which may have helped spurn more programs for youth and improved the program as a whole. Many of it also may have just got to waste with an inefficient management group heading the CSA at the time.