Soccer newsletter: It's win or go home for U.S. in World Cup

The U.S. national team is playing a do-or-die game against Iran in World Cup. To advance, the U.,S., must win or lose. The team has scored just twice in its last five games. It has the second-youngest roster in Qatar. Landon Donovan was voted into the National Soccer Hall of Fame. The newsletter also looks at Mexico's World cup struggles and MLS' expanded presence in the tournament. It also discusses the surprises of the World Cups so far. and the MLS’ expanded involvement in it.. Kevin Baxter, The Times” soccer writer, sends the newsletter.

Qatar was eliminated in two games. Costa Rica and goalkeeper Keylor Navas bounced back from a 7-0 drubbing by Spain to shut out Japan four days later.

Enner Valencia and Kylian Mbappe are the top scorers in the World Cup. Robert Lewandowski scored his first World cup goal for Poland. Spain is the first team to possess the ball more than 81% of the game and complete more that 1,000 passes in a World Cups. Lionel Messi scored twice against Mexico. MLS has 37 players in Qatar this month. The Galaxy do not have a player on the U.S. team. Canada and the United States have more players than half the total. Montreal has more former players. LAFC has less than a third of its players from MLS.

MLS players in the World Cup are Thiago Almada, Milos Degenek, Lucas Cavallini, Alistair Johnston, Mark Anthony Kaye, Ismaël Koné, Richie Laryea, Kamal Miller, Jonathan Osorio, James Pantemis, Samuel Piette, Dayne St. Clair and Jonathan O'Neil.