Consistent play, comprehensive preparations and a slew of talented players – many of whom helped see them through to the quarter-finals at Korea/Japan 2002 – ensured the United States can look forward to a fifth consecutive appearance on the world's biggest stage at Germany 2006.

Gone are the days when the North American nation was derided as a second-tier footballing side, and coach Bruce Arena has his team believing that their capricious mix of young talents such as DaMarcus Beasley and Landon Donovan and wily old campaigners like Brian McBride and Claudio Reyna could be enough to see off the world's best.

Arena's Americans reached the 2006 FIFA World Cup™ with three matches still to play in the final round of North, Central American and Caribbean qualifying. And even with a loss late in the campaign to fellow qualifiers Costa Rica, the USA still finished top of the regional pack for the first time in their history.

With only one loss in their opening six final round matches, the US needed a win at home against arch-rivals Mexico on 3 September 2005 to book their place and a capacity crowd in Columbus, Ohio roared on the Stars and Stripes in one of the most colourful atmospheres ever seen at a football game in the United States.

Goals from Steve Ralston and Beasley saw the Americans defeat their neighbours to the south and kick off wild celebrations in and around Crew Stadium in the heart of the Midwest. "You'll look at it and say it's real easy and it's a breeze. But it's not a breeze. It's very difficult," Arena said of their qualifying campaign.

"I remember back to our first game in this round away in Trinidad and every game has been difficult, but I think our experiences over the last four years have positioned us to be successful, and our guys know how to win in big games."

In their three remaining qualifiers Arena – who has been coach since 1998 – took the opportunity to experiment with an eye on the finals in Germany. "The goal is 2006 and I need to look at everybody I can," Arena said after the final qualifier, a 2-0 win over Panama in Boston in which Taylor Twellman and Kyle Martino scored their first international goals.

After reaching the semi-finals of the inaugural FIFA World Cup in 1930, the USA's fortunes were decidedly less impressive for a long time, but they have been on an upward trajectory of late. After nearly a half century without reaching the finals (from 1950 to 1990) the States finally returned to the big stage at Italia 90. After reaching the second round as hosts four years later, they finishing last in their group at France 1998, but came out flying at Korea/Japan 2002.

Led by Donovan, Reyna and McBride, the Americans beat Portugal in their opener before knocking out Mexico in the second round to reach the quarter-finals where they lost to Germany. With a host of new players and the old guard from Korea/Japan still largely intact, the USA will be keen to improve on their performance of 2002 when they arrive in Hamburg – the German city they have selected as their home base – in the summer of 2006.