What is the “four-year cycle” for the USMNT?

At the 2014 World Cup in Brazil, after surviving the group of death, the US Men’s National Team had successfully reached the Round of 16. Their opponent in the knockout stage would be a quality Belgian team that was back in the World Cup for the first time since 2002. All of their hard work had come down to this elimination match at the Arena Fonte Nova.

After 120 minutes under the lights in Salvador, the USMNT never gave up in a 2-1 loss. Goalkeeper Tim Howard was so incredible he was named Man of the Match. His 15 saves is a World Cup single match record and it was a performance the entire country was talking about long after the final whistle. He single-handedly kept the team alive in…