JOHANNESBURG — Count the Confederations Cup as another step — a key step — in the United States' goal of joining football's elite.

Advancing from a group with the likes of Brazil, Italy and Egypt; the stunning semifinal victory over European champion Spain; playing the first FIFA final at any level for the men's team — albeit a 3-2 loss today to five-time World Cup champion Brazil — each achievement was part of the process.

It's a process that began with qualifying for the 1990 World Cup and ending a 40-year drought of appearances on the sport's biggest stage. Then came the 1994 World Cup on home soil and the start of Major League Soccer two years later.

Finishing 32nd out of the 32 teams at the 1998 World Cup was a setback, but the U.S. rebounded by reaching the quarterfinals four years later, beating Portugal and neighbor Mexico along the way.

The Americans then qualified for a fifth consecutive World Cup, but the 2006 tournament was another disappointment, with then-coach Bruce Arena's squad failing to advance from a group with Italy, the Czech Republic and Ghana. Still, the United States' 1-1 draw with Italy was the only blemish in an otherwise perfect run by the eventual champion.

"There has been a lot of work, a lot of things that have come together in the United States in soccer," U.S. coach Bob Bradley said. "Everything involved in Major League Soccer has been important. The fact that we've had players go to Europe and compete at that level. Our national team has had success in World Cups, and following success we've had disappointments.

"These are all lessons along the way," Bradley added. "It's not just something that has happened in the last few days. It's the result of efforts of a lot of people, and we feel that as we continue our march in the soccer world, this is an important step."

Eighteen players on the Americans' 23-man squad for this tournament are based in foreign leagues, yet the team hasn't forgotten the thousands of youth leagues dotted across the United States, the "Soccer Moms" who car pool their kids back and forth to practice, high school teams, the high level of University competition, and the development of a domestic professional league — all the while competing for attention with the top American sports of baseball, football and basketball.

"In the United States, other sports stand at the top," Bradley said. "In soccer, we're in a different world. We're not the only great team. We don't have the history of some of the other (sports).

"In that regard, we never forget that there are so many people in the U.S. that have contributed to the game...This success is a a reward for everyone that has put their heart and soul into the game in the U.S. And it doesn't mean that we're there yet. It's just a reward for people that have given a lot, and the idea is that we can keep going and continue the march."

Bradley won't have to wait long to continue the march. The coach departs Johannesburg at 6 p.m. Monday and is scheduled to arrive in Seattle at 8 p.m. Tuesday, in time for the Americans' first Gold Cup training session.