U.S. national team defender DeAndre Yedlin feels that quality players are "slipping through the net" in the program's development system and that the Americans would be wise to begin looking for new talent in non-traditional locales.
Yedlin, 24, plays for Newcastle in the Premier League after joining from Tottenham in 2016 and has also been a fixture in the U.S. setup -- making a name for himself at the 2014 World Cup in Brazil.
And speaking with NBCSports.com, Yedlin said: "I do think players are slipping through the net. It is a situation where we do need to reach out to some of the communities that maybe historically haven't been as interested in soccer or some of the poorer communities because I think there are kids slipping through the net. Just like there will be in any sport or in any country.
"I realize it is hard because the USA is such a big country. In that same sense there are that many more kids who could be the next ones who help us reach a World Cup final. You know? I think as big as a country America is, we should start trying to become a powerhouse in this sport."
Yedlin played under Jurgen Klinsmann in his first appearances for the Americans, and the German-born manager was often criticised for suggesting that the U.S. had to be realistic about its chances of winning the game's biggest prize.
However, former Seattle Sounder Yedlin disagreed with that attitude, saying he thinks the Americans need to "reevaluate things" if the team's goal is not to win the World Cup in the near future.
"For me, I want to win the World Cup. If that's not the goal then I don't think you should be playing. A lot of people will say that isn't realistic but for me, I will say 'why? Why isn't that realistic?'
"Leicester City won the Premier League and nobody thought that could happen but it did. If that's [winning the World Cup] not the ultimate goal then I think we should reevaluate things."
Although the U.S. missed out on the 2018 World Cup after an infamous loss to Trinidad and Tobago on the final day of qualifying, Yedlin, who played all 90 minutes of the 2-1 defeat, said he sees beyond the disappointment and thinks there is now a fresh opportunity for a new crop of talented young players like Christian Pulisic, Weston McKennie and Tyler Adams.
He said: "100 percent. I wouldn't call [missing the World Cup] a blessing in disguise but I think now, especially the guys that have come through it, now we feel what disappointment is like, not making the World Cup.
"Now there is going to be an extra gear that is hit to make sure we make the next one but not only make it but do well in it. Nobody wants to feel this way again. It gives us extra motivation, but it shouldn't come to the point where you need to feel that. But that's what it is and hopefully it helps us."
One of the first things the U.S. will need to do is a hire a new coach after Klinsmann's replacement Bruce Arena stepped down following the Americans' failure to reach Russia. That new coach is expected to be named sometime after the upcoming U.S. Soccer presidential election on Saturday.
One of the names that has been connected with the job is former Portland Timbers boss Caleb Porter, who managed Yedlin during his college career at the University of Akron.
"It's not something I've thought a lot about but I've had Caleb [as a coach] before and I'd definitely be happy with that, but whoever it is I am sure will be a good fit," Yedlin added.