Get out of the group, and then we'll see what happens.
That was the message from US Soccer Federation president Sunil Gulati this weekend regarding what would be an acceptable result for Jurgen Klinsmann's US men's national team this summer's FIFA World Cup in Brazil.
"Everyone wants to get through the first round: That's our goal," Gulati told NBCSN during halftime of Saturday's Chicago Fire-New England Revolution match. "Jurgen has said, 'Our World Cup final is that first game against Ghana.' If we start well, there's no reason we can't get through the first round. Then it's a knockout competition.
"So get through the first round and then we dream about more."
Gulati also discussed the recent firing of US women's national team coach Tom Sermanni, who was suddenly let go last month, just a year or so away from the 2015 Women's World Cup, to be held in Canada. Reasons for Sermanni's dismissal reportedly revolved around differences in philosophy about the direction of the team.
The search for a replacement should be done by the middle of May, according to Gulati, with three or four candidates set to interview in the next few weeks.
"We want someone who can take a very strong leadership position," Gulati said, "and they've got to be able to do it very quickly since qualifying is around the corner and then hopefully the World Cup next summer."
