USA head coach Bruce Arena said the United States should not be staying home for the 2018 World Cup as the under-fire head coach accepted responsibility for the country’s failure to qualify.

The USA failed to reach the World Cup for the first time since 1986 after suffering a shock 2-1 loss at Trinidad and Tobago on Tuesday.

Speaking after USA’s capitulation as they attempted to secure an eighth successive World Cup berth, Arena said: “Clearly we are very disappointed. We had everything there for us today. No excuses for us not getting a second goal and coming away with at least a point.

“It’s a blemish for us. We should not be staying at home for this World Cup and I take responsibility.

“It never mattered to us the scores of the other games. We failed on the day. No excuses. We failed today. We should have walked off this field with at least a point.”