Granted. However, the US has had pretty respectable showings in international competitions recently. A top 8 finish in the World Cup in 1998, Gold Cup Championships, strong showings in the Copa America, consistently one of the top teams in CONCACAF, victories over strong international powerhouses such as Germany, Mexico, and was the only team that Italy (the eventual champions) did not defeat in the last World Cup.
These are pretty strong indicators that the US is, and has been, producing some highly talented players who are more than capable of competing at very high levels.
The US has a reasonable team with a great work ethic. But sorry, not “highly talented players”. Not yet. When you produce a Zidane, Cantona, Ronaldo, Giggs, Beckham or Rooney - somebody who can take the game by the scruff of the neck and blow the opposition away with a moment of brilliance - then you will be respected at the top table.
The US is very similar to South Korea in the 2002 World Cup - they got to the semis but South Korean players are yet to storm the world.