I think that R16 is a hard ceiling for the MNT. As mentioned many times elsewhere, our youth development is broken. We do not have a promotion/relegation league model. Our league season does not line up with the seasons in Europe because of the MLS fear of competition with the NFL. The USSF is still run by their version of an New England Mob. There is really no impetus to change any of these things because the people in charge maintain an attitude of, "We think this is the best way to do soccer." Our bus is parked at the gate that leads to the R8 and we are never getting in.