He should have been as club football is the groundwork.
Look at what Morocco did. And they only had games against teams from Africa to qualify.
They are loaded with European club experience. Those players who were not on a European club team and played well in the WC will find themselves with a European contract offer most likely.
Making these regional statements without taking into account the club team players play on is fairly silly. The US certainly does not hope the total experience of all its players comes from the MLS. Now if you swear by early childhood development and early teen development Im guessing basic skills can come from anywhere if the time is put in. If every kid on the street is enthralled with manipulating a soccer ball you got a chance. (I don’t know where one would go in the US to find this.)