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Much has changed since Bruce Arena last coached U.S. soccer, but core job remains

When Bruce Arena took the U.S. national soccer team coaching helm for the first time, Christian Pulisic was 41 days old. In Arena’s second U.S. tour, Pulisic is the program’s prized young marvel.

When Arena left D.C. United in the fall of 1998 after three glowing seasons, MLS featured 12 teams, an uncertain future and a finite player pool for international matches. Next year, the circuit will grow to 22 clubs, stand on solid financial ground and yield a bounty of candidates for selection.

The U.S. Soccer Federation was a financial mess; today, it’s able to provide every resource necessary.