"It’s amazing to me how quickly we’ve come from the lowest part and the lowest moment in U.S. Soccer history, to arguably the most bullish and optimistic."
That's United States soccer legend Alexi Lalas talking about America's remarkable turnaround ... from missing the 2018 World Cup -- an incredible embarrassment on a global stage -- to fielding a team stacked with young, uber-talented players like Christian Pulisic.
Of course, after 7-straight World Cups, 'Merica didn't qualify last go-around ... a disaster that prompted a host of changes in the U.