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Refocused USMNT Light on Expectation Claims as World Cup Qualifying Resumes

AUSTIN, Texas — There’s been next to no discussion this week concerning point totals or targets, big-picture goals or evolution. Nobody’s talking about making statements to the rest of Concacaf, reflecting on Couva or envisioning Qatar.

The U.S. men’s national team tried that a month ago. It didn’t feel right and it didn’t really pay off. So now it’s about Jamaica, and only Jamaica, as the second World Cup qualifying window opens here in the Texas capital.

“The whole team is really just focused in on this match,” defender Miles Robinson said Wednesday, the day before the Americans (1-0-2) meet the Reggae Boyz (0-2-1) at Austin FC’s Q2 Stadium in the first of three qualifiers in seven days.