Win or lose, gold or silver—whatever the eventual outcome—what a young, inexperienced and unfancied U.S. men's national team accomplished during this summer’s Concacaf Gold Cup already ranked as one of the program’s most impressive modern-era achievements.
The number of young American men now contributing and winning at the sport’s top clubs, and their triumphant showing at June’s regional Nations League final four, is one sign that the U.S. is entering a new era. The commitment, learning curve and resolve demonstrated by the player pool’s second tier throughout the Gold Cup, and then during Sunday’s gripping final against rival Mexico, is yet another.