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USMNT: 3 reasons to be excited about 2020

By Adnan Bašić

ORLANDO, FL - NOVEMBER 15: the United States defender Sergino Dest (18) looks to pass the ball during the CONCACAF Nations League soccer match between the Canada and United States on November 15, 2019 at Explorer Stadium in Orlando, FL. (Photo by Andrew Bershaw/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
ORLANDO, FL - NOVEMBER 15: the United States defender Sergino Dest (18) looks to pass the ball during the CONCACAF Nations League soccer match between the Canada and United States on November 15, 2019 at Explorer Stadium in Orlando, FL. (Photo by Andrew Bershaw/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) /
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COUVA, TRINIDAD AND TOBAGO – OCTOBER 10: Christian Pulisic of the United States mens national team reacts to their loss to Trinidad and Tobago during the FIFA World Cup Qualifier match between Trinidad and Tobago at the Ato Boldon Stadium on October 10, 2017 in Couva, Trinidad And Tobago. (Photo by Ashley Allen/Getty Images)
COUVA, TRINIDAD AND TOBAGO – OCTOBER 10: Christian Pulisic of the United States mens national team reacts to their loss to Trinidad and Tobago during the FIFA World Cup Qualifier match between Trinidad and Tobago at the Ato Boldon Stadium on October 10, 2017 in Couva, Trinidad And Tobago. (Photo by Ashley Allen/Getty Images) /

2. Revenge in qualifying

There haven’t been many important games to look forward to in recent years for the US. Most of the games have been friendlies, where the result barely matters. Even the Gold Cup has lost its significance, as fans really only start caring about the tournament at the semi-final stage when only the big teams are left standing.

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That changes this year. The USMNT will start their World Cup qualifying campaign in September. The format is a little different than before as CONCACAF will start off with the ‘Hexagonal’ round this time, with the highest-ranked teams on the continent making it in. There is a second chance for whoever finishes fourth as they will take on the winner of the lower-seeded round, which is a mini-tournament of its own.

The US won’t be worried about that as their goal should be finishing at the very top of the Hex. They’ve done it plenty of times before, and expectations should not be dragged down for any reason. Mexico is the only other country with more raw talent. Anything below a second-place finish should be deemed a failure. And not making the World Cup again is unthinkable.

At the very least, it will be interesting to see how the USMNT’s young core will handle the pressure of these games. Friendlies are easy enough since nothing is on the line, but the intensity levels rise once qualification starts. Can these young Americans cope or will they crumble like their predecessors? Only time will tell.

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