Before looking ahead a year, let’s look back four years.

After a thrilling victory over Mexico in the Nations League final, the U.S. men’s national team celebrated their success, with Ethan Horvath’s crucial penalty save in the 124th minute securing the win. The talented trio of Gio Reyna, Weston McKennie, and Christian Pulisic each found the back of the net in the 3-2 triumph, showcasing the promising future of American soccer. Following this achievement, a secondary team went on to defeat Mexico once more to claim victory in the Gold Cup later that summer.

It was a high point for the USMNT, certainly its highest point since 2014, if not longer. Expectations were rising for 2022, and the core’s timeline appeared to be converging on 2026 in the happiest accident of timing the sport of soccer has seen stateside, maybe ever.

Now, a year out from the World Cup on home soil, you can’t help but have an acute fear that this version of the USMNT peaked on that night in Denver, some five years early, in a competition far removed from the eyes of the world.