Three months after a dismal 2024 Copa America group-stage exit, the United States men's national team returned to action for the September international window under different management and a renewed desire to prove themselves.
But the promise of change and growth lasted mere minutes as Canada exposed the American team's ongoing weaknesses and lack of harmony with a 2-1 victory in Kansas City, Kansas on Saturday.
In what could have been the perfect opportunity to dispel concerns of a downward spiral and instill hope to an apprehensive fanbase, Saturday's limp performance emphasized the immense work that must be done by the USMNT on the path to the 2026 FIFA World Cup.