The notion that the U.S. men's national team's two recent off-FIFA-calendar friendlies against patchwork and overmatched opponents could carry some sort immediate significance seems like a bit of a stretch on the surface.
Just don't tell that to Sebastian Soto or Daryl Dike.
The two 20-year-old U.S. forwards will be spending the coming months with clubs in England's second tier, with Soto able to suit up for parent club Norwich after spending the first half of the season on loan in the Netherlands, while Dike has parlayed his rookie breakout with Orlando City into a deadline day loan to Barnsley.