The long march back to the world stage for the United States after failing to make the 2018 World Cup began in Leiria, Portugal with a friendly featuring a host of fresh faces under interim head coach Dave Sarachan. With little to play for but the launch of a new generation of players, the Americans played to a 1-1 draw with a Portuguese "B" squad.
Positives
The youth. Even before the match commenced, the theme of the day was established through the American lineup. Young players who could be a major part of getting the U.