The United States Men’s National Team finds themselves in a familiar situation, facing rivals Canada in a knockout match, which has become somewhat of a tradition. Just weeks ago, the USMNT’s first-choice team emerged victorious in the Nations League with a 2-0 win. Now, it remains to be seen if their fringe players can replicate that result and secure a spot in the last four of the Gold Cup.

Leaving the group stage behind signifies a fresh start, especially in this tournament, as the level of competition rises significantly. This presents an opportunity for every player to prove themselves on a bigger stage. Those who haven’t been performing well have a chance to redeem themselves, while players like Jesus Ferreira, who has been shouldering the attacking responsibilities thus far, can demonstrate their abilities against stronger opponents. The ongoing debate surrounding the FC Dallas striker can only be silenced by consistently finding the back of the net and contributing to the team’s success in this tournament.