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

The U.S. men’s national team had just won a drama-packed Nations League final against Mexico, complete with Ethan Horvath saving a 124th-minute penalty to seal it. The goal scorers in a 3-2 win were Gio Reyna, Weston McKennie and Christian Pulisic, the three faces of the next generation. A B-squad would go on to beat Mexico again later that summer to win the Gold Cup.

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.