Christian Pulisic’s first international goal came on a Saturday against Bolivia. It was May 28, 2016, a day that practically strapped a rocket to his back and launched him into U.S. Soccer lore. With that goal, Pulisic became the youngest scorer for the U.S. men’s national team in modern history.



Teenagers Josh Sargent and Timothy Weah’s first international goals each came on a Monday against Bolivia. It was May 28, 2018, two years practically to the minute since Pulisic’s dawn sun rose over the increasingly parched, cracked earth of the U.S. men’s national team. In the process, Weah became the fourth name on that list of youngest scorers, Sargent the fifth.



What is happening now is not hard to describe considering the circumstances. U.S. Soccer, shocked into action by its unthinkable World Cup failure, has been cowed into finally playing its next generation. With nothing left to lose, there is no excuse not to do this. That it required...