A largely inexperienced group did what its more accomplished colleagues did months prior: outlast Mexico in a final while building toward something bigger.
The U.S.'s semifinal opponent has built toward hosting the 2022 World Cup by becoming the Asian champion, and its relationship with this region is only just beginning.
The U.S. scored 20 seconds in vs. Canada and held on for the result that mattered, but beneath the surface there were some flaws that must be addressed.
The seriousness with which the U.S. and Mexico treat the Gold Cup often comes down to calendar convenience, but a regular, combined Copa América would fix that.