The USMNT are building real momentum heading into their clash with Mexico, with Mauricio Pochettino's side recording back-to-back wins over South American opposition in a fall window that has given the programme genuine cause for optimism. A 4-1 dismantling of Peru was followed by a 4-2 victory over Chile, and the results alone tell only part of the story. It is the manner of the performances, and the players driving them, that has defined this camp.

Teenagers have taken centre stage across both fixtures. Seventeen-year-old Borussia Dortmund starlet Mathis Albert became the youngest scorer in USMNT history in the modern era when he came off the bench to seal the Chile win, surpassing a record previously held by Christian Pulisic. Julian Hall, 18, scored in both games and has quickly established himself as one of the most exciting names in the squad. Sebastian Berhalter provided the senior spine to both performances, scoring and assisting in each fixture to earn Man of the Match recognition against Chile.

The youth movement is the clear story of this window, but Pochettino has also had to manage transition off the pitch. World Cup captain Tim Ream announced his retirement from international duty this week after 86 caps, closing a significant chapter in the programme's recent history.

With Mexico next up at State Farm Stadium in Glendale, the USMNT carry confidence and form into their most high-profile fixture of the window.