From summers of setbacks to summer of hope: With both teams in Olympic quarterfinals, U.S. soccer suddenly fun again

After 2023 World Cup and 2024 Copa America collapses, there's reason to dream again for U.S. women's and men's national teams

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  A disastrous start

  It's been well chronicled, so we'll be brief: the Copa America couldn't have gone much worse for the USMNT.

  After opening the tournament with a win over Bolivia, the U.S. seemed on their way. It all came crashing down against Panama, though. A loss to Los Canaleros put the U.S. up against it, leaving them needing a win over Uruguay ... that didn't happen. They were bounced out in the group stage. It was a disaster.

  Gregg Berhalter paid for it with his job, and rightfully so. A failure of those proportions required change, and it was Berhalter who suffered the consequences. The coaching search remains open and, until that hire is made - and depending on whom U.S. soccer chooses - the USMNT is in limbo.

  The next coach is will have much work to do. The Copa America proved that this team isn't as far along as many had hoped. With less than two years before the start of the World Cup, time is running out. If this team is to contend on home soil, it all needs to come together fast.

  There are concerns about this program. Will they be ready for 2026? Will this supposed Golden Generation ever live up to the hype? And truth be told, is this generation even golden at all?

  These questions didn't exist just a few months ago but now define the USMNT during a pivotal moment in this program's history.

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  A rapid start to the Hayes Era

  Heading into the Olympics, there were justifiable concerns about the immediate future of the USWNT. Everything was looking up, of course, thanks to the arrival of Emma Hayes, but there were still residual concerns from the 2023 failure - and with the Olympics around the corner, could she turn it around in time?

  The answer turned out to be an emphatic yes.

  Through three games, the USWNT have looked better than they have in years. They battered both Zambia and Germany before edging past Australia, winning the group while sending a message to the rest of the world: this team is back.

  An uncertain future and tempered expectations have suddenly turned into a legitimate quest for gold. Last summer's World Cup failure suddenly seems so long ago. And while this is largely the same roster, it's entered a new era, one that could potentially achieve the highest levels of success.

  For the long-term, Hayes clearly has a plan in place. Her short-term tactics are already on point, and that makes it even more exciting to see what her long-term vision could be. She's pushed all the right buttons so far; just wait until she actually has all of the options at her disposal.

  These Olympics have marked the USWNT's climb back towards the top. And it's only just beginning.

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  U23 men handle business

  It started off pretty poorly, to be honest. After a strong first-half against France, the wheels fell off in a 3-0 loss in the USMNT's opening match of the 2024 Olympics. The U23s would need two results to advance, and the margin for error had completely disappeared.

  But guess what? This team figured it out.

  Leading up to the tournament, there was much consternation about who wasn't on the squad. Diego Luna was probably the biggest snub, but players such as Ricardo Pepi and Rokas Pukstas, who were legitimate options, weren't released. Gio Reyna and Yunus Musah were eligible, but weren't involved.

  And yet? This team figured it out.

  After that humbling loss to France, they rebounded with a lopsided 4-1 win over New Zealand, a victory in a must-win game that gave the U.S. momentum heading into the group stage finale. Needing a win in that match to advance, and in control of their own destinty, the U23s blasted Guinea, 3-0, sealing a knockout round spot.

  And the most impressive part? How the young stars have stepped up. Kevin Paredes has balled out on the left-hand side. Tanner Tessmann has made a legitimate USMNT case in the middle. Djordje Mihailovic, one of this team's overage veteran leaders at 25, has been fantastic, providing the type of results to justify his place in the squad. Nathan Harriel is this team's unsung hero while John Tolkin has had plenty of bright moments at left-back.

  The future, both long and short-term, is bright. Yes, this is just the quarterfinals. Yes, it could all end in one game. But it's worth pausing to reflect on the accomplishment. Remember, the U.S. men last qualified for the Olympics in 2008, and now, for the first time since 2000, this team advanced to the knockout rounds. That year, they went to the bronze medal game - can they repeat that feat, or more, this time around?

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  The road ahead in the Olympics

  The USWNT suddenly have justifiable hopes of winning gold.

  First up is a quarterfinal against Japan, an old rival. The two teams met in the 2011 World Cup final, a legendary Japan win. The U.S. got their revenge one summer later to win gold at the Olympics in London in 2012. Then came another U.S. win in the 2015 Women's World Cup final.

  Can the Americans continue that hot streak this summer?

  If they do beat Japan, they'll face the winner of the Germany-Canada match in the semifinal knowing that they'll at least get a shot at a medal. Prior to the tournament, that was certainly the goal, but have the expectations changed? This team blitzed through the group stage, outscoring three opponents by a combined 9-2, the most goals the USWNT have ever scored in an Olympics the group. Given that potential path to the final, the U.S. will feel like they should keep winning and advancing.

  As for the men, this will be no easy task: their quarterfinal will see them face a tough Morocco team. Led by superstar Achraf Hakimi, Morocco topped Argentina both on the field and then in the group in these Olympics. This team is a legitimate force to be reckoned with.

  Hope is high for both teams. Both are just one victory away from a guaranteed chance at a medal. Given the chaos that preceded this tournament, it already feels as if its been a success.

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  Reason for hope

  Let's be clear: the hope has been there on the USWNT side, starting with the moment Hayes was announced. It seemingly became a matter of not if but when. Hayes is a fantastic coach, and eventually, this team would make a push to return to elite status among global soccer.

  But given this Olympics run, this group ahead of schedule and the expectations are already starting to shift. Can this team become the best in world again? Can they sustain it? From top to bottom, it seems that's Hayes' goal: to make this group undeniable again. That may take time, but it seems the USWNT are on their way.

  As for the men, the vibe is very different. The U23 level, like all youth teams, isn't really about winning; it's about identifying. Results are great, sure, but the most important thing is finding the next national team star - and it seems that this summer has a few contenders.

  With every youth team, the goal is to push three, maybe four, players into the senior team. It's easy to see a few in this group. Paredes will be there sooner or later. Tessmann will be, too. Aaronson and Tolkin are on the right path, while both Gaga Slonina and Patrick Schulte look set to duke it out for goalkeeping minutes for years to come. If any others, players such as Gianluca Busio, Caleb Wiley, Benja Cremaschi, Taylor Booth, Jack McGlynn, Taylor Booth or Griffin Yow, make it - that's the dream right there.

  Again, that's what this summer is now about: hope for the future. The USWNT's is bright. Players such as Trinity Rodman, Sophia Smith and Naomi Girma are just getting started. Mallory Swanson, Lindsey Horan, Emily Fox and Rose Lavelle aren't going anywhere. And once Jaedyn Shaw gets healthy? Look out.

  And while not on the level of the women's side, the USMNT's is getting there. Most of the men's roster is set for 2026, but there are players in these Olympics that are set to challenge them in the run up to the World Cup and beyond. Competition is good and, if the Copa America is any indication, the senior USMNT certainly needs it.

  American soccer isn't where it could be, or even should be, and there are numerous challenges, questions and concerns facing these teams - especially with the open coaching slot on the men's side - still ahead. But for the moment, some hope, and some fun, have returned to U.S. Soccer.

  If you need proof, just tune into the Olympics this weekend.