A month before I watched Gio Reyna, Weston McKennie and Christian Pulisic score in the USA’s win over Mexico, I visited one of the Talent ID Centers to which U.S. Soccer invites boys and girls who had impressed regional scouts in club play.

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Soccer America Executive Editor Mike Woitalla has written freelance articles about soccer for more than 30 media outlets in nine nations. The winner of eight United Soccer Coaches Writing Contest awards,...