ST. PAUL, Minn. — With each game during this international window, the U.S. men’s national team had to face different kinds of opponents that presented different challenges. There was the feistiness of Peru and Chile. There was Mexico’s withering high pressure and possession game. The variety of opponent and approaches took place while giving some young players their first tastes of international soccer.

Tuesday’s encounter with Canada was the latest example of the U.S. facing a completely different style, and a very different kind of game. The match was physical from the get-go, against a team that was just as athletic as the USMNT is. And yet it proved to be the latest lesson this USMNT could learn while also winning, with Justin Ellis’ first-half goal proving to be the difference in a 1-0 win.

The USMNT entered the game attempting to put a halt to a Canadian winning streak of two matches, having been beaten in a friendly in September 2024 — with an interim manager in charge — and then the third-place game at the 2025 Concacaf Nations League, which was arguably the low point of Mauricio Pochettino’s tenure as U.S. manager. The former match was the first win by the Canadian men on U.S. soil in 67 years. Overall, the U.S. was amid of a three-game winless streak against Canada in all competitions, which was its worst such streak since a run of six between 1976 and 1986 (0-3-3).

Yet as Pochettino noted, this is a new era, one in which he has said he’s “starting from zero.” And while he once again featured a lineup that was a mix of veterans and youngsters, there were other more subtle changes.

You had Gio Reyna often operating at a deep-lying playmaker in the first half. There was Yunus Musah being tilted a bit further forward than he has been used to of late. You even had Auston Trusty being used as a stand-in left back. Teenage defender Neil Pierre helped the U.S. close the match out. Now is the time to experiment, given how early it is in the 2030 FIFA World Cup cycle, and Pochettino made full use of the opportunity.

“They deserve the credit,” Pochettino said of his players after the match. “I think not talking only about the result, it’s talking about in the way that we compete, and the way that we made that journey together. I think it was amazing and that is a starting point to keep going with the basis and the principle that we were talking about to develop and evolve in this way. So happy, so grateful to the players and to the whole staff because therefore it was massive. We played four games in two weeks and to play always with the same intensity, with the same commitment, with the same passion, that is a thing that we keep.”

The one constant throughout this window has been the way the young players have been difference-makers. On this occasion it was Ellis.

Midway through the first half, he looked like he would have to come off injured after receiving a hit to the leg in the 21st minute from Canada midfielder Stephen Eustaquio. When Ellis came back on, he was still limping, yet he looked spry enough eight minutes later. Some scintillating combination play between Alex Freeman and Malik Tillman saw Freeman’s centering feed hammered home by Ellis. There was a question of offside, but the goal was given. A U.S. Soccer spokesperson later told ESPN that Ellis sustained a right, lower-leg contusion and is being evaluated.

“Obviously number one, I just hope he’s OK. They’re doing all the tests now, so we’ll see,” Reyna said. “Again, he got his goal, which is pretty funny when you’re playing on one leg, but it shows the mentality he has and the hard work you put in to grind out the rest of the half. But no, he’s been great this camp. Worked very hard, obviously scoring two goals, all credit to him.”

It was one of the few bright passages of wide-open play in the first half. The rest bore a closer resemblance to a street fight. There were 22 fouls called in the opening 45 minutes — 42 for the game, according to TruMedia — and referee Steven Madrigal let quite a bit go. That led to increasing physicality and two yellow cards for each team.

The tenor of the game required intensity but also composure and discipline from the USMNT. That is often a vulnerability for young players, especially on the defensive end.

In the first half, Canada winger Jacob Shaffelburg tested the U.S. in plenty of one-on-one situations, but the U.S. defense — in this case, Freeman — was equal to it. In the second, possession tilted in Canada’s favor, as did its number of attacking chances. That required the U.S. to see out a game with a one-goal lead for the first time in this window. But the U.S., even with plenty of substitutions made, held firm.

These kinds of lessons are invaluable for the young players that took part. Tuesday’s game is likely to be replicated plenty of times in World Cup qualifying. Road matches will have their own special flavor, but this match was an example of what can be expected, even at home. This group of players will be better for the experience.

“I think today we had to earn it a bit more and I’m glad that everybody did,” defender Chris Richards said. “I mean, everybody came in there, they knew what their role was. If it was to clear balls and they had to clear balls, it was to win balls and it was to do that. But everybody came in, was excited to play for the national team and get a win.”

Ellis wasn’t the only inexperienced player to shine. Goalkeeper Brian Schwake looked composed in his first start for the USMNT and delivered a vital save when he touched Luc de Fougerolles’ volley off the crossbar in the 64th minute. George Campbell delivered a solid defensive performance alongside Richards and even created a clear chance for Julian Hall in the 71st minute.

“I think you can see the camaraderie that we have and the team spirits that we have, and that helps us in the moment we had tonight,” Schwake said. “We had difficult moments, but we did really well as a group to survive that and get the win in the sheet.”

Those kinds of performances are why this window has been an unqualified success. Sure, the four wins look great on paper, but as Pochettino has said throughout this window, what matters is the growth that the younger elements of the U.S. roster have shown. The time is now to give them the chance to get minutes and make mistakes as well as have successes. The fact that the U.S. was a perfect four wins from four matches is a bonus.

“I think honestly what we’re trying to create is an environment where guys can come in and obviously be themselves and continue to grow,” U.S. captain Tyler Adams said. “Like we said going into this camp, there’s no pressure for any of these kids to perform right now. A lot of them did perform right now, so they obviously set the standard. Now it’s about continuing to keep that standard.”

The next step, getting past Haiti in the quarterfinal stage of the Concacaf Nations League, takes place next month. It remains to be seen how much of this group will be involved, but the rate at which the younger elements of the squad are gaining experience and success remains impressive.