In hindsight, the ongoing U.S. U23 cycle enjoyed one brief spasm of success amid a sea of mediocrity. In 2000, a year after reaching the third-place game of the U17 World Cup, the U23 MNT finished fourth at the 2000 Olympics in Sydney. After winning its group, the U.S. topped Japan in penalties in the quarters before bowing out to Spain and then losing the bronze medal to Chile.
It was the closest the U.S. has come to a medal since the tournament was reorganized as a U23 event for the Spain 1992 Games. In their three other Olympic appearances, they won a game but crashed out in the group stage.
