SANTA CLARA, Calif. — In his efforts to move American soccer along, Coach Jurgen Klinsmann has underscored the importance of the U.S. men’s team testing itself against greater competition.

Geography, however, creates limitations. World Cup qualifiers and the Gold Cup involve opponents from a regional sect that the United States and Mexico have ruled for 25 years. One gains only so much from matches against El Salvador and Jamaica.

Jurgen Klinsmann, the U.S. men's soccer coach, says his team's goal in the Copa America isn't simply to get out of a tough four-team group with Colombia, Paraguay and Costa Rica, but to then win a quarterfinal match.

Copa America Centenario

WHAT: Copa America Centenario 16-team soccer tournament

WHEN: Friday through June 26

U.S. SCHEDULE: vs. Colombia (Friday, 9:30 p.m.); vs. Costa Rica (Tuesday, 8 p.m.); vs. Paraguay (7 p.m. June 11)

OUTLOOK

The Americans have won 6 of 7 matches this year, although in the only outings that mattered, they split two World Cup qualifiers with lowly Guatemala. A 4-0 victory over Bolivia on Saturday in the final pre-Copa test offered encouragement.

As hosts, the Americans are almost obligated to advance out of group play. Drawn into the tournament’s most-balanced group with Colombia, Costa Rica and Paraguay, they are neither clear favorites nor heavy underdogs in any match. Goal differential could become a deciding factor in determining the group’s two quarterfinalists.

Klinsmann has retained the core of a squad that escaped the World Cup’s so-called Group of Death two years ago. But his positional deployment and tactics have come under constant scrutiny and critics have questioned whether the program is making progress.

Change has come in goal, where Brad Guzan supplanted the 2014 hero, Tim Howard. Geoff Cameron and John Brooks must function in a central defensive partnership. Fabian Johnson, the team’s most complete player, probably will fill a glaring void at left back instead of operating on the wing.

Striker Jozy Altidore is sidelined again by a hamstring injury, but Bobby Wood, Gyasi Zardes, Darlington Nagbe and Christian Pulisic, 17, supply fresh attacking options.

– The Washington Post

Beyond CONCACAF’s borders, the opportunity to play up a level rests with the World Cup every fourth year, with inconsequential friendlies and, on rare occasion, pop-up tournaments.

So that’s why Klinsmann has gushed for months about Copa America Centenario, a 16-nation festival involving the primary countries of South America and a half-dozen northern guests for 24 days of high-end soccer.

The U.S. will open group play Friday night against Colombia before more than 60,000 at Levi’s Stadium. Costa Rica, a CONCACAF colleague that rolled to the World Cup quarterfinals two years ago, and Paraguay round out the most balanced of the four first-round quartets.

Copa America is a South American party. The four-year rotation brought it to Chile last summer. But to celebrate the 100th anniversary – and make a bundle off ticket sales, rights fees and sponsorships – organizers hatched the idea of a true championship of the Americas.

If not for this tournament, Klinsmann probably would have arranged friendlies against teams prepping for the European Championship. The balance of the summer would have been spent monitoring in-season MLS players, keeping touch with vacationing foreign-based figures and making plans for the resumption of World Cup qualifying in September.

Instead his team is tossed in a tournament featuring Lionel Messi and World Cup runner-up Argentina, reigning Copa America champion Chile, Brazil and Mexico, among others. Five of the top nine ranked teams in the world will play.

“We can measure ourselves with the big, big names from down south,” he said. “So it’s huge.”

Copa America comes in the wake of the Americans missing out on another competition involving teams outside their comfort zone: the 2017 FIFA Confederations Cup in Russia, an eight-nation dress rehearsal for the 2018 World Cup.

The U.S. had two chances last year to clinch its first Confederations berth since 2009 but failed to win the Gold Cup and lost a special playoff to Mexico in extra time at the Rose Bowl.

Klinsmann took it hard, lamenting a lost opportunity to play the likes of World Cup champion Germany and this summer’s European winner, and get a feel for Russian stadiums and logistics.

Copa America offers upgraded competition on a global stage. Each time since 1993, South American organizers have invited two guest teams. The Americans last appeared in 2007 in Venezuela but sent a B team because of scheduling conflicts with the Gold Cup.

“Being in CONCACAF, we don’t get the opportunity to participate every time,” midfielder Michael Bradley said. “And so when opportunities come around, you want to take full advantage – a chance to play big games against big teams in moments that really count.”

The tournament comes at a critical time for Klinsmann, who is approaching his fifth anniversary at the helm. There have been accomplishments (winning the 2013 Gold Cup and escaping the so-called Group of Death at the 2014 World Cup) but also a fourth-place finish in last year’s Gold Cup, a sluggish start to the 2018 qualifiers, and scrutiny of his player selections and tactics.

Interest in the team also has waned. Though several factors are involved, each of the last five U.S. home friendlies has failed to draw 10,000 spectators. Many, if not most, of Friday’s crowd will support Colombia: According to Ticketbis, Colombians have purchased 75 percent of the seats on the resale market.

Copa America offers the chance to re-engage with fans and rekindle attention.

The Americans seem to be finding their way: They won all three tuneups by a combined 8-1 to improve to 6-1 in 2016; every regular is healthy, except for sidelined striker Jozy Altidore, and the lineup appears to have taken shape without as many head-scratching choices.

“Our goal is to get out of that very difficult group and we believe that we will do that,” Klinsmann said. “We have to learn in a tournament how to get to the next level and, in Copa America, it’s winning your quarterfinal. This is our goal. We want to play six games in this tournament, and we believe this roster is very hungry, very determined.”

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