Before the Opening

In the nineteenth minute, Lucas burst into the box and won a penalty. Brooks took it and scored. The whole stadium chanted his name. In the seventy-second minute, the U.S. still led 1-0. Hayes turned toward the bench. Every camera moved at once. Mason stood. Boos and cheers rose together, two winds colliding. Brooks saw the substitution board from the field and frowned. The man coming off was Ethan Miller, the starting striker, not some fringe player. "He's really coming on," the commentator said, voice lifting. "Mason Carter will enter in a United States shirt here in Los Angeles." The fourth official raised the board. Number 26 for number 9. The moment Mason stepped over the line, the stadium noise turned sharp. "Don't drag us down!"