Former United States captain Claudio Reyna believes that the nation can qualify for the knockout rounds of the World Cup in Brazil.
The USA, who are coached by ex-German international Jurgen Klinsmann, will have to take on Ghana, Germany and Portugal before possibly reaching the final 16 for a second successive time.
"I've got a feeling we can do well and get out of it," Reyna told BBC Sport. "It will take some big performances, but qualifying for the knockout stage would be a huge success."
The team, which includes former Tottenham Hotspur midfielder Clint Dempsey, will take on Ghana in Natal tonight to open their Group G campaign.
The Black Stars won their last two meetings with the USA in the 2006 and 2010 World Cup tournaments.
