American goalkeepers have plied their trade in Europe’s top leagues for decades. Fans are familiar with the likes of Brad Friedel, Kasey Keller, Tim Howard and Zack Steffen. But until recently, few knew that another American had been playing professionally in Italy for the past 17 years- Diego Moretti, captain of the U.S. Futsal National Team.

The task handed to Dusan Jakica when he was named head coach of the relaunched Futsal National Team in September 2019 was large. Without a pro futsal league in the U.S., he and assistant coaches Otto Orf and Pablo da Silva had only a few months to build a team that could compete at the regional World Cup qualifying tournament.