Thursday could be quite a night for the Aaronson family. As the U.S. men's national team looks to qualify for the upcoming Copa America, brothers Brenden and Paxten will both be looking to make their case for roles next summer. And the wild part is that, after all of those years competing together in their parents' basement, their USMNT careers have finally intertwined as they look to push towards next summer's tournament on home soil.
Brenden, of course, is a mainstay, a 2022 World Cup veteran with several years of top-level experience under his belt. His younger brother Paxten is cast as the newcomer, one of the youngest faces in an already-inexperienced squad that made his debut earlier this year.
Both could be key players for the U.S. in the years to come. They've made history already, becoming the ninth set of brothers to represent the USMNT, but on Thursday against Trinidad and Tobago, they could become the eighth set to be on the field alongside one another.
However, as they head towards what could be an unforgettable day, the siblings are facing vastly different situations in their club careers. While one brother is struggling to make his mark, the other is seen as a rising star, one poised for a breakout sooner or later.