PHILADELPHIA — Cristian Roldan knows his window of opportunity is wide open, but even now, the word “doubt” is in his vocabulary.

Ten weeks ago, the 30-year-old midfielder’s chances of making the U.S. men’s national team roster for next summer’s World Cup were near zero.

Roldan’s last cap for the national team was in the 2023 Gold Cup. He planned a vacation during the September international window, for which he wasn’t even on the provisional roster.

Events then interceded.