With so many expected qualifiers now facing a prolonged absence of competitive matches having not reached next year's World Cup in Russia, the mooted revival of the U.S. Cup provides reason for optimism.
According to ESPN, US Soccer is investigating the opportunity of arranging friendlies with Netherlands and Italy. However, why not go whole hog and revive the short-lived tournament from the 1990s?
A tournament that began in 1992 and concluded in 2000, the United States hosted an occasionally annual, sometimes biannual, international tournament involving themselves and three invited opponents.
Unlike the World Cup or European Championships, it was a competition that Ireland held some serious pedigree in; runners-up in 1996 and 2000.
You can watch Ireland being robbed of a victory in 2000 below, after going 1-0 ahead through Dominic Foley.
Initially intended to boost public interest for football in America, in its usual format, the four-team limit may well work against the Irish. Whatever the limits of our self-belief, Italy, Netherlands and Chile would be a pretty favourable alternative.
With that, it is surely favourable to expand the tournament to meet with the sudden plethora of international heavyweights not dining at football's current top-table.
Reminiscent of the older, more constrained European Championships, this could be an 8 team tournament providing quality throughout ... and Ireland.
With the U.S.A. a given, a tournament featuring Italy, Netherlands, Chile, Ghana, Ivory Coast, Ireland and perhaps a Gareth Bale-inspired Wales, could give the World Cup a real run for its money.
Maybe the one temptation that will lure Gigi Buffon back out of international retirement, the 2006 World Cup winner could perhaps add to his collection a tournament that slipped away from Italy in 1992.
Whatever happens, and whether Tuesday's disheartening thumping by Denmark would deem Ireland not worth the hassle is uncertain.
God knows we need something though to get us through the summer.
