Johannesburg » Landon Donovan remembers the first time he played the Brazilians, when his under-23 team trudged off the field, victims of a 7-0 thrashing.

"I haven't beaten Brazil on any level," the U.S. forward said. "It would be amazing to do it tomorrow."

Amazing, unbelievable, spectacular -- any adjective would apply.

When the Americans play Brazil in the Confederation Cup final today, they have a chance to create a watershed moment in U.S. soccer. The Americans have never won a FIFA tournament -- this is the first time they've even made it to a final -- and a victory over the five-time World Cup champions would signal they are closer than ever to the likes of Spain, England, Argentina, Italy and Germany.

It would be a big hit back home, too, where fans who couldn't tell a corner kick from a handball just a few days ago have suddenly become soccer aficionados.

"For U.S. Soccer, this is a very special day," coach Bob Bradley said Saturday. "It's the first time we're playing in a final of a world competition like this, and to play against Brazil -- everybody knows their history -- is extra special."

The United States has beaten Brazil only once in 14 tries, and that 1-0 victory came in Los Angeles in the semifinals of the 1998 CONCACAF Gold Cup, the championship of North and Central America and the Caribbean.

Just last week, Brazil routed the Americans 3-0 in group play at the Confederations Cup. The loss left them on the verge of elimination, and had some critics calling for Bradley's job.

But the U.S. men turned their fortunes around immediately after that game, and are a different team now.

"Winning a major FIFA championship against Brazil, on the heels of beating Spain, the No. 1 team in the world, would be an extraordinary achievement," U.S. Soccer Federation president Sunil Gulati said. "American soccer is on a long-term ascendancy -- a win tomorrow would certainly help people appreciate that."

The Americans beat Egypt 3-0 to squeak through from the group stage. They then stunned top-ranked Spain with a 2-0 victory, ending the European champion's record 15-game winning streak.

And now, Brazil.

"This is a big opportunity for us, and one we don't get very often," Donovan said. "There's no promise that we'll ever get back to a final like this, so we've got to try to take advantage of it. If we lose we lose, but we're going to give everything we have."