The USA Men's 7s Team had to defeat New Zealand if it wanted a shot at the Dubai 7s Cup Quarterfinals. The Eagles then needed some help from France - or Portugal, really - to beat Les Bleus in the standings. The USA got the results it wanted: a 14-12 injury-time win over New Zealand, and two more points than France in the point differential column for the Cup berth. The win against the All Blacks was also the first in the USA's history.

The tournament started with a 45-14 win over Portugal and saw six Eagles cross for tries: Perry Baker (2), Zach Test, Brett Thompson, Nate Augspurger, Garrett Bender, and Carlin Isles. Madison Hughes knocked over four conversions, and Augspurger added one.

The USA faced France in the second round, and although the Eagles made it interesting toward the end of the match, rallying for a 14-point deficit, the French triumphed 26-21 at the buzzer. Les Bleus led by two tries after six minutes, but then a Hughes-converted try from Maka Unufe gave the Americans some life into the break. After another France try (21-7), Brett Thompson scored two minutes after being subbed onto the pitch. Test followed with his second try of the tournament, and the two conversions saw a 21-all tie with two minutes on the clock.

France made the best of those remaining minutes, and sent Virimi Vakatawa over for the game-winner, 26-21.

That put all of the pressure on the round three game. New Zealand was 2-0, having defeated France 21-14 and Portugal 47-5. The Eagles not only needed to win, but needed help in the point differential column (France was playing Portugal in the final round).

Two minutes in, Baker dotted down his third try of the tournament, and Hughes connected on his eighth conversion. Baker was issued a yellow card in minute six, and New Zealand used that extra space to put DJ Forbes in for a try, which Gillies Kaka converted - 7-all at the break.

The All Blacks padded their lead three minutes into the second half, as Sam Dickson crossed for this fourth try, but the conversion missed, and that proved crucial. The Eagles had a lot of time with which to work, but finally struck in injury time, as Baker pulled away for the game-tying try. Hughes lined up the shot, and the extra points afforded the 14-12 win.

Meanwhile, France defeated Portugal 35-7 to finish 2-1 like the USA. France's point differential was +26; the USA's was +28.

The Eagles move onto the Cup Quarterfinals to face South Africa, and depending on results will play either England or Argentina in the subsequent round.