U.S. Soccer – the governing body of all soccer activity in the United States – hosted an exclusive roster reveal event on Wednesday in New York City, where the federation announced the 26-man squad called up to represent the nation at the 2022 FIFA World Cup.
The U.S. men’s national team (USMNT) is set to partake in the World Cup finals for an 11th time, and the Stars and Stripes are 16th in the FIFA world rankings ahead of the 22nd edition of the world’s most prestigious sporting event.
Below we dissect the 26 players selected by USMNT head coach Gregg Berhalter to travel to Qatar:
– Goalkeepers
Starting at the back, three U.S. goalkeepers have been called up to the World Cup.
Regular keeper Matt Turner has earned 20 caps with the USMNT but he has enjoyed limited minutes since completing a move to Premier League team Arsenal in the summer. Turner, 28, has been his country’s primary goalkeeper for the best part of 18 months and this season he has kept three clean sheets in four outings for Arsenal in the UEFA Europa League.
Ethan Horvath is also based in England, signed to second-division team Luton Town, while Sean Johnson plays for Major League Soccer (MLS) franchise New York City FC.
Zack Steffen was omitted from the USMNT World Cup roster with the ex-Columbus Crew goalie currently playing with Middlesbrough, on loan from Premier League champions Manchester City.
– Defenders
Nine defenders have been included in the 26-strong roster, with four of them plying their trade in the MLS. Shaq Moore and captain Walker Zimmerman (both of Nashville SC) are joined in the national set-up by DeAndre Yedlin (Inter Miami) and Aaron Long (New York Red Bulls).
Yedlin, 29, is the sole member of the current USMNT squad to have previously appeared at a World Cup after the right-back featured at Brazil 2014, and he is also the senior-most player on the roster with 75 caps.
Of those abroad, Sergino Dest is undoubtedly among the bigger names within the USMNT camp with the 22-year-old at AC Milan, on loan from European heavyweights Barcelona.
Tim Ream and Antonee Robinson play together at club level, both signed to Fulham in the Premier League, while right-back Joe Scally, 19, joined German side Borussia Monchengladbach from NYCFC in summer 2021. Cameron Carter-Vickers is the first player from a Scottish club (Celtic) to be named in a U.S. World Cup roster.
Chris Richards picked up a hamstring injury in September and the Crystal Palace man has been in a race against time to regain fitness for the World Cup, a race which the 22-year-old has come out second best.
Injury to Richards rubbed salt into the wounds of the USMNT after fellow defender Miles Robinson suffered a ruptured Achilles tendon earlier this year. Matt Miazga, formerly of Chelsea, was snubbed of a place in the World Cup squad.
A dream come true to be called up for my first World Cup! I will give everything for the country! Let’s goooo! 🇺🇸❤️ @USMNT @FIFAWorldCup pic.twitter.com/LdVpFaa1Mj
— Sergiño Dest (@sergino_dest) November 9, 2022
– Midfielders
USMNT is not shy of talent in the centre of the pitch, with several of its contingents playing for some of the biggest clubs across Europe.
Giovanni Reyna made his first appearance for the Borussia Dortmund first-team aged 17 years & 2 months, and despite his tender age the attacking midfielder is a crucial ingredient for the U.S.
This season hasn’t seen the best of Reyna, with 10 of his 15 appearances coming as a substitute, though he is still expected to play a key role for his nation in Qatar.
Reyna was born in the UK, to American parents, and he also has Portuguese citizenship although the teenager has opted to follow in the footsteps of his father, Claudio, and represent the U.S. at senior level. Claudio earned a total 112 international caps and he went to four World Cup tournaments (1994; 1998; 2002; 2006). At club level, he played for Rangers and Manchester City before retiring at local team NY Red Bulls in 2008.
Also in midfield, the U.S. boast the likes of Weston McKennie (Juventus) who has been selected despite nursing a hamstring injury. There are two members of the USMNT based in Spain, with Yunus Musah (Valencia) and Luca de la Torre (Celta Vigo) both included on the World Cup roster.
Over in the U.K., Leeds Utd bought Tyler Adams and Brenden Aaronson this past summer, costing the club a combined $48,5million USD in transfer fees. Both players are set to represent the Stars and Stripes on the world stage this month.
Local players Kellyn Acosta (Los Angeles FC) and Cristian Roldan (Seattle Sounders) have also received the nod for selection.
Malik Tillman (Rangers – Scotland) did not make the final roster.
Gio Reyna is World Cup bound! ✅🇺🇸 pic.twitter.com/PyDaH6VLjj
— Borussia Dortmund (@BlackYellow) November 9, 2022
– Forwards
The U.S. have a host of well-known attacking players, though none more so than Christian Pulisic. The Pennsylvania-born forward previously made a name for himself at Borussia Dortmund, signing with the German team aged just 16 years, before earning his debut for the USMNT in January 2016 – aged 17 years & 4 months.
Pulisic is the highest-scoring active player for the USMNT with 21 goals but he is still some way shy of Dempsey and Donovan’s and joint-record tally of 57 goals. The Chelsea attacker has been struggling for confidence at club level, with one goal in 17 games this season, though he ought to relish the opportunity of playing talisman for national team.
Pulisic, 24, was USA’s top scorer in 2022 World Cup qualifying, finding the net five times in 10 games – including a hat-trick in their penultimate qualifier against Panama. He has also captained USMNT on 12 occasions, first wearing the armband two months after his 20th birthday.
Timothy Weah, 22, is the son of 1995 Ballon d’Or winner George Weah, and the second-generation striker is aiming for a breakthrough at the upcoming tournament. MLS-based Jesus Ferreira (FC Dallas) and Jordan Morris (Seattle Sounders) are also set to be involved at the showpiece event in the Middle East.
Josh Sargent (Norwich City) played once in his country’s last 18 games but the striker is heading to Qatar. Another centre-forward, Haji Wright (Antalyaspor – Turkey), has made only three appearances for the USMNT and the 24-year-old is one of five players included in the final roster without featuring in any of his nation’s qualifying path.
Two forwards who were very much involved in World Cup qualifiers, Ricardo Pepi and Paul Arriola, are both unfortunate to miss out on a call-up for the finals. Pepi, 19, has earned 10 caps for the USMNT before turning 20 and he contributed three goals and three assists in WC qualifiers.
Fresh faces 😀
— FIFA World Cup (@FIFAWorldCup) November 9, 2022
25 players have been named to their first #FIFAWorldCup roster for the @USMNT 🇺🇸 pic.twitter.com/Af4ehOAkwr
With nine of his players aged 23 or younger, it is now up to coach Berhalter to harness the loads of potential in his ranks in a bid to match the nation’s best return at a World Cup, which came two decades ago when the USMNT reached the quarter-finals in South Korea and Japan.
The 2022 World Cup officially starts on Sunday, November 20 and the U.S. is in Group B together with England, Iran, and Wales. USMNT faces Wales on November 21 followed by a clash with England four days later, before closing out their group commitments against Iran on November 29. The top two teams from all eight groups advance to the last-16.
Bet365 have the United States at +100 to progress from the group stage in Qatar, or at -139 to miss out on the knockouts.
