What is at Stake?
Let’s zoom out and look at the bigger picture here. The United States Men’s National Team (USMNT) is aiming to qualify for the 2022 World Cup. With one three-game window remaining, the U.S. must finish within the top-three of the region in order to secure an automatic bid. If the team finishes fourth, they must play a home-and-home two-game competition versus New Zealand for the final spot. As of Feb. 28, the U.S. sits No. 2 in the CONCACAF region — four points behind leader Canada, tied with Mexico, and four points ahead of Panama.
This article will be written from the viewpoint that the U.S. ultimately makes it to Qatar — the site of this winter’s World Cup. We’re going to dive into the best possible roster we can bring to ‘the big dance’ as of this point. With nearly an entire year until the World Cup starts in late November, there are players who will invariably emerge/pop up during the time span. However for the sake of this exercise, we’ll not try to project too greatly into the future.
Without further adieu, this will be the 23-man group tasked with representing the U.S. in this global competition for the first time since 2014.
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Third-String Keeper: Gabriel Slonina (Chicago Fire ; 17 Years Old)
Slonina is the future of the position for the United States. At only 17 years of age, he’s already entrenched as the starter for MLS club Chicago Fire. Slonina is a smooth athlete — using his 6-foot-4 frame and overall length to smother shots from distance/within the box. Duly, he’s proven to be rather decent with his feet (a prerequisite for any keeper in the modern game).
Slonina’s ceiling is massive. Normally, a team would opt to bring more of a veteran presence as a third keeper (such as Sean Johnson). However, if Slonina has a rock-solid season this year, you might as well bring him to Qatar for the experience. If his trajectory continues in an upwards manner, he’s likely the favorite to be the team’s starting keeper in 2026.
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Second-String Keeper: Matt Turner (Arsenal F.C. ; 27 Years Old)
The shot-stopping extraordinaire is slated to move on from New England Revolution to English giant Arsenal this summer. It’s a massive step-up for Turner — who went from an undrafted player six years ago to one of the most promising American keepers.
Moving to London will be a challenge. Turner is expected to be the No. 2 keeper for the Gunners behind Aaron Ramsdale. Much like Zack Steffen, Turner could struggle to get games in a reserve role. We’ll put Turner slightly behind Steffen in the pecking order based upon his slight struggles to play with the ball at his feet. However, if you told us Turner would be the No. 1 keeper in Qatar, we wouldn’t be shocked.
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First-String Keeper: Zack Steffen (Manchester City ; 27 Years Old)
Steffen will assume the top spot until further notice. He has familiarity in playing with manager Gregg Berhalter/in his system from their days together in MLS. One of Steffen’s proverbial strengths includes being able to ping the ball to teammates — whether situated on the sidelines, in the middle of the park, or when it comes to breaking lines by finding the open man.
In theory, this skill allows for the offense to be ignited. It’s also a preventative measure versus teams who opt to press the U.S. On the flip-side, Steffen isn’t getting a ton of games with City. He’s also been dealing with a number of little injuries. It’ll be interesting in seeing what form Steffen will be in come the summer.
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First-String Right Back: Sergino Dest (F.C. Barcelona ; 21 Years Old)
Dest has had a bit of a topsy-turvy time at Barcelona. With the team in transition in the post-Messi era, there were moments in which he wasn’t preferred. However in recent weeks, Dest has played immensely well under the stewardship of new manager Xavi.
There isn’t a world in which a healthy Dest isn’t the locked-in starter for the USMNT at right back. For all of his defensive deficiencies, he’s still one of the most technically-gifted members of the team. Dest is a threat to create scoring chances out of nothing — and that’s something you can’t really say about the vast majority of the pool. Even more, Dest has the ceiling of a world class attacking fullback.
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Second-String Right Back: Reggie Cannon (Boavista ; 23 Years Old)
Cannon is a no-frills player. Berhalter has depended on him for the last couple of seasons. While Cannon isn’t a major threat to foray forward with the ball a la Dest, he’s more of a stable defender. You could even say Cannon is a cautious, stay-at-home defender. When you’ve got a guy brimming with experience on the international stage, you feel better about your depth. Cannon is the perfect type of guy to bring on in order to kill a game off — or versus a side which really tries to force the issue offensively.
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First-String Right Center Back: Miles Robinson (Atlanta United ; 24 Years Old)
We give Robinson the slight edge over Walker Zimmerman here. The Atlanta United product has exploded onto the international scene over the last calendar year. While not the cleanest with the ball at his feet, Robinson has elite athletic traits. This involves turning in space to chase players down on the break, and also in one v. one situations when isolated from teammates.
We’d love for Robinson to make the leap across the pond to Europe. We think he’d benefit greatly from a tactical standpoint. Alas, he’ll make a nice partnership with our projected starter at left center back (more on him later).
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Second-String Right Center Back: Walker Zimmerman (Nashville SC ; 28 Years Old)
The two-time MLS Defender of the Year is a monster in the air. At this point, he may be the U.S.’s biggest aerial threat not named Weston McKennie. Zimmerman has played relatively well throughout the qualifying process. He went from being on the outskirts of the squad to assuming the role as a key contributor. While Zimmerman is undoubtedly a physical presence, he is often targeted by opposing teams based upon his lack of technical ability.
As we’ve seen more than a handful of times, the opposition will funnel the ball towards Zimmerman — knowing that he struggles to play out of the back. Instead of finding a teammate’s foot/breaking the lines, he gets flustered and simply gifts the ball to the other team by launching it upfield to no one in particular. For this reason — especially since the competition level will rise in the World Cup — Zimmerman should be a backup. Otherwise, the U.S. leaves itself susceptible to self-inflicted wounds (which will be punished by top-level teams).
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First-String Left Center Back: John Brooks (Wolfsburg ; 29 Years Old)
This may be wishful thinking on my part. Brooks hasn’t been involved in the last few windows of World Cup Qualifying. We’ve heard a myriad of excuses from Berhalter as to Brooks’ dismissal from the squad (a ‘lack of form’ has been one preached). However, there’s ZERO doubt Brooks is one of the four-best center back options for this pool during this given cycle.
While not the speediest player, you can compensate for his lack of pace by placing Miles Robinson next to him. Few times will you see Brooks get isolated by himself in space. Brooks is immense in the air on set pieces, and is one — if not the only member of the squad with World Cup experience (remember his goal versus Ghana in 2014?). Not only that, but Brooks is unparalleled within the pool as it pertains to spraying the ball to teammates. He’s got a wicked left foot, and one which can help ignite counter attacks (not to mention breaking lines with regularity).
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Second-String Left Center Back: Chris Richards (Hoffenheim ; 21 Years Old)
Richards is the future at the position for the United States. The burly center back out of Alabama has been a fixture for his country over the last few years — whether on the youth level or on the senior international stage. Richards is a very savvy player. He’s adept in reading the run of play before reacting accordingly. He’s a physical presence in the box on set pieces, and is one of the more technical players at his position within the pool. Richards can play the ball with his left foot — which is why he’s situated behind Brooks. However, if he continues to stay healthy/emerges further with Hoffenheim, Berhalter may have no other choice than to start the highly-talented Richards.
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First-String Left Back: Antonee Robinson (Fulham ; 24 Years Old)
Robinson’s place as the starting LB appears to be written in pen. Depth at the position within the pool is very shaky at the moment. While there are a few young prospects with talented futures (George Bello, Jonathan Gomez, Kevin Paredes, Sam Vines), none of them have been able to put a stranglehold on a backup role — let alone push Robinson for the starting spot.
Robinson’s strengths and weaknesses are well-documented at this point. He’s much better going forward than he is defending on his heels. An exceptional athlete, Robinson is at his best when making lung-busting runs up the pitch into the attack. He’ll get caught out at times defensively. However, there’s a certain amount of energy he often brings match after match that simply cannot be simulated by anyone else.
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Second-String Left Back: George Bello (Arminia Bielefeld ; 20 Years Old)
The back-up left back spot is a bit of a mystery at this point. We’ve seen rosters where Berhalter has opted to include three natural right backs and one natural left back (with Dest being able to play both sides). We don’t find this ideal for a major tournament. As such, we’re pulling out a name from the magical bag of young left backs. We’ve landed on George Bello — a former prodigy who recently made the move to the Bundesliga. Bello certainly has room for growth as a player. Often he relies far too heavily on his physical tools. However, he has steadily been playing in the top German flight since joining Arminia Bielefeld in January. Should this continue, Bello will make a real case for inclusion within the squad.
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Starting Defensive Midfielder: Tyler Adams (RB Leipzig ; 23 Years Old)
There’s one word to describe Tyler Adams as it pertains to the U.S. National Team: Indispensable. There is no one within the pool equipped with the tools Adams possesses. The dynamic midfielder is a terror when pressing. He covers large chunks of ground in the defense. This includes breaking up opposing counterattacks, and making life miserable for any player Adams opts to man-mark.
Adams has to stay healthy for the U.S. to reach its ultimate ceiling during this cycle. He’s uber-competitive, battle tested from his time in both the Bundesliga/Champions League, and ultimately is a warrior on the pitch with an engine that never stops.
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Second-String Defensive Midfielder: Kellyn Acosta (LAFC ; 26 Years Old)
Acosta has developed into a very capable player for the United States. He has the versatility to play both as a No. 6 and as a No. 8. This sort of positional flexibility is integral when entering a tournament. However, Acosta’s best spot is undoubtedly as a No. 6. He’s not the athlete Adams is. However, Acosta has better ball-skills — particularly when deftly connecting with teammates on longer balls downfield. Duly, he’s also a major threat on free kicks. Without a doubt (barring injury), it’d be a massive upset to not see Acosta on the final roster to Qatar.
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Starting Midfielder: Weston McKennie (Juventus ; 23 Years Old)
McKennie has been the best American player over the last calendar year. Since joining Juventus, we’ve noticed a considerable step-up in how he’s played. There’s a more measured, nuanced McKennine — one where he combines his confidence on the pitch with a real sense of purpose. He’s not only a goal-scoring threat for the USMNT, but he’s also a creator of tempo in the final third.
Without a doubt, he’ll be one of the most important members of the squad in Qatar. If he’s out injured for whatever reason during the tournament, it’ll be disastrous for the team.
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Second-String Midfielder: Gianluca Busio (Venezia ; 19 Years Old)
Busio has adapted rather well to the rigors of Serie A. Asked to do quite a lot for Venezia, we’ve seen glimpses of the player Busio could end up being down the line. He’s immensely measured in regards to his delivery of the ball. Venezia has him often taking free kicks and corners — a feat few 19-year-olds enjoy.
While he’s not anything close to Andrea Pirlo, Busio gives you the deep-lying characteristics of a player who can pick out a sophisticated pass with relative ease. While not an overly physical player, he’s certainly improved in demonstrating bite during duels. If the U.S. is playing versus an opponent trying to bunker in, Busio is a nice option to have off the bench.
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Starting Midfielder: Yunus Musah (Valencia ; 19 Years Old)
Yunus Musah is a gem of a player. Far more mature than his age indicates, you can see the class oozing out of him whenever he steps foot on the pitch. His club Valencia often plays him on the wing — though his preferred (and best) position sits him centrally next to McKennie.
Aside from being extremely technical with the ball, Musah has a proclivity for turning upfield and exploding into the final third. While he does have box-to-box traits, we see him almost akin a young Blaise Matuidi (with better ball skills).
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Second-String Midfielder: Luca de la Torre (Heracles Almelo ; 23 Years Old)
MLS homers will not like this encapsulation of the final midfielder spot on this roster. With respects to Sebastian Lletget and Cristian Roldan — two inexplicable mainstays of the Berhalter era — Luca de la Torre is a superior player. He thinks faster than those two, he’s far more technically gifted, and he’s a much better passer. The San Diego native played extremely well in frigid conditions versus Honduras earlier this year. We’d like to see him get a chance to play in normal conditions — and surrounded by the top talent on this team. We think de la Torre can really shine as a gritty mover of the football.
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Starting Right Winger: Giovanni Reyna (Borussia Dortmund ; 19 Years Old)
The key for Reyna is staying healthy. When on the pitch, he’s considered to be one of the top u20 talents in the entire world — regardless of position. He primarily plays as an inverted right winger for the national team. However, Reyna’s best long-term position may come centrally as a No. 10. With Timothy Weah having a great run of form on the flank, you could see a scenario in which Reyna tucks inside next to McKennie as an elevated central midfielder.
On pedigree and talent alone, Reyna is likely the most gifted player in the entire pool. We’ve seen glimpses in what could be a World Class player. However, Reyna must become more consistent — both in terms of staying healthy and also in relation to his play on the pitch. Given he’s still a teenager, those goals seem quite attainable.
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Second-String Right Winger: Tim Weah (Lille ; 22 Years Old)
Weah has been a standout on the right wing in the absence of Reyna. It’s stunning to think he’s only 22 years old — as Weah’s been a professional for quite a while. We’ve always been enamored with his physical skill-set. Weah is a pace merchant, and is equally as impressive tracking back to defend.
As he’s gotten older, the game has slowed down for him in a very positive manner. Weah has a willingness to make the right pass. Rarely do you see him overthink things on the pitch. He’s quite adept at using his immense intelligence to spring a teammate — or exploit a highly-desired pocket of space. Weah’s jump in play is a big reason why many speculate moving Reyna inside to the No. 10 spot. Without a doubt, Weah is miles ahead of other competitors on the wing (such as Paul Arriola, Konrad, or Jordan Morris).
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Starting Left Winger: Christian Pulisic (Chelsea ; 23 Years Old)
Lock it in. Write it in pen. Etch it in stone.
If healthy, Christian Pulisic is your starting left winger, folks.
That’s it — that’s the sentence.
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Second-String Left Winger: Brenden Aaronson (RB Salzburg ; 21 Years Old)
Aaronson has been playing at a very high level for his club in Austria. Some are clamoring for him to get a look centrally with the national team. Thus far, the tricky winger has been able to tuck inside under Berhalter’s system. However, much like Reyna, some feel as if Aaronson’s true powers can be unlocked with him in a playmaking role.
At the very least, he offers the team a ton of versatility. He can play either wing spot, as well as at both the No. 8 and No. 10 spots. Duly, he’s a pressing menace. According to one report, Aaronson statistically ranks within the world’s top 1-percent when it comes to ground covered.
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Starting Striker: Jordan Pefok (Young Boys ; 25 Years Old)
The starting striker spot still remains a major question mark for the USMNT. However, if we’re going by current form, the favorite has to be Jordan Pefok. Whether you rate the Swiss Super League or not, Pefok has been tearing it up during this current campaign. As of Feb. 28, Pefok has notched 15 goals and 4 assists in 22 league games. When you further factor in goals during both Champions League and Champions League Qualifying, Pefok has scored 20 goals (along with 5 assists) in 35 matches.
Whether it’s Ricardo Pepi, Josh Sargent, Jesus Ferreira, Gyasi Zardes, or Miguel Berry, no one comes close to this level of production. Pefok gives the team a physical presence in the hold-up, as well as a natural finisher who can win balls in the air (as well as fouls in advantageous areas on the pitch).
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Second-String Striker: Ricardo Pepi (Augsburg ; 19 Years Old)
I’m reluctantly putting Pepi in this spot. While his tenure at Augsburg has been a bit rough, we’re still looking at a highly-rated prospect with plenty of natural ability. He totally flipped the script when he came in and injected a ton of energy in the win over Honduras on the road. Pepi has a habit of producing for the national team, and that’s something that cannot be ignored.
With that said, there’s an eternity before the World Cup begins in November. We could see someone emerge out of nowhere…or we could see Berhalter revert to his comfort zone (Zardes in particular). There’s also the possibility of bringing in another striker with a dissimilar skill-set compared to Pefok, Pepi, or Sargent (Ferreira).
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A Final Look
HERE’S THE FINAL ROSTER:
GK: Steffen, Turner, Slonina
DEF: Richards, A. Robinson, Bello, Brooks, Zimmerman, M. Robinson, Dest
MF: Busio, Acosta, de la Torre, Musah, McKennie, Adams
FW: Pulisic, Aaronson, Pefok, Pepi, Weah, Reyna
Snubs you could see feature down the line: Ethan Horvath/Sean Johnson, Kevin Paredes, Jonathan Gomez, Sam Vines, DeAndre Yedlin, Joe Scally, Justin Che, Aaron Long, Mark McKenzie, Erik Palmer-Brown, Cameron Carter-Vickers, Bryan Reynolds, Tanner Tessmann, Duane Holmes, Cole Bassett, Djordje Mihailovic, Johnny Cardoso, Cristian Roldan, Sebastian Lletget, Paul Arriola, Jordan Morris, Konrad, Miguel Berry, Gyasi Zardes, Eryk Williamson, Josh Sargent, Jesus Ferreira, Daryl Dike, Nicholas Gioacchini, Cade Cowell, Alex Mendez, Malik Tillman, James Sands
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