Amidst a surge in popularity of soccer (yes, that’s what it’s called) in the USA, expectations have never been higher for the United States Men’s National Team. Heading into the 2022 World Cup in Qatar, the foundations are in place for the start of a “golden generation”. Together with a group draw that gives a realistic path to the knockout stages, and with the squad -- and the country at large -- hungrier than ever for success in the sport following their embarrassing failure to qualify for the 2018 World Cup, there is potential for this November to be a real watershed moment for the world’s most popular sport in America.
Still, those who have been paying close attention to the USMNT in recent months have good reason to temper their expectations. Led by Gregg Berhalter, a manager with an uninspiring résumé, questionable tactics, and a stubborn willingness to select players that fit his system regardless of talent, the team has been sputtering all calendar year. After a red-hot 2021 that saw the team compile a 17-3-2 (W-D-L) record and triumphs over rivals Mexico in the finals of two major competitions, the Yanks have mustered just a 5-4-3 record in 2022 and stumbled to third place in CONCACAF World Cup Qualifying behind Canada and Mexico, only narrowly avoiding the inter-confederation playoffs.
Expectations for the World Cup are high for the USMNT, despite struggles all year. Image from: Christof Koepsel/Getty Images.
The most recent returns have been the most concerning. Berhalter’s squad in their last three outings have failed to pick up a win, drawing 1-1 to El Salvador in the Nations League group stages, suffering a sound 2-0 defeat to Japan in a friendly, and drawing 0-0 with Saudi Arabia in their final World Cup tune-up. The latter of those games was perhaps the most frustrating, as the Americans looked the better team throughout 90 minutes and desperately needed to prove that they are a cut above the lower caliber of World Cup squads, but ultimately failed to find the back of the net.
Berhalter and the United States Soccer Federation have officially announced their complete 26-man roster for the Qatar World Cup, and while most of the nation’s top talent ended up earning selections in the end, there were definitely some major surprises. Given the construction of this official squad and the team’s form in recent games, let’s discuss what exactly we should expect from the Stars and Stripes in this year’s edition of the biggest sporting event on the planet.
Officially, the roster for the United States at the World Cup is as such:
Goalkeeper Zack Steffen was shockingly left off the USMNT’s World Cup roster for Qatar. Image from: Getty Images.
The selection of forwards is mostly promising, but the choice of Ferreira as one of the team’s number nines is disappointing, especially considering the recent play of Ricardo Pepi for both club and country. Since a loan move to Groningen in the Netherlands’ top flight league, Pepi has been class, logging five goals and two assists in eight games in the Eredivisie. And especially considering Pepi’s heroics during World Cup Qualifying -- he had the most goal contributions of any player throughout the qualification effort and only Christian Pulisic netted more goals -- and Ferreira’s overall ineffectiveness in limited action as the first-choice nine, this decision has left many scratching their heads.
There are arguably two better players at the same position if you consider Jordan Pefok is just a season removed from a Golden Boot campaign in the Swiss Super League and has been more than capable for the title-challenging Union Berlin in the Bundesliga this year. The addition of Jordan Morris didn’t seem necessary either given his lack of recent production for the USMNT -- he’s found the back of the net just once in ten appearances over the past two years -- though I as a Seattle native am ecstatic for Morris, our beloved hometown kid, to have made the team. Josh Sargent and Haji Wright as the team’s other true strikers are fine enough choices, but including Pepi and/or Pefok would have given the team a more versatile arsenal of weapons up front.
Lastly, while the omission of center back John Brooks is not surprising per se given that Berhalter has been icing him out from the team for over a year -- his last start in international play was in September of 2021 -- it is a continued and massive disappointment. Berhalter claims his decision to repeatedly snub Brooks is rooted in the fact that the defender does not fit the team’s “game model”. Specifically, Berhalter noted that he wants to employ a high line in defense and that such a strategy is not often used by Brooks’ club, VfL Wolfsburg.
Still, I find it hard to believe Brooks wouldn’t waltz his way into a starting center back tandem with Walker Zimmerman if we were judging by talent alone. The main reason why management at the international level is notoriously difficult and why teams can often be so inconsistent is that countries are inherently composed of a mishmash of players with different skillsets and footballing ideologies. At the club level, a manager has the luxury of handpicking their squad to fit a certain system, and of training the same set of players week-in, week-out. As a national team manager, however, unless your best players are all already comfortable with the same tried-and-true tactics, à la Spain’s iconic 2008-2012 teams, you have no choice but to let talent reign and build a system on the fly around your best players. Berhalter, however, has shown repeatedly that he fails to understand this concept.
Manager Gregg Berhalter continues to prioritize his system over the talent available. Image from: Rick Bowner/Associated Press.
Tim Ream, to his credit, is a serviceable partner in the center of defense with the ever-present Zimmerman. While 35 years old and without a call-up since late 2021, Ream has put together another quality campaign for the newly-promoted Fulham in the English Premier League, and would bring a veteran presence to an otherwise extremely green starting lineup. Still, the inclusion of Aaron Long in the list of defenders feels like a final slap in the face to Brooks, given Long’s recent subpar play at the international level and total lack of club experience outside of the MLS. While injuries to possible starting CBs Miles Robinson and Chris Richards are certainly a blow to the depth of the defense, Berhalter only has himself to blame if the back line proves to be the team’s Achilles heel in Qatar.
Moving on to the positives. I’m excited about the strength of midfield (especially the possible starting arrangements), the options at outside back, and the attacking quality sans the aforementioned #9 spot. It’s easy to get bogged down in the always-dreary discussions of Gregg Berhalter’s “system” and of the team’s underachievements so far this calendar year, but it’s important to remember that there is still enough pure electricity throughout this roster that could just provide the moments of magic needed to power an upstart run in such a volatile tournament.
Berhalter generally arranges the team in a 4-3-3 setup, and in such a formation a starting midfield trio of Tyler Adams, Yunus Musah, and a healthy Weston McKennie are quietly an extremely talented -- and balanced -- engine for the entire XI. Adams provides an amazing motor and defensive acumen in a holding midfield role, Musah is a creative sparkplug with speed and strong technical on-ball skills, and McKennie has established himself as a starting-caliber box-to-box midfielder with Juventus, one of Europe’s biggest clubs.
With McKennie’s health up in the air due to a thigh injury he suffered in late October, though, Brenden Aaronson would be a fine selection to start as well-- especially given his instant chemistry with Adams, his club teammate at Leeds United. This would, however, take a little of the balance out of the trio and ask more of Adams in the #6 role.
Tyler Adams (right) and Yunus Musah (left) project as two starters in the midfield. Image from: John Dorton/ISI Photos.
Luca de la Torre, though currently dealing with injury himself, was one of the welcome surprises of the roster and could be a fine option off the bench if he can be at or near 100%. Kellyn Acosta of LAFC and Cristian Roldan of the Seattle Sounders round out the midfield group, and while fans are never particularly clamoring to see MLS players on the squad, both men are capable enough depth options that can provide different qualities in a pinch. Perhaps Malik Tillman of Rangers F.C. may have been a more prudent choice over Acosta or Roldan, but his concerning recent form likely left him off the plane to Qatar in the end.
The USMNT has some very strong talent at outside back that could provide a bolt of energy to the attack if need be. Antonee Robinson is likely a shoo-in to start at left back given his strong campaign for Fulham this year and his familiarity with Ream, his club teammate. Robinson appeared in 13 of the team’s 14 WCQ games, logging two goals and three assists and is an easy player to like given his balanced ability both going forward and in defense. As for the right back spot, Sergiño Dest is the likely starter given his pure raw talent despite a tumultuous run of form for F.C. Barcelona and then for A.C. Milan after going on loan.
19-year-old Joe Scally could challenge for that starting spot, however, if Dest cannot find form. Scally has started every game for Borussia Mönchengladbach in the Bundesliga and has regularly drawn praise from both manager Daniel Farke and from fans alike. He’s likely to at least be one of Berhalter’s first options off the bench in defense as he can play either outside back position. The final fullback selected is DeAndre Yedlin (another Seattle native!) who gives the team its only player with prior World Cup experience and can provide a speed boost off the bench to take advantage of a tired opposing defense if need be.
Joe Scally is one of the youngest World Cup call-ups in American history. Image from: Frederic Scheidemann/Getty Images.
Going forward, there’s quite a lot to like about the talent on the roster. Christian Pulisic and Gio Reyna -- provided he can stay healthy -- offer a touch of class the likes of which the USMNT perhaps has never seen. One could already make a case for the two young men being the most talented players the nation has so far produced, and on their day they are both capable of ripping apart elite competition.
Pulisic’s crucial goal and assist in the Champions League Semi-Finals in 2021 powered Chelsea past Real Madrid en route to their triumph in the competition, and his overall performance across those two legs were a remarkable showcase for Pulisic’s pedigree as one of the world’s most promising players when he’s healthy and getting playing time. Reyna, meanwhile, is capable of things like this:
Still, those who have been paying close attention to the USMNT in recent months have good reason to temper their expectations. Led by Gregg Berhalter, a manager with an uninspiring résumé, questionable tactics, and a stubborn willingness to select players that fit his system regardless of talent, the team has been sputtering all calendar year. After a red-hot 2021 that saw the team compile a 17-3-2 (W-D-L) record and triumphs over rivals Mexico in the finals of two major competitions, the Yanks have mustered just a 5-4-3 record in 2022 and stumbled to third place in CONCACAF World Cup Qualifying behind Canada and Mexico, only narrowly avoiding the inter-confederation playoffs.
Expectations for the World Cup are high for the USMNT, despite struggles all year. Image from: Christof Koepsel/Getty Images.
The most recent returns have been the most concerning. Berhalter’s squad in their last three outings have failed to pick up a win, drawing 1-1 to El Salvador in the Nations League group stages, suffering a sound 2-0 defeat to Japan in a friendly, and drawing 0-0 with Saudi Arabia in their final World Cup tune-up. The latter of those games was perhaps the most frustrating, as the Americans looked the better team throughout 90 minutes and desperately needed to prove that they are a cut above the lower caliber of World Cup squads, but ultimately failed to find the back of the net.
Berhalter and the United States Soccer Federation have officially announced their complete 26-man roster for the Qatar World Cup, and while most of the nation’s top talent ended up earning selections in the end, there were definitely some major surprises. Given the construction of this official squad and the team’s form in recent games, let’s discuss what exactly we should expect from the Stars and Stripes in this year’s edition of the biggest sporting event on the planet.
Officially, the roster for the United States at the World Cup is as such:
- Goalkeepers: Ethan Horvath, Sean Johnson, Matt Turner
- Defenders: Cameron Carter-Vickers, Sergiño Dest, Aaron Long, Shaq Moore, Tim Ream, Antonee Robinson, Joe Scally, DeAndre Yedlin, Walker Zimmerman
- Midfielders: Brenden Aaronson, Kellyn Acosta, Tyler Adams, Luca de la Torre, Weston McKennie, Yunus Musah, Cristian Roldan
- Forwards: Jesús Ferreira, Jordan Morris, Christian Pulisic, Gio Reyna, Josh Sargent, Tim Weah, Haji Wright
Goalkeeper Zack Steffen was shockingly left off the USMNT’s World Cup roster for Qatar. Image from: Getty Images.
The selection of forwards is mostly promising, but the choice of Ferreira as one of the team’s number nines is disappointing, especially considering the recent play of Ricardo Pepi for both club and country. Since a loan move to Groningen in the Netherlands’ top flight league, Pepi has been class, logging five goals and two assists in eight games in the Eredivisie. And especially considering Pepi’s heroics during World Cup Qualifying -- he had the most goal contributions of any player throughout the qualification effort and only Christian Pulisic netted more goals -- and Ferreira’s overall ineffectiveness in limited action as the first-choice nine, this decision has left many scratching their heads.
There are arguably two better players at the same position if you consider Jordan Pefok is just a season removed from a Golden Boot campaign in the Swiss Super League and has been more than capable for the title-challenging Union Berlin in the Bundesliga this year. The addition of Jordan Morris didn’t seem necessary either given his lack of recent production for the USMNT -- he’s found the back of the net just once in ten appearances over the past two years -- though I as a Seattle native am ecstatic for Morris, our beloved hometown kid, to have made the team. Josh Sargent and Haji Wright as the team’s other true strikers are fine enough choices, but including Pepi and/or Pefok would have given the team a more versatile arsenal of weapons up front.
Lastly, while the omission of center back John Brooks is not surprising per se given that Berhalter has been icing him out from the team for over a year -- his last start in international play was in September of 2021 -- it is a continued and massive disappointment. Berhalter claims his decision to repeatedly snub Brooks is rooted in the fact that the defender does not fit the team’s “game model”. Specifically, Berhalter noted that he wants to employ a high line in defense and that such a strategy is not often used by Brooks’ club, VfL Wolfsburg.
Still, I find it hard to believe Brooks wouldn’t waltz his way into a starting center back tandem with Walker Zimmerman if we were judging by talent alone. The main reason why management at the international level is notoriously difficult and why teams can often be so inconsistent is that countries are inherently composed of a mishmash of players with different skillsets and footballing ideologies. At the club level, a manager has the luxury of handpicking their squad to fit a certain system, and of training the same set of players week-in, week-out. As a national team manager, however, unless your best players are all already comfortable with the same tried-and-true tactics, à la Spain’s iconic 2008-2012 teams, you have no choice but to let talent reign and build a system on the fly around your best players. Berhalter, however, has shown repeatedly that he fails to understand this concept.
Manager Gregg Berhalter continues to prioritize his system over the talent available. Image from: Rick Bowner/Associated Press.
Tim Ream, to his credit, is a serviceable partner in the center of defense with the ever-present Zimmerman. While 35 years old and without a call-up since late 2021, Ream has put together another quality campaign for the newly-promoted Fulham in the English Premier League, and would bring a veteran presence to an otherwise extremely green starting lineup. Still, the inclusion of Aaron Long in the list of defenders feels like a final slap in the face to Brooks, given Long’s recent subpar play at the international level and total lack of club experience outside of the MLS. While injuries to possible starting CBs Miles Robinson and Chris Richards are certainly a blow to the depth of the defense, Berhalter only has himself to blame if the back line proves to be the team’s Achilles heel in Qatar.
Moving on to the positives. I’m excited about the strength of midfield (especially the possible starting arrangements), the options at outside back, and the attacking quality sans the aforementioned #9 spot. It’s easy to get bogged down in the always-dreary discussions of Gregg Berhalter’s “system” and of the team’s underachievements so far this calendar year, but it’s important to remember that there is still enough pure electricity throughout this roster that could just provide the moments of magic needed to power an upstart run in such a volatile tournament.
Berhalter generally arranges the team in a 4-3-3 setup, and in such a formation a starting midfield trio of Tyler Adams, Yunus Musah, and a healthy Weston McKennie are quietly an extremely talented -- and balanced -- engine for the entire XI. Adams provides an amazing motor and defensive acumen in a holding midfield role, Musah is a creative sparkplug with speed and strong technical on-ball skills, and McKennie has established himself as a starting-caliber box-to-box midfielder with Juventus, one of Europe’s biggest clubs.
With McKennie’s health up in the air due to a thigh injury he suffered in late October, though, Brenden Aaronson would be a fine selection to start as well-- especially given his instant chemistry with Adams, his club teammate at Leeds United. This would, however, take a little of the balance out of the trio and ask more of Adams in the #6 role.
Tyler Adams (right) and Yunus Musah (left) project as two starters in the midfield. Image from: John Dorton/ISI Photos.
Luca de la Torre, though currently dealing with injury himself, was one of the welcome surprises of the roster and could be a fine option off the bench if he can be at or near 100%. Kellyn Acosta of LAFC and Cristian Roldan of the Seattle Sounders round out the midfield group, and while fans are never particularly clamoring to see MLS players on the squad, both men are capable enough depth options that can provide different qualities in a pinch. Perhaps Malik Tillman of Rangers F.C. may have been a more prudent choice over Acosta or Roldan, but his concerning recent form likely left him off the plane to Qatar in the end.
The USMNT has some very strong talent at outside back that could provide a bolt of energy to the attack if need be. Antonee Robinson is likely a shoo-in to start at left back given his strong campaign for Fulham this year and his familiarity with Ream, his club teammate. Robinson appeared in 13 of the team’s 14 WCQ games, logging two goals and three assists and is an easy player to like given his balanced ability both going forward and in defense. As for the right back spot, Sergiño Dest is the likely starter given his pure raw talent despite a tumultuous run of form for F.C. Barcelona and then for A.C. Milan after going on loan.
19-year-old Joe Scally could challenge for that starting spot, however, if Dest cannot find form. Scally has started every game for Borussia Mönchengladbach in the Bundesliga and has regularly drawn praise from both manager Daniel Farke and from fans alike. He’s likely to at least be one of Berhalter’s first options off the bench in defense as he can play either outside back position. The final fullback selected is DeAndre Yedlin (another Seattle native!) who gives the team its only player with prior World Cup experience and can provide a speed boost off the bench to take advantage of a tired opposing defense if need be.
Joe Scally is one of the youngest World Cup call-ups in American history. Image from: Frederic Scheidemann/Getty Images.
Going forward, there’s quite a lot to like about the talent on the roster. Christian Pulisic and Gio Reyna -- provided he can stay healthy -- offer a touch of class the likes of which the USMNT perhaps has never seen. One could already make a case for the two young men being the most talented players the nation has so far produced, and on their day they are both capable of ripping apart elite competition.
Pulisic’s crucial goal and assist in the Champions League Semi-Finals in 2021 powered Chelsea past Real Madrid en route to their triumph in the competition, and his overall performance across those two legs were a remarkable showcase for Pulisic’s pedigree as one of the world’s most promising players when he’s healthy and getting playing time. Reyna, meanwhile, is capable of things like this:
Rounding out the attackers alongside Pulisic, Reyna, Ferreira, Sargent, Wright, and Morris is Tim Weah of LOSC Lille, the son of former Ballon d’Or winner George Weah. Weah is capable of playing as a center-forward but is usually better suited on the right flank and thus may often be the first option off the bench up front.
Pulisic and Reyna seem penciled-in to starting gigs in the front three, and for good reason, but the decision of who else to include in the front line could go in several directions. Assuming Berhalter wants to stick to his system -- a rather safe assumption given what we know about him at this point -- we’re likely to see a traditional number nine to receive service from the two wingers. At that point, the choice gets a little tricky; Ferreira has no experience outside of the MLS and has underwhelmed for the USMNT thus far but seems to be preferred by Berhalter’s system, Sargent has rediscovered form for Norwich City F.C. in the EFL Championship but has yet to prove himself against elite competition and hasn’t scored for the Yanks since 2019, and while Wright has been on a scoring tear for Antalyaspor of the Turkish Süper Lig is essentially unproven on the international stage as he did not appear in a single WCQ game for the US.
Ferreira is the likely choice given Berhalter’s recent belief in him and does, to his credit, provide strong abilities on a high press. His leash should be short, however, and Wright’s physical style of play and presence in the air could pair better with Pulisic and Reyna out wide. Still, I can’t help but think this decision would be rather simple if Pepi were on the roster in the first place.
The starting XI with everything discussed so far would then most likely look like this:
Players with stars next to their names are ones dealing with injury; as discussed, Aaronson could replace McKennie and Scally could substitute for Dest if either player is unfit, and Luton Town F.C.’s Ethan Horvath would likely go in goal for Matt Turner if he cannot play. Zimmerman and Ream are the most likely starting center back tandem due to experience at the international level and Berhalter’s preferences, but the talented Cameron Carter-Vickers may earn himself a start at some point in the competition if not only for his advantage in athleticism over the current options.
If Berhalter decides to live a little, however, a setup without a traditional striker may be possible as well. Pulisic and especially Reyna are capable of playing in a deeper center-forward role as a number 10, like an old-school Lionel Messi or a Roberto Firmino. Slotting Reyna in that position with Pulisic on the left and Weah on the right could be incredibly fun, but such a formation may require a steep learning curve for the entire squad.
The squad would look as such in that case:
In short, this iteration of the USMNT has enough real talent in key positions to potentially drive a magical run as far as the quarterfinals, but also enough inexperience and uncertainty to crash out in the group stages. When first announced, a group draw against England, Iran, and Wales had fans dreaming of a clear path to the Round of 16, and even of winning the group outright if England stumble a little, but recent performances by Berhalter’s squad show no indication that even beating Iran or Wales is a sure thing, let alone putting forth a strong performance against England or Netherlands, which would be the likely Round of 16 opponent if the US finishes second in their group.
Still, the youth and energy this squad will provide, as well as this being the first time for an entire generation of new fans of the sport to watch our nation play the biggest sport on the biggest stage is nonetheless an exciting prospect. Don’t expect a run to the finals this year, but with many of the country’s best players set to hit their prime years around the time of the 2026 World Cup -- which the United States will host, alongside Mexico and Canada -- a decent showing this November could be a springboard to future greatness. And maybe, just maybe, the Men’s National Team will begin to match the successes of their female counterparts. ■
Pulisic and Reyna seem penciled-in to starting gigs in the front three, and for good reason, but the decision of who else to include in the front line could go in several directions. Assuming Berhalter wants to stick to his system -- a rather safe assumption given what we know about him at this point -- we’re likely to see a traditional number nine to receive service from the two wingers. At that point, the choice gets a little tricky; Ferreira has no experience outside of the MLS and has underwhelmed for the USMNT thus far but seems to be preferred by Berhalter’s system, Sargent has rediscovered form for Norwich City F.C. in the EFL Championship but has yet to prove himself against elite competition and hasn’t scored for the Yanks since 2019, and while Wright has been on a scoring tear for Antalyaspor of the Turkish Süper Lig is essentially unproven on the international stage as he did not appear in a single WCQ game for the US.
Ferreira is the likely choice given Berhalter’s recent belief in him and does, to his credit, provide strong abilities on a high press. His leash should be short, however, and Wright’s physical style of play and presence in the air could pair better with Pulisic and Reyna out wide. Still, I can’t help but think this decision would be rather simple if Pepi were on the roster in the first place.
The starting XI with everything discussed so far would then most likely look like this:
Players with stars next to their names are ones dealing with injury; as discussed, Aaronson could replace McKennie and Scally could substitute for Dest if either player is unfit, and Luton Town F.C.’s Ethan Horvath would likely go in goal for Matt Turner if he cannot play. Zimmerman and Ream are the most likely starting center back tandem due to experience at the international level and Berhalter’s preferences, but the talented Cameron Carter-Vickers may earn himself a start at some point in the competition if not only for his advantage in athleticism over the current options.
If Berhalter decides to live a little, however, a setup without a traditional striker may be possible as well. Pulisic and especially Reyna are capable of playing in a deeper center-forward role as a number 10, like an old-school Lionel Messi or a Roberto Firmino. Slotting Reyna in that position with Pulisic on the left and Weah on the right could be incredibly fun, but such a formation may require a steep learning curve for the entire squad.
The squad would look as such in that case:
In short, this iteration of the USMNT has enough real talent in key positions to potentially drive a magical run as far as the quarterfinals, but also enough inexperience and uncertainty to crash out in the group stages. When first announced, a group draw against England, Iran, and Wales had fans dreaming of a clear path to the Round of 16, and even of winning the group outright if England stumble a little, but recent performances by Berhalter’s squad show no indication that even beating Iran or Wales is a sure thing, let alone putting forth a strong performance against England or Netherlands, which would be the likely Round of 16 opponent if the US finishes second in their group.
Still, the youth and energy this squad will provide, as well as this being the first time for an entire generation of new fans of the sport to watch our nation play the biggest sport on the biggest stage is nonetheless an exciting prospect. Don’t expect a run to the finals this year, but with many of the country’s best players set to hit their prime years around the time of the 2026 World Cup -- which the United States will host, alongside Mexico and Canada -- a decent showing this November could be a springboard to future greatness. And maybe, just maybe, the Men’s National Team will begin to match the successes of their female counterparts. ■
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