Every four years, the World Cup manages to do something magical. For two months, it transforms ordinary people around the globe into fervent fanatics, obsessed with 11 people wearing their nation’s colors and kicking a black-and-white sphere around a pitch for 90 minutes. Although this year’s celebration of the world’s greatest game is under wraps polemic, the world will still be enthralled by the sport for the next two months. From the first kick of the ball on November 20 to the final whistle on December 18, a record five billion people are expected to attend the competition.
While soccer is the world’s game, it has not had the same broad cultural significance in the United States. However, on November 21, there is no doubt that many Americans will have their eyes glued to the screen when the US Men’s National Team (USMNT) kicks off their campaign in Qatar.
History
To understand what to expect from the Americans this winter, it is important to have a good understanding of this team’s past. The USA has never won the World Cup and its best finish was a semifinal bid in 1930. In recent history, the USA has had its share of ups and downs. At the 2014 World Cup, the USA finished second in the “Group of Death”, defeating Portugal and Ghana to advance to the knockout rounds. Although they lost to Belgium in the round of 16, they put up a good fight, including a heroic performance from goalkeeper Tim Howard. After a relatively strong showing in Brazil, the USA suffered one of the worst periods in its history. After a devastating loss to Trinidad and Tobago, the USA failed to even qualify for the World Cup in 2018. The Americans had to watch the tournament from the outside for the first time since 1986.
Since then, however, a new crop of American talent has emerged. Many American stars have begun to compete at the highest stages in Europe, and MLS has grown both in quality on the field and in popularity off it. This new generation of American soccer stars won the Nations League and the CONCACAF (Confederation of North, Central American and Caribbean Football Association) Gold Cup in 2021, beating rivals Mexico for both titles. In addition, the team avenged the tragedy of 2018 by qualifying for this year’s World Cup with relative ease. The USMNT will look to build on this last few years of growing momentum heading into Qatar.
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Who will represent the red, white and blue in Qatar? Manager Gregg Berhalter, who was hired shortly after failing to qualify for the 2018 World Cup, is in the hot seat going into the race. Berhalter’s squad is among the youngest in the tournament and features just one player – DeAndre Yedlin – who was on the roster in 2014. However, despite the lack of experience, this new generation looks to be one of the most talented and promising rosters. USMNT deep into recent history.
Although Tim Howard is long gone, the USA boasts a strong new #1 between the sticks. Matt Turner, who didn’t start playing sports until high school, is the clear starter, especially since Zack Steffen was controversially left off the roster. Turner is currently a reserve at Arsenal, who are at the top of the table in the English Premier League. Before his move across the pond, he was one of the best shooters in MLS. Luton Town’s Ethan Horvath and NYCFC’s Sean Johnson are the two back-up players, but don’t expect to see either of them on the pitch in Qatar barring Turner’s injury.
At the heart of the defense, questions remain as to who will get the starting title. 29-year-old Walker Zimmerman has been one of the best center backs in MLS during his time at Nashville SC and looks set to be a mainstay in defense. Although Berhalter has often opted to go with the inconsistent Aaron Long of the New York Red Bulls, many fans want to see Tim Ream start alongside Zimmerman. Ream, a 35-year-old native of St. Louis, who has guided Fulham to a place in the top half of the EPL table, brings experience and strong chemistry with Antonee “Jedi” Robinson. Robinson, who has started alongside Ream at Fulham, looks set to be the USMNT’s starting left back. Cameron Carter-Vickers, a 24-year-old born in England, is another option at centre-back and has performed well for Celtic, who are top of the Scottish Premiership.
While Robinson is likely to start at left back, Sergiño Dest, who was born in the Netherlands but chose to play for the USA internationally, should be the starting right back. Dest has struggled to find consistent form since moving to FC Barcelona and is currently on loan at AC Milan, the defending Italian champions. Berhalter has other options at wing-back, including Yedlin, who is past his prime but has international pedigree, and Joe Scally, a versatile 19-year-old who starts for German side Borussia Monchengladbach. Whichever full-backs Berhalter selects will need to be reliable at the back and threatening going forward, as the manager’s tactics often rely on his defenders’ ability to perform up and down the wing.
The midfield is the biggest strength for the Americans. Tyler Adams, who has been a star in defensive midfield since moving to Leeds United in the summer, will start as Berhalter’s holding midfielder. Ahead of him, Juventus’ Weston McKennie will probably start in a box-to-box role assuming he has fully recovered from a hamstring injury he suffered in late October. Berhalter is spoiled for choice in attacking midfield and it will be interesting to see which promising young star he chooses. The likely choice is Yunus Musah, who chose to represent USA over Ghana, Italy and England. Musah, who will turn 20 during the tournament, has been a star for elite Spanish side Valencia.
Berhalter’s two main alternatives are Gio Reyna and Brendan Aronson, both of whom can also play on the wing of a front three. Gio Reyna, whose father Claudio played in the 2006 World Cup and whose mother Danielle Egan represented the USWNT, is arguably the most promising talent on the squad. Although his young career has been marred by injury problems, the 20-year-old’s potential has been on full display for Borussia Dortmund in the German Bundesliga. Aronson, who has formed a dynamic duo with Adams under American Jesse Marsch at Leeds, has played well throughout his first season in the English Premier League. In addition, Berhalter has plenty of other options to take off the bench. Luca de la Torre of Spanish side Celta Vigo looks to be fit after a recent injury, Kellyn Acosta just won the MLS Cup with LAFC and Cristian Roldan is a seasoned MLS veteran.
Up front, the USMNT will look to rely on left winger Christian Pulisic as a team talisman. Pulisic, whose nicknames include “Captain America” and “Football’s Lebron James”, has been inconsistent since making a $60+ million move to Chelsea in 2019, but is clearly the face of the team. At 24 years old, he already has the eighth-most career goals for the USMNT, and his performance up front will be key to the Americans’ success. On the other hand, Berhalter will probably go for Reyna, but Aronson or Timothy Weah could also get the nod. Weah, whose father George is a former Ballon d’Or winner and the current president of Liberia, plays for French team Lille.
Berhalter will have a difficult decision to make regarding the center forward position. Ricardo Pepi, who was the USA’s second-leading scorer in qualifying behind Pulisic, was left out of the 26-man roster, as was Jordan Pefok of Bundesliga side Union Berlin. The three forwards Berhalter will choose from are Josh Sargent, who has scored nine goals in England’s second division for Norwich, Haji Wright, who has been on fire for Turkish side Antalyaspor, and Jesus Ferreira, one of the leading goalscorers for MLS in the past. the season. Berhalter said the three strikers on the plane to Qatar were in better form than Pepi and Pefok, but many fans were disappointed by their exclusion. Whichever forward starts will be under tremendous pressure to put the ball in the net, something the USA struggled to do throughout qualifying.
OPPOSERS
The USA was placed in Group B, along with England, Wales and Iran. With four teams in the top 20 of the FIFA world rankings, Group B is considered one of the tightest and most competitive in the competition. Although the group is wide open, the Americans are optimistic about their ability to qualify.
Wales (11/21, 1:00 p.m. CST): The USMNT’s opener will come against Wales and will be an early indicator of the chances of qualification for both teams. Both teams are considered the two most likely runners-up and a good result from this match will be crucial for either side. The standout star for Wales is Gareth Bale, who was one of the best players in the world in his prime at Real Madrid and just won the MLS Cup with LAFC. In addition to Bale, Nottingham Forest striker Brennan Johnson and Fulham wings Daniel James and Harry Wilson will bring speed and skill to a potent attack. Wales are likely to use a back-five formation, including centre-backs Ben Davies (Tottenham), Joe Rodon (Rennes) and Ethan Ampadu (Spezia), which will be difficult to beat behind midfield including former -Arsenal player Aaron Ramsey (Nice). Wales will likely sit back and try to win games on the counter-attack. The pace of their wings and the tenacity of their defenders make them a tough opponent to beat.
England (11/25, 1pm CST): England are overwhelming favorites to win the group. After losing in the semi-finals of the 2018 World Cup and the finals of the European Championship, they are one of the top picks to make a deep run in Qatar. Their squad boasts incredible depth. Alongside captain Harry Kane (Tottenham), one of the best strikers in the world, their attack includes young and talented wings Bukayo Saka (Arsenal) and Phil Foden (Manchester City). At the heart of their midfield will be Jude Bellingham (Borussia Dortmund) and Declan Rice (West Ham), two of the best under-23 players in the tournament. The USA will hope to exploit the weaknesses of their inconsistent centre-backs, including Harry Maguire (Manchester United), who has fallen out of form at Manchester United but is a regular for England manager Gareth Southgate. However, England will undoubtedly call upon the most talented, experienced and deepest roster in Group B. The Three Lions are clear favorites to top the group.
Iran (11/29, 1:00 p.m. CST): The final opponents for the USA appear to be the weakest of the group, but they still have the potential to run the table in Qatar. in the middle anti-government protests at home, The political stories surrounding the Iranian team will have an impact both on and off the pitch. In terms of their roster, Iran lack the level of European pedigree of their group opponents but have a number of star players. Strikers Sardar Azmoun (Bayer Leverkusen) and Mehdi Taremi (Porto) will be goalscoring threats in front of a midfield that includes Alireza Jahanbakhsh (Feyenoord) and Saman Ghoddos (Brentford). Although the USA, Wales and England will see their games against Iran as must-wins, Iran are in fine form, having beaten Uruguay and drawn Senegal in September’s friendlies. The Iranian side are not favourites, but will challenge for a place in the knockout stage.
