It has been exactly 20 years since the United States recorded their best-ever finish at the FIFA World Cup in Japan and South Korea. Led by Brian McBride and a young Landon Donovan - named the tournament's best young player - the USMNT defeated Portugal and Mexico en route to the quarter-finals. Germany proved one hurdle too many, as Michael Ballack’s first-half strike sent the Germans to the last four and the American heroes back home with their heads held high. Two decades on, the last eight berth still remains the Stars and Stripes’ furthest foray at football's greatest spectacle, and in Qatar, they could be set to repeat it. Oddschecker, who compares online bookmakers providing free offers on the World Cup, has given Gregg Berhalter’s men a fighting chance to progress beyond the group stages, and who knows where from there?
It’s a far cry from five years ago when then-manager Bruce Arena led his side to Trinidad needing just a point to qualify for Russia 2018. Naturally, it was Trinidad & Tobago - who had lost eight of their nine games up until that point - who held on for a 2-1 victory, consigning Arena’s men to a fifth-place finish in the CONCACAF qualifying section and the worst moment in the history of US Soccer.
Since that painful evening in Couva, the USMNT have come on leaps and bounds. They have a fresh crop of young talent who have integrated into the first-team setup and are spearheaded by Captain America himself. Which three of their stars will shine brightest at the 2022 FIFA World Cup.
Captain America is of course Chelsea’s pacey winger Christian Pulisic. The former Borussia Dortmund man was named captain shortly after that humiliation in the Caribbean and his performances have justified that selection. He scored five goals during qualifying, including a hat-trick in the 5-1 drubbing of Panama, and his form has gone from strength to strength. He could only manage eight goals in all competitions for the Blues last season, however, and the 2020 UEFA Champions League winner will be hoping he can add to that when the new Premier League season gets underway in August.
For his national team, he is no doubt the shining light. Pulisic has already made over 50 appearances despite being just 23 years old and, with games against Iran and Wales awaiting in Group B, he will be determined to add to his 21 international goals.
Weston McKennie
When Weston McKennie first arrived in Turin back in 2020, not many of the Gobbi knew what to expect. He was making the move from a Schalke side that hadn’t won a Bundesliga game in six months and, at just 21 years of age, the central midfielder was hardly a seasoned professional. Now he has made the doubters eat their words.
McKennie appeared in all but five games in his first season with Juventus, keeping some more illustrious names out of the first team, such as Brazilian international Arthur and former Arsenal man Aaron Ramsey. Last term however was a disappointment, missing the second half of the campaign courtesy of a fractured metatarsal. Luckily for his international manager, McKennie made his return in the final Serie A game of the season meaning that he will be fit and get a full preseason under his belt ahead of the trip to the desert this winter.
There are fewer prospects in European football shining as brightly as Gio Reyna is with Borussia Dortmund. The son of former Manchester City and 106-time USA international Claudio Reyna is only 19 years of age but has still already featured for 93 times for BVB, providing 38 goal involvements along the way.
The attacking midfielder is another who struggled with injuries last year, with numerous different niggles limiting him to just 10 appearances in Germany. Should he be able to get a full preseason under his belt, he will no doubt be terrorizing defenders all over the Gulf State this winter.
