Following an embarrassing failure to qualify in 2018, the United States men’s national team underwent a major roster overhaul, moving away from longtime veteran staples in favor of younger, promising talents breaking out across Europe.
The USMNT has the youngest roster at the World Cup and one of the most-talented teams in U.S. history. This new core won the CONCACAF Gold Cup and CONCACAF Nations League in 2021 in its first major tournaments together.
U.S. manager Gregg Berhalter made several controversial selections on his 26-man roster — notably excluding striker Ricardo Pepi and goalkeeper Zack Steffen — and now faces even more important lineup decisions as the tournament progresses. Here is a look at the USMNT roster (*projected starter):
Goalkeepers
Matt Turner*
Age: 28 | Caps: 20
Hometown: Park Ridge, N.J.
Club team: Arsenal
Turner’s standout play for the MLS’ New England Revolution and USMNT earned him a move overseas to Premier League-leading Arsenal, where he’s a backup. After splitting starts with Zack Steffen during World Cup qualifying, he now enters as the first-choice goalie.
USMNT goalie Matt TurnerFIFA via Getty ImagesEthan Horvath
Age: 27 | Caps: 8
Hometown: Highlands Ranch, Colo.
Club team: Luton Town
With his play in the English Championship (England’s second division), Horvath earned the spot over Steffen.
Sean Johnson
Age: 33 | Caps: 10
Hometown: Lilburn, Ga.
Club team: NYCFC
A staple in the MLS, Johnson provides a veteran presence on this extremely young squad.
Defenders
Antonee Robinson*
Age: 25 | Caps: 29
Hometown: Liverpool, England
Club team: Fulham
Possessing familiarity with Tim Ream, the two are big reasons Fulham have enjoyed a bright start to their Premier League season. Robinson has become a mainstay in the USMNT lineup while providing an attacking threat from the back, scoring two goals and providing three assists in qualifying.
Sergiño Dest*
Age: 22 | Caps: 19
Hometown: Almere, Netherlands
Club team: AC Milan
Dest already has showcased his ability at the highest levels for Spanish giant Barcelona and Italian giant AC Milan. His experience on big stages will be relied on heavily.
USMNT defender Sergino DestFIFA via Getty ImagesWalker Zimmerman*
Age: 29 | Caps: 33
Hometown: Lawrenceville, Ga.
Club team: Nashville SC
A two-time MLS Defender of the Year and one of the league’s highest-paid players. Zimmerman played a key role in qualifying, and has served as captain at times with his steady aura.
Tim Ream*
Age: 35 | Caps: 46
Hometown: St. Louis
Club team: Fulham
After not even being on the roster in qualifying, the unsung hero for surprising Premier League team Fulham now gets called into key duty after injuries to center backs Chris Richards and Miles Robinson.
Aaron Long
Age: 30 | Caps: 29
Hometown: Oak Hills, Calif.
Club team: New York Red Bulls
The Red Bulls captain moves up the depth chart — including potential starts at center back — due to injuries.
Cameron Carter-Vickers
Age: 24 | Caps: 11
Hometown: Southend-on-Sea, England
Club team: Celtic
Has become a regular in Scottish team Celtic’s lineup, likely to be given bigger responsibilities after the team’s center-back injuries.
USMNT defender Cameron Carter-VickersFIFA via Getty ImagesDeAndre Yedlin
Age: 29 | Caps: 75
Hometown: Seattle
Club team: Inter Miami
Now back in America after playing overseas for years, Yedlin is the only player on the roster with World Cup experience — he had a crucial role on the 2014 team that reached the Round of 16.
Shaq Moore
Age: 26 | Caps: 15
Hometown: Powder Springs, Ga.
Club team: Nashville SC
Played an integral role in the Gold Cup-winning team and just completed his first season in the MLS after spending time overseas.
Joe Scally
Age: 19 | Caps: 3
Hometown: Lake Grove, N.Y.
Club team: Borussia Monchengladbach
The teenaged Long Island native has started every game this season for his German team. Did not log a minute in qualifying, though.
Midfielders
Tyler Adams*
Age: 23 | Caps: 32
Hometown: Wappingers Falls, N.Y.
Club team: Leeds United
Already having played at the highest levels in Germany and England and the Champions League, the relentless former Red Bulls academy product will be relied on to provide a defensive anchor and spark attacks.
Weston McKennie*
Age: 24 | Caps: 37
Hometown: Little Elm, Texas
Club team: Juventus
The Juventus star pulls all the strings in the middle of the field, helping drive attacks and provide cover while defending. He’s stood out against the best competition with four goals in the Champions League, and was voted 2020 U.S. Player of the Year and 2021 CONCACAF Nations League Player of the Tournament. Health is a bit of a question.
USMNT midfielder Weston McKennieFIFA via Getty ImagesYunus Musah*
Age: 19 | Caps: 19
Hometown: London
Club team: Valencia
The teenager has broken out in Spain while emerging on the radar of top clubs in Europe. Possessing scintillating potential and game-changing technical ability, Musah is perhaps the biggest X-factor to take the U.S. attack to another level.
Brenden Aaronson
Age: 22 | Caps: 24
Hometown: Medford, N.J.
Club team: Leeds United
Emerging at Leeds United — so much so that fans have created a new chant in his name — Aaronson can play as an attacking midfielder or as a forward. Lightning-fast with the ball, he provides a dynamic element as a goal-scorer and creator.
Kellyn Acosta
Age: 27 | Caps: 53
Hometown: Plano, Texas
Club team: LAFC
Acosta provides a calming, defensive-minded veteran midfield option. Enters the tournament directly after powering LAFC to the MLS title.
Christian Roldan
Age: 27 | Caps: 32
Hometown: Pico Rivera, Calif.
Club team: Seattle Sounders
A regular starter for the Sounders, Roldan carries familiarity with the U.S. system.
Luca de la Torre
Age: 24 | Caps: 12
Hometown: San Diego
Club team: Celta Vigo
Has barely seen any action with Celta Vigo since his move to Spain, but can provide an attacking change off the bench if needed.
Forwards
Christian Pulisic*
Age: 24 | Caps: 52
Hometown: Hershey, Pa.
Club team: Chelsea
The face of the USMNT since he erupted onto the world scene as a teenager, the United States attack predictably revolves around Pulisic’s star power. The same will be true of opponents’ game plans, and how Pulisic handles the attention and elevates his teammates will dictate the Americans’ fate. Demoted to a backup role on a turbulent Chelsea team, he will enter the tournament fresh (or is it rusty?) after not playing much of late.
USMNT forward Christian PulisicFIFA via Getty ImagesGiovanni Reyna*
Age: 19 | Caps: 14
Hometown: Bedford, N.Y.
Club team: Borussia Dortmund
When healthy, Reyna has cemented himself as one of the most exciting players at Dortmund and one of the most promising youngsters in Europe. Able to play in various positions, the son of U.S. great Claudio Reyna seems on the precipice of stardom.
Jesus Ferreira*
Age: 21 | Caps: 15
Hometown: McKinney, Texas
Club team : FC Dallas
Following a strong 18-goal season for FC Dallas in MLS, Ferreira likely will get the first crack to lead the front three as the starting striker.
Timothy Weah*
Age: 22 | Caps: 25
Hometown: Rosedale, N.Y.
Club team: Lille
The son of soccer legend and current Liberian president George Weah has found his groove with Lille after a much-anticipated move overseas to France. Perhaps the most athletically gifted player on the team, Weah is a traditional winger, but don’t be surprised to see him get a chance at striker if Ferreira struggles.
Jordan Morris
Age: 28 | Caps: 49
Hometown: Mercer Island, Wash.
Club team: Seattle Sounders
With a career defined and plagued by injuries, Morris’ World Cup inclusion is heartwarming but also questionable, particularly with Pepi left at home. The workhorse Morris has long been a trusted favorite of Berhalter.
Josh Sargent
Age: 22 | Caps: 20
Hometown: O’Fallon, Mo.
Club team: Norwich City
A bounce-back season in the English Championship — he scored nine goals and provided two assists in 19 games before the break — earned him a roster spot.
Haji Wright
Age: 24 | Caps: 3
Hometown: Los Angeles
Club team: Antalyaspor
A surprise late addition to the roster. Berhalter pointed to Wright’s recent form in Turkey — nine goals in 12 games — as to why he got the nod.
Projected XI (4-3-3)
Goalkeeper: Matt Turner
Defenders: Sergiño Dest—Tim Ream—Walker Zimmerman—Antonee Robinson
Midfielders: Tyler Adams
Weston McKennie—Yunus Musah
Forwards: Giovanni Reyna—Christian Pulisic
Jesus Ferreira
