US Men’s National Team head coach Gregg Berhalter has called up 28 players to the roster for upcoming World Cup qualifiers. The USMNT will play El Salvador on January 27 in Columbus, Canada on January 30 in Ontario, and Honduras on February 2 in Minnesota.
Detailed roster by position (Club/Country; caps/goals)
GOALKEEPERS (4):Â Sean Johnson (New York City FC; 9/0), Gabriel Slonina (Chicago Fire; 0/0), Zack Steffen (Manchester City/ENG; 26/0), Matt Turner (New England Revolution; 13/0)
DEFENDERS (9): Reggie Cannon (Boavista/POR; 22/1), Sergiño Dest (Barcelona/ESP; 15/2), Brooks Lennon (Atlanta United; 1/0), Mark McKenzie (Genk/BEL; 8/0), Chris Richards (Hoffenheim/GER; 6/0), Antonee Robinson (Fulham/ENG; 19/1), Miles Robinson (Atlanta United; 15/3), DeAndre Yedlin (Galatasaray/TUR; 71/0), Walker Zimmerman (Nashville SC; 23/2)
MIDFIELDERS (7): Kellyn Acosta (LAFC; 45/2), Tyler Adams (RB Leipzig/GER; 22/1), Luca de la Torre (Heracles/NED; 4/0), Sebastian Lletget (New England Revolution; 33/8), Weston McKennie (Juventus/ITA; 28/8), Yunus Musah (Valencia/ESP; 11/0), Cristian Roldan (Seattle Sounders; 30/0)
FORWARDS (8): Brenden Aaronson (Red Bull Salzburg/AUT; 15/5), Paul Arriola (D.C. United; 42/8), Jesús Ferreira (FC Dallas; 5/2), Jordan Morris (Seattle Sounders; 40/10), Ricardo Pepi (Augsburg/GER; 7/3), Christian Pulisic (Chelsea/ENG; 42/17), Tim Weah (Lille/FRA; 18/2), Gyasi Zardes (Columbus Crew; 66/14)
Only 23 players will be available for selection per match. At first glance, the roster is one of the more interesting selections in recent windows. John Brooks still finds himself on the outside looking in. The Wolfsburg man was dropped for poor club form for the last round of qualifiers, but has since bounced back with strong performances in the Bundesliga and Champions League. His absence should give Miles Robinson and Walker Zimmerman a chance to continue their partnership in the middle, one of the more positive developments of the last year.
As Jonathan points out in his tweet, the lack of natural left backs almost guarantees that a right sided fullback will play out of position on the left. Sergiño Dest has been deployed on the left for club and country, but hasn’t always displayed the best defensive decision making.
Jordan Morris returns to World Cup qualifying for the first time since tearing his ACL on loan with Swansea City in May. The winger was arguably the most in-form attacker in the pool prior to his injury, and will be a major boost if he can return to his previous level.
With just six matches left to play in the final round of World Cup qualifying, the USMNT six in second place in Concacaf, one point behind Canada. Their January 30 meeting will have enormous implications for the final standings and qualification for Qatar.
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