Predicting the USA's 26-man FIFA World Cup squad

 

With just about two months to go until the 2022 FIFA World Cup kicks off, United States coach Gregg Berhalter is narrowing down the list of players he will take to Qatar. Squads are now able to include 26 players, as opposed to the 23 they could hold in previous editions of the tournament. The United States squad is expected to be the youngest of any team at the tournament, and Berhalter has said that "85%" of the team is already locked. Let's take a look at who he is most likely to call up.

Goalkeepers

Matt Turner

Matt Turner has impressed in the last couple of seasons, pushing himself into the conversation to be the United States' number one in Qatar. He got a move during the summer window from New England to Arsenal, where he's now serving as deputy to England international Aaron Ramsdale. Obviously, American fans would prefer that he gets regular game time before the tournament. However, that's simply not the case - nor has it been for his biggest rival to the American starting job, Zack Steffen. After a few seasons as the backup at Manchester City, Steffen was loaned to Championship side Middlesbrough this summer. Despite coming into the season as their starter, injuries and inconsistency have left his spot in the squad in a vulnerable place. He probably still makes the plane to Qatar, but on much less certain terms that he would've liked.

The third goalkeeper position is likely to be a battle between Sean Johnson and Ethan Horvath. Johnson, of New York City FC, has been a regular call-up over the last decade, but almost always in a backup role. Horvath was the hero off the bench against Mexico in the Nations League last summer, coming on when Steffen was injured and saving a penalty from Andres Guardado to secure the trophy. Chicago Fire teenager Gabriel Slonina will be hoping to sneak his way onto the plane, but Qatar probably comes one tournament too soon for him.

Full-backs

Antonee Robinson

After struggling for playing time at Barcelona, right back Sergiño Dest was sent on loan to AC Milan this season. Despite still not being a regular, he is a lock to be on the plane to Qatar, with Inter Miami's DeAndre Yedlin likely to be there as the backup. Though Yedlin hasn't been at his best in the MLS this year, he is one of the most experienced and well-respected players in the dressing room. He is also likely to be the only player on the team with previous World Cup experience, having played for the U.S. in Brazil in 2014. Reggie Cannon, playing in Portugal for Boavista, seems like a favorite of Berhalter's, and has the versatility to fill in at center back if required.

On the left, Antonee "Jedi" Robinson has become one of the first names on the teamsheet for Berhalter. He has enjoyed a very strong start to the season in the Premier League with Fulham, where he is constantly being tested by some of the best wingers in the world. The fight to be his backup comes down to Sam Vines, who's Royal Antwerp side has had a dominant start to the season in Belgium, and Joe Scally, a young American fan favorite playing regularly for Borussia Mönchengladbach in the German Bundesliga. George Bello is another option at left back, but he has struggled for consistency with Arminia Bielefeld.

Center-backs

Walker Zimmerman

The first-choice partnership at the back will likely include 3-time MLS All-Star Walker Zimmerman. Zimmerman won back to back MLS Defender of the Year awards in 2020 and 2021 after moving from LAFC to Nashville, and established himself as a key piece of the defense in World Cup qualifying. His partner at the back should be Chris Richards, who moved to Crystal Palace from Bayern Munich this summer after a couple of successful loan spells at Hoffenheim. Cameron Carter-Vickers, playing with Celtic, and Aaron Long, playing for New York Red Bulls, are the most likely bench options to be in the squad.

James Sands has gained good experience in the Champions League with Rangers, and Tim Ream has stepped up his game for Fulham in the Premier League. Both bring a little bit of versatility, as Sands can fill in the midfield like he did against Honduras during qualifying, and Ream has been deployed as a left-back by Berhalter at times. However, they are most likely both on the outside-looking-in for this tournament.

Long-time USA regular and 2014 World Cup hero John Brooks has well-documented differences with Gregg Berhalter, so there is virtually no chance that he makes the team, despite his move to Portuguese giants Benfica. Mark McKenzie of Belgian side Genk and Erik Palmer-Brown of Troyes in France are another pair who will be hoping to book their tickets to Qatar, but will probably be just outside the cut. Atlanta United's Miles Robinson would've been on the team, with a good shout for a starting spot, but suffered a torn achilles back in May.

Midfielders

Yunus Musah

Tyler Adams will be one of the starters in the midfield after impressing since his Premier League move to Leeds United. His teammate at Leeds, Brenden Aaronson, has also started the season well and is another player who's plane ticket to Qatar has been booked already. Kellyn Acosta of Los Angeles FC will be confident about his spot on the plane after a couple of heroic performances against Mexico last summer in the Nations League and Gold Cup. Juventus midfielder Weston McKennie is the heartbeat of the team. Young Valencia phenom Yunus Musah will likely be the third midfielder alongside Adams and McKennie. Luca De La Torre will be in the squad after establishing himself as a regular call-up over the last 12 months, though he is struggling for playing time at Celta Vigo after his transfer from relegated Dutch side Heracles. German-born Malik Tillman should also make the team after a strong start to his Rangers loan spell from Bayern Munich.

Cristian Roldan has been a longtime favorite of Gregg Berhalter's and was called in to every camp during qualifying, but an injury has forced him to miss out on the September roster, so he may lose his place to the rising Tillman. Sebastian Lletget is another player Berhalter has relied on in the past, but seems to have fallen out of the picture lately. Young Italian-American Gianluca Busio looked at one point to be in the mix, but after Venezia's relegation to Serie B it seems like he will have to wait for the 2026 cycle. Djordje Mihailovic has had a very strong season in MLS, but may be too far down the pecking order to go to Qatar.

Wingers

Christian Pulisic

Chelsea's Christian Pulisic is the poster-boy and likely captain for the United States, despite being days away from just his 24th birthday. Borussia Dortmund teenager Giovanni Reyna is arguably the most talented American, and will be looking to stay healthy long enough to replicate the success that his father's United States team had in the 2002 World Cup. Timothy Weah has had his share of injury struggles with Lille, but he will almost certainly be on the plane if he is healthy. Paul Arriola of FC Dallas has been a regular under Berhalter and will likely make the final roster.

Jordan Morris of the Seattle Sounders has also been a regular under Berhalter, but may miss out with so many talented wingers ahead of him. Matthew Hoppe probably misses out after struggling for playing time at Mallorca last year, though a move to Middlesbrough over the summer may help his case. Despite being touted as a huge talent, Konrad De La Fuente rarely featured during qualifying after an underwhelming debut season at Marseille last year, before being loaned to Olympiacos this summer.

Forwards

Jesús Ferreira

Colombian-born Jesús Ferreira is the most likely starter up front for Berhalter following a very strong season for FC Dallas. Josh Sargent has re-found his form for Norwich City in the Championship and looks to be an option off the bench. Despite being on a long scoring drought, teenager Ricardo Pepi may be the third striking option if his loan to Groningen from Augsburg can help him find his feet again. The Mexican-American contributed three goals and two assists in his first two qualifying appearances after committing to represent the U.S. last fall, but hasn't scored since last October. 

Jordan Pefok has had a bright start to the season for Union Berlin, who is flying high in the German Bundesliga and also playing Europa League football, but may not be suited to the style of play that Berhalter wants. Haji Wright has also started the season in good goal-scoring form for Antalyaspor in Turkey, and was handed his United States debut in a friendly in June. Brandon Vasquez has never been called up to the national team, but has been one of the top scorers in MLS all season long for FC Cincinnati. Gyasi Zardes was sporadically called in to camps during qualifying, but doesn't appear to be in the picture anymore. Daryl Dike is a physical presence, but nagging injuries have kept him from getting regular minutes for West Bromwich Albion. English-American dual-national Folarin Balogun is a promising prospect breaking out with Reims on a loan spell from Arsenal, but he may not have enough senior experience to warrant a call-up just yet.

Full Prediction:

Brenden Aaronson - midfielder/winger, 21, Leeds United

Kellyn Acosta - midfielder, 27, Los Angeles FC

Tyler Adams - midfielder, 23, Leeds United

Paul Arriola - winger, 27, FC Dallas

Reggie Cannon - right back, 24, Boavista

Cameron Carter-Vickers - center back, 24, Celtic

Luca De La Torre - midfielder, 24, Celta Vigo

Sergiño Dest - right back, 22, AC Milan

Jesús Ferreira - forward, 21, FC Dallas

Ethan Horvath - goalkeeper, 27, Luton Town

Aaron Long - center back, 30, New York Red Bulls

Weston McKennie - midfielder, 24, Juventus

Yunus Musah - midfielder, 19, Valencia

Ricardo Pepi - forward, 19, Groningen

Christian Pulisic - winger, 24, Chelsea

Giovanni Reyna - midfielder/winger, 20, Borussia Dortmund

Chris Richards - center back, 22, Crystal Palace

Antonee Robinson - left back 25, Fulham

Josh Sargent - forward/winger, 22, Norwich City

Joe Scally - right/left back, 19, Borussia Mönchengladbach

Zack Steffen - goalkeeper, 27, Middlesbrough

Malik Tillman - midfielder/winger, 20, Rangers

Matt Turner - goalkeeper, 28, Arsenal

Timothy Weah - winger, 22, Lille

DeAndre Yedlin - right back, 29, Inter Miami

Walker Zimmerman - center back, 29, Nashville SC

*ages listed are age on opening day of the World Cup