Back in the World Cup after 8 years of absence, the United States have inherited an open group B which gives them the right to dream. Team, calendar and form, here is all you need to know about Team US.
USA squad for the 2022 World Cup
Around the young winger Christian Pulisic (Chelsea), the United States relies on a few regulars of European football such as Sergiño Dest (AC Milan) Weston McKennie (Juventus Turin), hope Gio Reyna (Borussia Dortmund) or Lille Timothy Weah. Coach Gregg Berhalter has shaped a team adept at quick transitions.
Guardians: Ethan Horvath (Luton Town), Sean Johnson (New York City FC), Matt Turner (Arsenal).
Defenders: Cameron Carter-Vickers (Celtic), Sergiño Dest (AC Milan), Aaron Long (New York Red Bulls), Shaq Moore (Nashville SC), Tim Ream (Fulham), Antonee Robinson (Fulham), Joe Scally (Borussia Monchengladbach), DeAndre Yedlin (Inter Miami CF/USA), Walker Zimmerman (Nashville SC).
Environments : Brenden Aaronson (Leeds United), Kellyn Acosta (LAFC), Tyler Adams (Leeds United), Luca de la Torre (Celta Vigo), Weston McKennie (Juventus Turin), Yunus Musah (Valencia), Cristian Roldan (Seattle Sounders FC).
Forwards: Jesús Ferreira (FC Dallas), Jordan Morris (Seattle Sounders), Christian Pulisic (Chelsea), Gio Reyna (Borussia Dortmund), Josh Sargent (Norwich City), Tim Weah (Lille), Haji Wright (Antalyaspor).
USA schedule (Group B)
- Monday November 21, 8 p.m., United States – Wales (Day 1)
- Friday November 25, 8 p.m., England – United States (2nd day)
- Tuesday November 29, 8 p.m., Iran – United States (3rd day)
The shape of the United States
After having celebrated their qualification wrongly and too early, the United States qualified only on the last day of the qualifiers in the Concacaf Zone and being overtaken by Canada and Mexico. Team US still won the Gold Cup last year by beating the Mexicans in the final (1-0). The campaign of friendly matches proved to be very mixed, with a promising 3-0 victory against Morocco and an interesting draw against Uruguay (0-0) but also a defeat against Japan (0-2) and a draw inconclusive against Saudi Arabia (0-0). The Americans have won only one of their last 5 games.
Facts about the United States
Co-organizers of the next edition, the United States is clearly seeking to prepare for the future in Qatar. It is for this reason that they will present themselves with the second youngest squad among the 32 qualified (25 years and 2 months of average age).
USA’s chances at the 2022 World Cup
If the objective is therefore above all to prepare for 2026, the United States can legitimately aim for a qualification in the round of 16 behind England. For that, it will be necessary to get ahead of Wales and Iran, two teams close to its level.
