2018 is coming quickly, but with the announcement of the U-20 team and so many young stars around the world getting on to major clubs, I wanted to take a minute to dream about what the 2022 US World Cup team could look like if these young stars break into their clubs.
USMNT fictional Starting XI for the 2022 World Cup:
Tillman (Bayern – not yet committed to US) Lennon (Liverpool)
Pulisic (Dortmund) Zelalem (Arsenal) Olosunde (Manchester United) Gooch (Sunderland)
Johnson (Gladbach) Miazga (Chelsea) Carter-Vickers (Tottenham) Yedlin (Newcastle)
Horvath (Brugge)
We currently have a gap at goalkeepers in the top flight leagues, but that doesn’t mean some of our young up and coming talent can’t break in. After that we have as many as seven players (assuming Newcastle returns and Sunderland stays) currently fighting for minutes or serving on loan from the English Premier League. The rest of the team filling out with German Bundesliga players. These two leagues along with Spain are widely considered the best in the world.
A lot could change before 2022 and plenty of sales to and from the leagues will likely happen, new names will crop up. The future is bright though, as we continue to send our top young talent to the top soccer clubs.
