USMNT
What’s in a Resume?
Thomas Deschaine (@uskeeper on X and us_keeper on Instagram)
A look back at the full-time USMNT Manager’s resumes before they were hired
You can’t go anywhere on social media today without seeing passionate fans, former USMNT players, and media asking for Gregg Berhalter to be fired, and rightfully so after the USMNT was grouped at the 2024 Copa America. The USMNT became the first team since 1993 when the tournament went from a Round-Robin format to a Group Stage & Knockout Stage format to not make it out of the group stage.
Most fans are well aware of how, but maybe not why Gregg Berhalter was hired not once, but twice as the USMNT manager and continue to wonder why he was the chosen one due to his unimpressive resume.
History of the past Full-Time USMNT Managers
The USMNT hired its first full-time manager in 1976 a decade and a half after beating England 1-0 at the 1950 World Cup, during that stretch the USMNT would hire and fire 17 managers with only George Meyer being rehired who failed twice to qualify the USMNT for the World Cup.
Since 1976 the USMNT has also employed 17 managers three who have managed the national team multiple times and five who were caretakers.
Here’s a look at the resumes of the nine full-time managers at the time of being hired to lead the USMNT along with their records as national team manager.
Walter Chyzowych – July 1976 – November 1980
8 Wins, 10 Draws and 14 Losses, GF-26, GA-50
Walter Chyzowych’s coaching career started as the caretaker of the Philadelphia Textile in 1961 and he ended up coaching the team until 1975, during that time he was also an assistant for Philadelphia Ukrainian Nationals from 1971 to 1975.
In 1975 the U.S. Soccer Federation hired Chyzowych as their director of coaching a position he would hold until 1981. Chyzowych the first full-time USMNT manager would coach the national team for two World Cup cycles (1978 and 1982) failing to qualify for the World Cup both times. Chyzowych’s signature win came on the road against 21st ELO-ranked Hungary a 2-0 win on October 26, 1979. It’s also worth noting that Chyzowych’s older brother Eugene managed the USMNT for three matches in 1973.
Alketas ‘Alkis’ Panagoulias – January 1983 – June 1985
6 Wins, 7 Draws and 5 Losses, GF-19, GA-21
Panagoulias’s coaching career started in 1967 when he coached the New York Greek Americans to three consecutive National Challenge Cup titles in 1967, 1968, and 1969. In 1972 he was hired as the assistant coach for Greece under the legendary Billy Bingham of Northern Ireland. Panagoulias would be employed as the Greece national team manager in 1973. He would coach the Greece national team until 1981. Panagoulias would help Greece qualify for the UEFA Euro 1980, where they would fail to get out of the group.
In 1981 Panagoulias left the Greece national team and would coach Olympiacos for three seasons where he would win the Alpha Ethniki title in 1982 and 1983.
In 1983 US Soccer hired Panagoulias as the USMNT manager, at that time Panagoulias would manage the national team, Team America (1983), and the 1984 US Soccer Olympic team. Panagoulias would fail to qualify for the 1986 World Cup, but came very close to advancing to the final round of qualifying, but lost in a must-win home match to Costa Rice 1-0.
Bob Gansler – January 16, 1989 – February 23, 1991
15 Wins, 6 Draws and 16 Losses, GF-43, GA-41
The former USMNT defender held several coaching positions with the youth team from the mid-1970s until 1989 when he led the U-20 USYNT to fourth place at the 1989 FIFA World Youth Championship, while also serving as the head coach at the University of Wisconsin–Milwaukee men’s soccer team from 1984 through 1988. Gansler also coached the USMNT for one match in 1982, a 1-0 win against Trinidad & Tobago. Bob Gansler was the first USMNT manager in 40 years to qualify for the World Cup.
Bora Milutinović – March 27, 1991 – April 14, 1995
30 Wins, 31 Draws and 35 Losses, GF-116, GA-110
Bora started his coaching career in 1977 when he was hired as the manager of the UNAM Pumas where he coached until 1983. Bora would win two trophies as the UNAM manager of the Concacaf Champions League and Mexican Champion in the 1980/1981 season.
Bora would next become the Mexican National Team manager in 1983 and coach them at the 1986 World Cup hosted by Mexico. The team would finish sixth and end up losing in penalty kicks to West Germany, who would lose in the Final to Argentina.
After leaving Mexico in 1986 Bora would have a handful of other manager jobs in South and Central America and on short stint in Italy where he would coach Udinese nine matches.
Bora was hired as the Costa Rican National Team manager in 1990 and would coach them at the 1990 World Cup in Italy. Bora would once again get his team out of the group and into the knockout stage. Costa Rica would end up finishing 13th after losing to Czechoslovakia 4-1 in the Round of 16
Steve Sampson – April 15, 1995 – June 29, 1998
26 Wins, 14 Draws and 22 Losses, GF-83, GA-69
Steve Sampson’s coaching career started as the boy’s varsity soccer coach at Awalt High School in Mountain View, California, where he would coach for two seasons, followed by being an assistant coach at Foothill Owls and the UCLA Bruins where he would be part of the coaching staff of the team that would win the 1985 NCAA men’s soccer championship.
Sampson would finally get his first college coaching job when he was hired by Santa Clara Broncos in 1986. Sampson would lead his 1989 Santa Clara Broncos to the NCAA Men’s Soccer Championship against Virginia who was coached by Bruce Arena. The teams would battle through regulation & four overtime and end up being named Santa Clara and Virginia as co-champions.
In 1993 Sampson was hired as an assistant to Bora Milutinović and was on the staff during the 1994 World Cup team.
Bruce Arena – October 26, 1998 – July 14, 2006
71 Wins, 29 Draws and 30 Losses, GF-210, GA-98
Arena was hired as the head soccer coach of Virginia a job he would keep for 18 years. In his time with Virginia Arena won five NCAA Division I men’s soccer championships (1989, 1991, 1992, 1993, 1994) and would coach many USMNTs like Claudio Reyna, Jeff Agoos, Ben Olsen, John Harkes, and Tony Meola.
In 1996 Arena would leave Virginia and coach in the inaugural first season of Major League Soccer for D.C. United where he would end up winning two MLS Championships, one Concacaf Champions Cup, and one Supporter Shield
Arena would also coach the U-23 USMNT team at the 1996 Summer Olympics in Atlanta, Georgia where they would finish third in the group with four points.
Bob Bradley – December 8, 2006 – July 28, 2011
43 Wins, 12 Draws and 25 Losses, GF-134, GA-97
In 1982 Bradley began his coaching career at Ohio University where he coached for two seasons. Bradley would then become an assistant coach under Bruce Arena at Virginia before returning to his alma mater Princeton where he would coach for 11 seasons he would win two Ivy League titles and finished fourth at the 1993 NCAA Division I men’s soccer tournament.
In 1996 Arena would once again hire Bradley to be an assistant coach with him at D.C. United for two seasons. Bradley would also be the Arena’s assistant coach at the 1996 Summer Olympics.
Bradley would finally get his first manager job in the MLS when he was hired by the Chicago Fire in 1998 where he won the MLS Cup as well as the U.S. Open Cup in their first season in the MLS. Bradley would go on to also coach the MetroStars (New York Red Bulls) and Chivas USA while complying with a record of 150 Wins, 74 Draws, and 108 Losses with those three MLS teams, before being hired as the USMNT.
Jürgen Klinsmann – July 29, 2011 – October 13, 2016
55 Wins, 16 Draws and 27 Losses, GF-178, GA-109
Jurgen_Klinsmann
Klinsmann would be hired as the German National Team manager in 2004 after a disastrous showing at UEFA Euros. Klinsmann would lead the Germans to the semi-finals of the 2006 World Cup where they would lose in extra time to Italy and end up defeating Portugal in the Third Place playoff match. Soon after the 2006 World Cup Klinsmann declined the offer to renew his contract.
Klinsmann would become the coach of Bayern Munich in July 2008. Klinsmann would get Bayern Munich to the quarter-finals where they would lose to eventual UEFA Champions League winner Barcelona. Klinsmann would be fired with five matches remaining in the Bundesliga season 2008-2009 but would finish in second place in the table two points behind VfL Wolfsburg.
Toronto FC hired Klinsmann in November of 2010 as the team’s technical consultant to help with coaching and player evaluation.
Gregg Berhalter – December 2, 2018 – TBD
44 Wins, 13 Draws and 17 Losses, GF-144, GA-65
In Berhalter’s third and final season as a player with the Los Angeles Galaxy was added as one of the assistant coaches due to his leadership abilities. Berhalter played very few matches due to ongoing and lingering injuries. The Galaxy led by Bruce Arena would end up winning the 2011 Supporters’ Shield and the 2011 MLS Cup.
Manager Rumors and Speculations
We’ve seen many lists and thoughts on who the next USMNT manager should be if Gregg Berhalter either steps down or is sacked by US Soccer. The USMNT needs an experienced manager who can get the most out of the group while providing winning results.
American Manager Options
Several American options are currently under contract like Steve Chreudolo (Los Angeles FC), Jim Curtin (Philadelphia Union), former USMNT manager Bob Bradley (Stabæk), or Pellegrino Matarazzo (TSG Hoffenheim) all seem very unlikely unless they can find a way out of their contracts, which was a problem when hiring Gregg Berhalter, which is why they waited over a year to hire him.
Then you have several former unattached USMNT players Tab Ramos (former Youth Technical Director and U-20 USMNT manager) Hugo Perez (former El Salvador manager) and David Wagner (former Norwich manager) who could be considered, all who would make great assistances to the next manager and or candidates for the 2030 cycle.
There is also Bruce Arena who’s sitting at home right now and might want to redeem himself.
Foreign High Profile Managers
These lists also include big names like Jurgen Klopp who is currently traveling around the United States on this 4th of July weekend or Marcelo Gallardo formerly manager of Al-Ittihad or Mauricio Pochettino most recently the manager of Chelsea for one season. Other big name managers who are currently available include Xavi formerly with Barcelona or Zinédine Zidane but those options aren’t going to happen.
Ideal International Manager Options
At this point in the cycle, the USMNT must hire a manager with International experience to prepare the USMNT for the 2026 FIFA World Cup. Here’s a look at managers with International expertise and their record as an International manager.
Joachim Löw (64) – Free Agent – Former German National Team Manager (2006-2021)
124 Wins, 40 Draws & 34 Losses, GF-467, GA-200
- 2008 – UEFA Euro – Runners Up
- 2010 – World Cup – Finished Third
- 2012 – UEFA Euro – Lost in semi-finals
- 2014 – World Cup – Champions
- 2016 – UEFA Euro – Lost in semi-finals
- 2017 – Confederations Cup – Champions
- 2018 – World Cup – Finished 22nd & last in their group
- 2020 – UEFA Euro – Lost in Round of 16
Joachim Löw International’s resume and results speak for themselves. While I am not sure if he would accept an offer to coach the USMNT he checks all the boxes.
Hervé Renard (55) – France WNT
70 Wins, 38 Draws & 46 Losses, GF-205, GA-142
- 2010 – CAF Africa Cup of Nations – Lost in the Quarter-Finals in PKs – Finished 6th
- 2012 – CAF Africa Cup of Nations – Champions
- 2013 – Eliminated in the group stage – Finished 12th
- 2015 – CAF Africa Cup of Nations – Champions
- 2018 – World Cup – Eliminated in the group stage – Finished 27th
- 2022 – World Cup – Eliminated in the group stage – Finished 25th
The French women’s national team manager is preparing for the 2024 Olympics, whose contract ends after the 2024 Olympics. Renard’s International experience with five different nations over six stints with Saudi Arabia, Morocco, Ivory Coast, Angola, and two stints with Zambia.
Jorge Sampaoli (64) – Free Agent – Former Chile (2012-2016) & Argentina (2017-2018) National Team Manager
34 Wins, 13 Draws & 12 Losses, GF-116, GA-65
- 2014 – World Cup – Lost in Round of 16 in PKs
- 2015 – Copa America – Champions
- 2018 – World Cup – Lost in Round of 16
While Sampaoli’s International coaching career has been limited he has been successful in his stints as well as winning four trophies as manager of Club Universidad de Chile in the early 2010’s
Senol Gunes (72) – Free Agent
38 Wins, 23 Draws & 21 Losses
- 2002 – World Cup – Lost in Semi-Finals – Third Place
- 2003 – Confederations Cup – Third Place
- 2020 – UEFA Euro – Eliminated in the group stage – Finished 24th
Gunes’ most recent run as International manager with Türkiye wasn’t as successful as his first but has the necessary experience with International soccer. Gunes won six trophies as a manager two with Trabzonspor in the mid-1990s and another two with Trabzonspor in 2010 while also winning two trophies over the last eight years with Besiktas.
Louis van Gaal (72) – Advisor with Ajax
41 Wins, 19 Draws & 4 Losses, GF-154, GA-51
Louis_vanGaal
- 2014 – World Cup – Lost in Semi-Finals – Third Place
- 2022 – World Cup – Lost in Quarter-Finals – Fifth Place
At 72 van Gaal’s coaching days might be behind him, however, he did get the Netherlands to the quarter-finals of the 2022 World Cup and lost in penalty kicks to the eventual winner Argentina. Van Gaal also has a very long and successful club coaching career with Ajax, Barcelona, Bayern Munich, and Manchester United where he won 20 trophies.
Luis Enrique – Paris Saint-Germain
26 Wins, 14 Draws & 7 Losses, GF-97, GA-37
- 2020 – UEFA Euro – Lost in Semi-Finals in PKs – Third Place
- 2020–21 – UEFA Nations League – Second Place
- 2022 – World Cup – Lost in Round of 16 in PKs – 13th Place
It was rumored that Enrique was one of the three or four named final candidates for the USMNT in 2023. While Enrique’s International experience is limited he has recently competed in several FIFA tournaments will solid results with Spain. Enrique has also had a very successful club career earning 13 trophies with Paris Saint-Germain and Barcelona.
Next steps for US Soccer and the USMNT
So where does US Soccer go from here? From the sounds of it, leaders inside US Soccer don’t want to part ways with Gregg Berhalter, but I have to wonder why not. Gregg met the expectations of many when the USMNT qualified for the 2022 World Cup and made it out of the group, but in my humble opinion he isn’t able to take this group any further, which is very clear based on recent results against Trinidad and Tobago on the road in Nations League semi-finals, a home Friendly against Colombia and the home lost at Copa America to Panama.
I fear that the USSF will either not fire Gregg Berhalter or fire him and hire another puppet MLS American to run the USMNT, which isn’t what is needed over the next two years if the USMNT is going to make a wanted and needed deep run at the 2026 World Cup.
USMNT
Entry into US Men’s National Fandom
Thomas Deschaine (@uskeeper on X and us_keeper on Instagram)
Every soccer fan has a player or a moment or signature win that pulls them into the game and binds them to a team, no matter how high or low the journey becomes.
For me, that moment was tied to the U.S. Men’s National Team hosting the 1994 World Cup, along with my own recent introduction to the sport as the starting goalkeeper for my school team. Tony Meola, in particular, stood out as one of many important icons and trailblazers for the USMNT during that era.
I imagine there are countless young fans around the world who have already had, or will soon have, that defining moment over the last few years: discovering their first international team and the players they’ll root for and follow for years to come.
Before the 1990 World Cup cycle, those moments were rare for the USMNT. The United States hadn’t even reached the final round of CONCACAF World Cup Qualifying. Their closest opportunity came during the 1986 cycle, when all the U.S. needed was a draw at home against Costa Rica, a result they had achieved just five days earlier on the road in Costa Rica.
In the 1980s, the USMNT qualified for the Olympics three times, once automatically as the host nation in 1984 and twice through the qualifying tournament. It’s also worth noting that Mexico was disqualified during both the 1980 and 1988 qualifying cycles.
Despite qualifying, the U.S. withdrew from the 1980 Olympics in protest of the Soviet invasion of Afghanistan. In the tournaments they did play (1984 and 1988), the USMNT struggled to make an impact, failing to advance out of the group stage and managing just one combined win across both competitions.
USMNT on the Rise (1988-1998)
This generation of trailblazers put the U.S. Men’s National Team back on the map—ending a 40-year World Cup drought, hosting the 1994 World Cup, and advancing further than the world expected.
1989 WCQ neutral side in Honduras vs El Salvador
A rare win away from home soil keeps US in hunt to qualify for 1990 World Cup.
1989 – Qualification at Trinidad & Tobago
The win in Port of Spain sends the US to its first World Cup since 1950.
1990 – Return to the World Cup (Italy)
Results were tough, but simply qualifying restarted the program on the world stage.
1991 – USA 2–0 Mexico (Gold Cup)
The USMNT’s first “Dos a Cero” win against Mexico to advance to the first Gold Cup Final.
1993 – USA 2-0 England (U.S. Cup)
The USMNT first win against England since the 1950 World Cup.
1994 – USA 2–1 Colombia (World Cup)
One of the biggest upsets in World Cup history; launched U.S. soccer into the mainstream.
1995 – USA 3-0 Argentina (Copa America)
The apex win for this generation of USMNT trailblazers.
1998 – USA 1-0 Brazil (Gold Cup)
The USMNT only win over Brazil to date.
Earning Respect from the World (1999-2010)
After a disappointing performance at the 1998 World Cup, the USMNT reset by hiring American coach Bruce Arena. That decision, combined with the emergence of impactful young players, helped restore credibility and earn growing respect on the global stage—culminating in a deep and memorable run at the 2002 World Cup.
1999 – 2-0 Win over Germany (Confederations Cup)
USMNT second win over Germany in 1999.
2001 – First “Dos a Cero” vs Mexico in Columbus (World Cup Qualifier)
A rivalry-defining moment and a psychological turning point.
2002 – USA 3–2 Portugal (World Cup)
The world took notice. One of the greatest performances in USMNT history.
2002 – USA 2–0 Mexico (World Cup Round of 16)
Dominance over rival Mexico on the biggest stage.
2002 – World Cup Quarterfinal run (loss 1–0 to Germany)
Even in a loss the USMNT deepest World Cup run got attention from most.
2005 – USA 2-0 Mexico in Columbus (World Cup Qualifier)
USMNT WCQ win over Mexico qualified them for the World Cup.
2007 – Gold Cup Final: USA 2–1 Mexico (Gold Cup)
A signature win in Chicago with a classic Donovan goal.
2009 – USA 2–0 Spain (Confederations Cup)
Ends Spain’s 35-match unbeaten streak in a historic semifinal upset.
2010 – Donovan vs Algeria (90+1’)
The most iconic goal in USMNT history; dramatic group-stage escape.
The Klinsmann Era (2011-2017)
When Jürgen Klinsmann was hired to replace Bob Bradley, he introduced a new mindset for the USMNT, challenging players to compete at higher levels with their clubs. The opponents he scheduled during his tenure reflected that philosophy, consistently pushing the team against stronger international competition.
2012 – USA 1-0 Italy (Friendly)
A key road win for the USMNT under Klinsmann.
2012 – USA 1-0 Mexico (Friendly)
The Americans first ever win at Azteca in Mexico.
2013 – USA 4-3 Germany (Centennial Match)
Celebrating their centennial match in style with a win.
2013 – USA 4-3 Bosnia-Herzegovina (Friendly)
A comeback road win against the 13th ranked Bosnia-Herzegovina.
2013 – USA 2-0 Mexico (World Cup Qualifier)
Nothing better than Dos a Cero that qualifies you for the World Cup.
2014 – USA 2–1 Ghana (World Cup)
Revenge at last, with a clutch John Brooks header helping to advance from Group of Death.
2015 – USA 4-3 Netherlands (Friendly)
A thrilling comeback victory on the road against the Netherlands.
2015 – USA 2-1 Germany (Friendly)
Days after beating the Netherlands, the USMNT topped Germany in a hard-fought match.
2016 – USA 2-1 Ecuador (Copa America)
A quarter-final win for the Americans who advance to the semi-finals of Copa America.
The Rise of a New Generation (2018-Current)
After the failure to qualify for the 2018 World Cup, the USMNT landscape began to shift. A greater emphasis was placed on integrating younger players into the national team, even as it became increasingly difficult for the U.S. to schedule friendlies against top-level opponents from Europe and South America.
2021 – USA 3-2 Mexico (Nations League)
This extra-time win sparked a period of dominance over Mexico.
2022 – USA 3-0 Morocco (Friendly)
A victory over the eventual fourth-place finisher at the 2022 World Cup.
2022 – USA 1-0 Iran (World Cup)
A first-half strike from Christian Pulisic propels the U.S. into the knockout stage.
2023 – USA 3-0 Mexico (Nations League)
A dominant semifinal win preceded Gregg Berhalter’s rehiring.
2024 -USA 2-0 Mexico (Nations League)
Another victory over El Tri, extending the unbeaten run to seven matches.
A Chance to Win will bring in New Believers Ahead of 2026
The USMNT has a prime opportunity to build momentum and attract new supporters ahead of the 2026 World Cup, with upcoming friendlies against European powers Belgium, Portugal, and Germany, along with AFCON champions Senegal. These high-profile matchups offer a rare spotlight and a chance to measure themselves against the world’s best.
A deep World Cup run, reaching the quarterfinals or beyond, would go a long way toward winning and retaining new fans. But to truly grow the fanbase, success must be consistent, with fewer lapses and a standard of performance that reinforces belief long after the tournament ends.
USMNT
Breaking the Mold: Freese a Unique USMNT Goalkeeper
Thomas Deschaine (@uskeeper on X and us_keeper on Instagram)
With only the March window left before Mauricio Pochettino finalizes the 2026 World Cup roster, one major question remains: who can truly be trusted to guard the net? It’s a debate still dividing media, fans, and observers alike.
The USMNT has produced some legendary goalkeepers over the past four decades, but the current pool has yet to see anyone truly seize the No. 1 spot. For a while, it looked like Matt Turner might start in back-to-back World Cups, but after a poor summer performance against Switzerland, he lost his place to Matt Freese. Freese went on to start the last thirteen matches, yet outside of his heroics in the 2025 Gold Cup penalty shootout, echoing Turner’s run in 2023, Freese hasn’t fully convinced me he should be the starter at the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
Since the 1990 cycle, five USMNT goalkeepers, Tony Meola, Kasey Keller, Brad Friedel, Tim Howard, and Matt Turner, have earned the World Cup starting role. Each of them logged minutes in the grueling World Cup qualifying process before taking the job. But Matt Freese could become the first USMNT goalkeeper to start a World Cup without ever playing a single qualifier.
Tony Meola – 1990 Italy World Cup
Creator: Bob Thomas | Credit: Getty Images
Tony Meola remains the youngest goalkeeper ever to start a World Cup for the USMNT. He went on to start in back-to-back tournaments and later served as the backup at the 2002 World Cup alongside Brad Friedel and Kasey Keller.
First Cap (Age) – June 7, 1998 (19 years, 3 month & 17 days)
World Cup 1990 (Age) – (21 years, 3 months, 10 days)
Overall Stats heading into the World Cup
Matches Played – 17
Matches Started – 15
Minutes Played – 1,395
Wins – 7
Shutouts – 6
World Cup Qualifying Stats
Matches Played – 4
Matches Started – 4
Minutes Played – 360
Wins – 2
Shutouts – 4
Kasey Keller – 1998 France World Cup
Kasey Keller, one of the backups to Tony Meola at the 1990 World Cup, was left off the 1994 roster but later reestablished himself in the USMNT picture. He went on to become the primary starter for the 1998 and 2006 World Cups and served as the backup on the 2002 team.
Creator: Ben Radford | Credit: Getty Images
First Cap (Age) – February 4, 1990 (20 years, 2 months & 6 days)
World Cup 1998 (Age) – (28 years, 6 months, 15 days)
Overall Stats heading into the World Cup
Matches Played – 34
Matches Started – 33
Minutes Played – 2,790
Wins – 18
Shutouts – 16
World Cup Qualifying Stats
Matches Played – 9
Matches Started – 9
Minutes Played – 810
Wins – 5
Shutouts – 6
Brad Friedel – 2002 Korea/Japan World Cup
Creator: Clive Brunskill | Credit: Getty Images
Brad Friedel, who started all five U.S. matches at the 2002 World Cup and made one start in 1998, earned a place on three USMNT World Cup squads during his career.
First Cap (Age) – September 3, 1992 (21 years, 3 months, 16 days)
World Cup 2002 (Age) – (31 years, 0 months, 5 days)
Overall Stats heading into the World Cup
Matches Played – 76
Matches Started – 74
Minutes Played – 6,453
Wins – 25
Shutouts – 23
World Cup Qualifying Stats
Matches Played – 13
Matches Started – 13
Minutes Played – 1,125
Wins – 7
Shutouts – 4
Tim Howard – 2010 South Africa
Creator: Ronald Wittek | Credit: Alamy
Tim Howard, the oldest first-time World Cup starter among this group, may also be the most accomplished. He appeared on three World Cup rosters, and likely would have made a fourth had the USMNT qualified in 2018.
First Cap (Age) – March 10, 2002 (23 years, 0 months, 4 days)
World Cup 2010 (Age) – (31 years, 3 months, 12 days)
Overall Stats heading into the World Cup
Matches Played – 51
Matches Started – 50
Minutes Played – 4,185
Wins – 31
Shutouts – 23
World Cup Qualifying Stats
Matches Played – 16
Matches Started – 16
Minutes Played – 1,440
Wins – 12
Shutouts – 8
Matt Turner – 2022 Qatar
Creator: Francisco Seco | Credit: AP
Turner seized his opportunity when an unwell Zack Steffen was forced off the roster to start the World Cup qualifying, stepping in to start the first of eight World Cup qualifiers. His performances solidified his place as the USMNT’s starting goalkeeper for the 2022 World Cup.
First Cap (Age) – January 31, 2021 (26 years, 9 months, 3 days)
World Cup 2022 (Age) – (28 years, 4 months, 21 days)
Overall Stats heading into the World Cup
Matches Played – 20
Matches Started – 20
Minutes Played – 1,800
Wins – 14
Shutouts – 14
World Cup Qualifying Stats
Matches Played – 8
Matches Started – 8
Minutes Played – 720
Wins – 4
Shutouts – 4
Matt Freese
Courtesy USMNT
Matt Freese would have the shortest runway of any USMNT goalkeeper, from earning his first cap to potentially starting at a World Cup. He would also become the first U.S. keeper to start at a World Cup without having played a single World Cup qualifier.
First Cap (Age) – June 5, 2025 (26 years, 9 months, 3 days)
World Cup 2026 (Age) – (27 years, 9 months, 12 days)
Overall Stats heading into the World Cup
Matches Played – 13
Matches Started – 13
Minutes Played – 1,170
Wins – 7*
Shutouts – 3*
World Cup Qualifying Stats
Matches Played – n/a
Matches Started – n/a
Minutes Played – n/a
Wins – n/a
Shutouts – n/a
It’s clear the USMNT doesn’t have a true front-runner in goal even though Mauricio Pochettino currently leans toward Matt Freese, but as we’ve seen, things can change fast. Matt Turner, Patrick Schulte, Chris Brady, Roman Celentano, and Jonathan Klinsmann will all need to push hard to earn their place on the final roster.
USMNT
2025 Summer Transfer Window Review
Last year, I wrote a stock-up/stock-down article covering ten Americans who either made a move to Europe or to the U.S. We are closing in on New Year’s and about 6 months until the World Cup (June 11th, 2026), giving us enough data to know if these transfers have been beneficial not just for the players’ club careers, but to make it onto the USMNT for the World Cup. As American soccer players, this season is the most important season of their international career. The players are making one last argument for them to be at a USMNT camp and be part of the team when the United States of America co-hosts the FIFA World Cup. So far, a lot of the European transfers have not gone so well, compared to the domestic transfers.
*All information is up to date as of December 1st, 2025.
Yunus Musah to Atalanta (loan)- Stocks Down
When Massimiliano Allegri took over AC Milan, he cleaned house. Twenty-four players were permanently transferred out of the club or sent on loan (some for positive reasons and others, not so much). Yunus Musah happened to be one of those 24 players. AC Milan sent Musah on loan to fellow Serie A club, Atalanta, with an option to buy that is worth $28 million. As things stand, it does not look like Atalanta will trigger their buy option at the end of the season. Musah has only one start and has appeared in 9 matches (a total of 203 minutes) while being available for a total of 16 matches since joining the Nerazzurri. When it comes to goal contributions, Musah has only one assist coming from the Champions League match against Club Brugge. When it comes to passing, Musah’s accuracy has not been bad (83.5%), but he is lacking in chances created with only 3.
He has never been known for scoring goals, but his total shots this half of the season are as low as 0.6. As for his defensive work, it has been average. He has only 2 interceptions, has lacked successful tackles (25% success rate at 1/4), and he has committed a penalty. The only positive is his ball recovery rate, which is at 16. Statistically, the only areas where he sees positive results have been in his dribbling (60% completion) and duels won (59.5%). From Atalanta’s standpoint, if he is offering little in the final third and in your defensive half, then what is the purpose of starting him? As for the USMNT, his poor form at his club has not gone unnoticed by Mauricio Pochettino. The last time Musah received a call-up to the USMNT was for the Gold Cup, which he turned down and that could be a contributing factor to why he has not been called up since. Others in the midfield, and at right wing, have been able to stake their claim onto the team. At this point, we will not be seeing Yunus Musah make it onto the 26-man team this coming summer.
Johnny Cardoso to Atlético Madrid- Stock Down
One of the biggest transfers this past window for an American, and one of the closest followed transfers in Spain, was Johnny Cardoso’s $35 million (according to Goal) move to Atlético Madrid on a 5-year deal. Johnny was coming off a solid season with Real Betis that showed a promising career in Europe. He collected 4 goals and one assist as a defensive midfielder. In just two months of being at Real Betis, Johnny won the LaLiga U23 Player of the Month for February 2024. Fast forward to today, due to his lack of opportunities with Atleti and his USMNT form, his hopes of being at the World Cup are fading.
During pre-season, he made his way onto the starting XI for Atleti starting in the first three matches of the season. Sadly, he picked up an ankle injury that led him to miss 9 matches. Since returning on September 13th, 2025, Johnny went 5 matches without receiving a single minute. Diego Simeone has opted to go with veteran player, Koke, to start alongside Pablo Barrios and Conor Gallagher as the substitution. He finally got his chance when Simeone named him on the Starting XI in their UCL match against Inter Milan on November 26th, 2025. For someone who had not played a single minute since August, Johnny had a good game in the 59 minutes he received. When we look at the stats from those four matches, there were positives. His pass accuracy sits at 77% with 62% total duels won. Johnny also completed 67% of his dribbles, had 4 interceptions, 2.65 tackles per game, 9 clearances, and 9 balls recovered. Obviously, stats alone will not keep you on the pitch and the performances of the other midfielders as of late have made it difficult for Johnny.
Atleti fans on social media are happy with his performances, believe he should be a starter, and believe he is an important player to the team. Time is running out for him at the international level though with the final USMNT friendly camp coming up in March. He must make an argument for himself to get into that camp to get one last shot at the World Cup. If Johnny builds on his performance from the Inter Milan match, he could see himself in that final camp.
Paxten Aaronson to Colorado Rapids- Club: Stock Down
This will be seen as controversial by many MLS fans, but Paxten receives a stock down mostly because the move has not improved his chances of making it onto the USMNT and the impression that his career has regressed. Eintracht Frankfurt’s sporting director, Timmo Hardung, said, “With a view to the 2026 World Cup, which is taking place in his home country, among others, he made the request to take his next step at the Colorado Rapids.” During the Gold Cup, we saw 16 MLS players take part in the campaign. Paxten only received 58 minutes in total, when you include the friendly against Switzerland. It was the only camp he was called up to in 2025. We saw the likes of Diego Luna, Brian Gutierrez, Jack McGlynn, Luca de la Torre, and Sebastian Berhalter were either getting called up ahead of him and/or receiving more minutes than he was at the Gold Cup.
It set a precedent that no matter how well you perform in a top seven league, like the Eredivisie, the performance of those in the MLS will outweigh yours. In Paxten’s case, he had 8 goals and 4 assists in 30 starts for Utrecht, helping them finish 5th in the top Dutch league. His performance at Utrecht was enough for him to be part of Eintracht Frankfurt’s 2025/2026 campaign, who is competing in the UCL, part as stated by Hardung, Paxten submitted a transfer request to join Colorado Rapids. Yes, Paxten is getting regular minutes at Colorado instead of being a bench player, but he is coming back to MLS after just 2 ½ years in Europe. Despite receiving 571 minutes, Paxten only scored one goal and got 0 assists. It was not enough for Poch to give Paxten another chance with the USMNT, and the transfer had been all for nothing.
Malik Tillman to Bayer Leverkusen- Stock Up
Three seasons ago (the 2022/2023 season), Malik Tillman left the Bundesliga after agreeing to a loan deal to Rangers F.C. from Bayern München. For the following season, Tillman went on loan to PSV Eindhoven, which became a permanent deal. This season, he is back in the Bundesliga, but this time with Bayer Leverkusen. In his debut match for Die Werkself, he scored a goal at the 35-minute mark. It has been a slow start for Tillman in the G/A department with only 3 goals in 12 matches, but there are still many positives to this move that show he can make it in the Bundesliga. When available, Tillman started in 10 matches, 3 of which have been UCL matches, and a total of 815 minutes played. Right now, Tillman has 1.50 xG in the Bundesliga with 187 goals per minute.
He also has a goal conversion of 25% to add on top of that. Outside of scoring, his pass accuracy is at 85%, but he has 0 assists and only 6 chances created. Defensively, Tillman has intercepted the ball 8 times, recovered it 33 times, 3 blocked shots, and has a success rate of 79.9% (18/24) tackles. Additionally, he has won 50% of his duels. A major reason why Tillman gets a stock up is because of one reason, he is playing consistently at a high level. Diego Luna is in the MLS and towards the end struggled with his production (it also did not help when Tillman looked like the better 10 in the Gold Cup).
Paxten would not be a starter for Eintracht Frankfurt if he had stayed and he took a step backwards. Gio Reyna is in the Bundesliga as well and is one of our most talented players, but he only has 189 minutes for Mönchengladbach. Despite Tillman’s continued issue of performing consistently, the fact he is getting regular minutes at a top five league club and finally performing for the USMNT, has locked him in as the #1 CAM for the U.S. at the World Cup.
Damion Downs to Southampton- Stock Down
Damion Downs scored 2 goals in 179 minutes just shy of turning 20 years old. He followed this up with 10 goals and 3 assists in his first full season in a professional league when FC Köln was relegated to the 2. Bundesliga. FC Köln won the league and with-it promotion back into the Bundesliga. Downs contribution to the campaign got him a move to English Championship club, Southampton. Anyone who understands English football and Southampton’s striker depth knew this was a risky move. Prior to Downs joining, the club had Cameron Archer, Adam Armstrong, and Ross Stewart. So far, the transfer is going poorly and that is disappointing for a promising player. In 395 minutes, Downs has only one assist and gone 2 matches as an unused substitute. To make matters worse, he has only been on the matchday team sheet 16 times out of the possible 21 matches (Downs missed one match due to illness).
This move was not only important for Downs’ domestic career, but also his international career. During the 2024 Paris Olympics, Downs tried out for the U.S. Olympic team, but Marko Mitrović cut Downs from the team just before the Games. This led him to join Germany’s U20 to take part in their U20 Elite League campaign. It took Pochettino to give him an opportunity at the 2025 Gold Cup for Downs to rejoin the U.S. The goal for Downs would be to take that third striker spot with the USMNT this coming World Cup. Looking at his club form, that will not happen.
If you are looking for any positives, there are two. One, Downs is only 21 years old, so there is still plenty of time to recover his domestic career. Second, Downs is not the only striker at Southampton that has been struggling. Ross Stewart and Cameron Archer only have 2 goals, and one assist each this season. There is still the second half of the season to recover to possibly slide into the 2026 World Cup roster. If not, there is still the 2030 World Cup, which he will be 26 years old.
Patrick Agyemang to Derby County- Stock Down
When the Gold Cup campaign began, Patrick Agyemang started all but one match, when you included the two friendly matches. Prior to the Gold Cup, Agyemang was part of ‘Camp Cupcake’ and the Nations League finals in March. In the three camps, he scored five goals. Many fans and pundits were calling him to be a lock for the USMNT and that appeared to be certain after the Gold Cup, but that is where it ended for him. For the September camp, Folarin Balogun, Josh Sargent, and Damion Downs were selected over Agyemang. Hope returned when he was called in for the October camp, but he did not receive a single minute in the two matches.
Then came the November camp where he did not get the call from Pochettino. What could have happened that led him to fall out of favor with Pochettino? There are two reasons: Balogun and Pepi have returned from injury, and Agyemang has been in poor form at Derby County. In 11 starts and 953 minutes played, Agyemang has only 3 goals and 3 assists. In comparison, fellow American and Championship player, Haji Wright has 9 goals and 2 assists in 14 starts. To make matters worse, Agyemang has 318 goals per minute, and his goal conversion is a meager 11%. His passing has not been the greatest sitting at 69% accuracy, but Agyemang is just short of creating a chance per game at 0.9 (13 chances created). Besides having a poor goal conversion rate, his ball retention is also poor. Agyemang has lost 66% of his duels and losses possession 11.2 per game.
Before his move to Derby County, Agyemang scored 8 goals in the current MLS season and finished last season with 10 goals. The move has not only been a stock down for him domestically, but also internationally. Agyemang needs to find his form quickly or he will not be part of the USMNT again this World Cup cycle.
Benjamin Cremaschi to Parma (loan)- Stock Down
Benjamin Cremaschi was someone whose chances of making it to the World Cup were slim, but he took part in ‘Camp Cupcake’ and performed well in the U20 World Cup. Prior to the U20 World Cup, Cremaschi had yet to make his debut since joining Parma on loan at the end of the summer transfer window. After winning the golden boot at the U20 World Cup, Cremaschi got his debut, but he has only clocked in 14 minutes in 2 matches. On seven different occasions, Cremaschi has been an unused substitution by Carlos Cuesta. The loan deal includes a buy-option and so far, it does not look like Parma will exercise that option. Cremaschi needs to find his way on to the pitch to convince Parma to make the move permanent.
The move at first gave some hope that he could get back into the USMNT picture and his showing at the U20 World Cup reinforced that. Since he has not even reached 25 minutes in Serie A with barely any data and footage to go on, his chances at the World Cup are even less now. Cremaschi would have to try again during the 2030 World Cup cycle.
Timothy Weah to Marseille (loan)- Stock Up
Even though Tim Weah set a personal record for goal contribution with 10 goals and assists, he only started in 24 matches. Now, he is on loan where his dad spent a spell at Marseille. The loan has worked out for Weah so far, starting in 12 of the 15 matches he has appeared in. Currently, Weah has 2 goals and 2 assists with a goal conversion of 23%. His passing accuracy is at 87% with 15 chances created. Weah’s defense has been decent with 59.1% tackles completed, 35 recoveries, and 15 clearances. The one stat that has been negative for him is his duels at 50%, which is not too bad. The move back to Ligue 1 has been beneficial to not just his playing time, but more fitting to his playing style.
Weah is still in the USMNT picture and there should be no doubt that he will be at the World Cup. The question is, at what position? Weah has been playing all along the right side for Marseille, mostly at RB. Now that the USMNT is using a 3-4-2-1, Weah is fighting with Sergiño Dest for that starting RWB spot. If Pochettino does not plan to have Weah at RWB, does he move to CAM, where the depth is deep, or to striker? It is likely that Weah would be placed at RWB, but I do not think it is a matter of being #1 or #2. Depending on who our opponent in the World Cup is would decide if Poch starts Weah or Dest.
Kristoffer Lund to 1. FC Köln (loan)- Stock Up
A surprise transfer over the summer came from Kris Lund when he joined FC Köln in the Bundesliga on loan. Lund started off strong when he joined Palermo in Serie B back in 2023/2024, but last season he struggled with his form and getting starts (he only started 24 of the 35 matches he appeared in). That is why when the report broke out that newly promoted Bundesliga club, FC Köln, signed him on loan with a buy-option, it took U.S. fans by surprise. It has been up and down for Lund since joining Köln, but the club is midtable and will likely avoid relegation. Lund has also been starting consistently for Die Geißböcke with 10 starts out of 14 matches. Due to him getting consistent starts for a midtable Bundesliga club, many USMNT fans have suggested that Pochettino should give Lund another chance.
That has not happened, either because there is something about his club performance that has not impressed Poch to call him up over John Tolkin and Max Arfsten, or Lund’s performance back in the October 2024 camp that left a bad impression. Looking at his stats, Lund has not really done anything offensively and that could be a reason why he has not gotten another look by Poch. His xG is at a low of .20 while his xA sits at .41. Lund did get his first Bundesliga assist recently in Köln’s match against Werder Bremen. Lund’s passing has not been too bad with an accuracy of 72.5%, but his chances created are only at 6. Defensively, he is doing better where he has 10 interceptions, 95.8% (9/12) completed tackles, 31 recoveries, and 36 clearances. A major negative in his records is that he has committed two penalties.
The loan has been good for his domestic career and caught the attention of USMNT fans again. If we are giving a midtable 2. Bundesliga player call-ups, then a midtable Bundesliga player should get another opportunity. It is doubtful that Lund will be at the March camp and at the World Cup. The LWB position will likely be covered by Antonee Robinson and Arfsten, one who has been reliable for us since the 2022 cycle and the other who has a 6 G/A this year. He is 23 years old, so there is always the 2030 World Cup. Lund simply needs to end the season on a positive note, make his move to Köln permanent, and then perform consistently throughout the next cycle.
Honorable Mention
George Campbell to West Brom Albion- Stock Up
Another surprise transfer was when George Campbell left Montréal for English Championship side, West Brom. So far, it has not gone too badly for him. While healthy, he has started in 13 matches with a total of 1,259 minutes. Campbell has collected 2 clean sheets with 9 interceptions, 81.94% (21/30) successful tackles, 47 recoveries, 73 clearances, and 8 blocked shots. The only major negative defensive stat Campbell has is committing one error that led to a shot. He has been successful with his passes by completing 89% of them, but Campbell’s duels have been average, winning 50% of all duels.
Like Lund, Campbell recently got his first English Championship assist in West Brom’s clash against Swansea off the bench. Due to the USMNT’s current lack of quality CBs, there were fans suggesting that Pochettino call up Campbell to give him a shot. The thing is though, Campbell has mostly played at RB, a position that is covered by Sergiño Dest, Alex Freeman, and Joe Scally. On the upside, Poch has moved to a back 3, which could give Campbell access to the USMNT. It is doubtful that he will get a chance at the March camp, but he is only 24 years old, and he is now in Europe where he can continue to develop. The 2030 World Cup is still a reality and that is why he gets a stock up.
Entry into US Men’s National Fandom
Breaking the Mold: Freese a Unique USMNT Goalkeeper
2025 Summer Transfer Window Review
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Club News2 years agoAmerican Transfers: Stock Up & Stock Down
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