Welcome to the American Youth Soccer Media Survey!
13 analysts were tasked with the following task: Rank the top 10 players in each age from ‘01-’09. Points would be awarded on a scale of 10-1. 10 points for 1st place, 9 for 2nd place, 8 for 3rd place, 7 for 4th place, and so on. Each analyst contributed to assessing as many age groups as they felt knowledgeable for. The age groups that each analyst contributed for are listed below. The total points were tallied up for a composite ranking. The goal of this is to give a “combined rankings” of the media, yet to also show where opinions diverge from analyst to analyst.
For ties, the first tiebreaker was how high the “high” vote for the tied player was, and if still tied, the second tiebreaker was how many of that “high” vote players had. There wasn’t a need for a third tiebreaker.
The following players were deemed ineligible to be ranked having been provisionally cap-tied to another nation: Luca Koleosho, Devan Tanton, Noel Buck, Adrian Pelayo, Cole Campbell, Fidel Barajas, Alejandro Granados, and Christian McFarlane, along with plenty of others who are provisionally cap-tied to another nation.
Analysts were asked to give some quotes to explain their views. Not all did so, but roughly half did, and their quotes will help you understand how the results ended up being what they were.
The highest ranked player in 2001 was unanimous: Folarin Balogun.
As one analyst put it: “I selected Balogun as a 2026er in the 2019 Scuffed Future Draft for all the same reasons the USMNT recruited him so heavily post-COVID – his talent is simply undeniable and has been for quite some time. Balogun is the type of striker the American development system simply doesn’t produce, complete footballers with positional intelligence.”
Put another: “Unquestionably the number 1 here”
The vote for second place was very close with Johnny Cardoso beating out Taylor Booth by one point.
The case for Cardoso: “If it wasn’t for Balogun committing to the US, Johnny would be the #1 player in his year group. People are still getting used to him because they don’t watch Brasileiro, but we have seen what he can do for us so far this year. A bright future for Johnny and keep in mind, Brazil was looking at him before he was cap-tied.”
The case for Booth: “Very versatile and dynamic player. Been one of the top 01’s for like 7 or 8 years.”
The fourth player who made all ballots was Bryan Reynolds. He placed no higher than 3rd yet no lower than 6th. All the analysts saw him in a similar range.
Summed up one analyst: “All the tools in the world but he switched to right back relatively late and still is undergoing some growing pains as a result. He is beginning to really put it all together, but faces stiff competition for the USMNT RB spot.”
One player that had some volatility in how the analysts viewed him was Konrad de la Fuente. He only made 7 of the 13 ballots, but 2 of the ballots had him in the top 4.
One of his proponents sold him this way: “One of the most, if not the most, promising player in this year before his move to Marseille. He has had a difficult time since that 1st season ended with Marseille where he may never live up to the hype, but if can sort things out, he can be a top LW option for the future.”
2002 (13 ballots):
1. Gio Reyna: 129
2. Yunus Musah: 117
3. Malik Tillman: 102
4. Joe Scally: 90
5. John Tolkin: 58
6. Ted Ku-DiPietro: 52
7. Kristoffer Lund: 50
8. Gianluca Busio: 45
9. Bernard Kamungo: 29
10. Damian Las: 14
11. Max Dietz: 6
12. Nico Carrera: 5
13. Agustin Anello: 4
14. Josh Atencio: 3
15. Jonathan Tomkinson: 2
T16. George Bello: 1
T16. Peter Stroud: 1
T16. Julian Gaines: 1
It was nearly unanimous for Gio Reyna. 12 of 13 ballots had him #1. 1 ballot didn’t.
The analyst who didn’t said: “Controversial opinion, Musah over Reyna. Will get 100+ caps without major off-field/injury questions. Can’t question Reyna’s ability. We don’t produce many as good. For various reasons, can he be trusted long-term?”
The many Reyna proponents had this to say: “Another unquestioned #1 and the highest ceiling in our national team pool currently.”
“Most talented player the U.S. has ever produced to this point, full stop.”
“The player with the highest ceiling of all the players right now. Injuries have sadly limited his minutes, but whenever he plays, he is one of the best if not the best player on the pitch.”
The other four player to be on every ballot were Malik Tillman, Joe Scally, John Tolkin, and Kristoffer Lund. The analysts had the following to say about them.
Tillman: “Has beaten out Saibari at PSV as a loanee. That should tell you what the coach sees in him.
Scally: “He’ll get 100+ caps without ever being one of our 5 best players. He’s reliable. I’ll take it.”
Tolkin: “The question with Tolkin was always if he’d be able to hold his own on the defensive side of the game. Tolkin spend 2021 and 2022 proving he could before exploding as an offensive contributor for the Red Bulls in 2023. The Red Bulls won’t let him go cheap.”
Lund: “After just a few matches, he has become a starter for Palermo, who are in position for promotion to the Serie A. He has looked good so far in the 2 matches for the US, best so far for the #2 LB spot. Only time will tell if he retains that spot, goes up to #1, or falls down.”
2003 (13 ballots):
1. Ricardo Pepi: 130
2. Kevin Paredes: 99
3. Paxten Aaronson: 88
4. Brian Gutierrez: 82
5. Jalen Neal: 75
6. Jack McGlynn: 61
7. Jonathan Gomez: 47
8. Diego Luna: 47
9. Alex Alvarado: 28
10. Cade Cowell: 24
11. Justin Che: 13
12. Daniel Edelman: 8
13. Caden Clark: 6
14. Dante Sealy: 5
15. Danny Leyva: 3
Ricardo Pepi got first place votes from every voter in the 2003 category. One of only 3 to be the unanimous 1st place in their age group.
Put one analyst: “Best ‘03 by some distance.”
Kevin Paredes got second place. He made every ballot, was 2nd on seven ballots, and wasn’t lower than 7th on any of them.
Said one analyst: “Technically good enough, but needs to match his competitors physically. Ceiling just as high as anyone in the pool.”
Paxten Aaronson got third place. He also made every ballot. He placed no higher than 3rd, but no lower than 8th.
One analyst stated: “Already showing more promise than his older brother, but he does need to bulk up if he wants to improve his game. We might see a situation where Paxten makes it on the 2026 World Cup roster and not Brenden.”
Brian Gutierrez finished 4th. He placed on 12 of 13 ballots, and had two votes for 2nd place.
One analyst was a huge fan: “One of my favorite MLS guys to watch and an absolute mystery as to why he’s still in MLS. A European move should be coming.”
2004 (12 ballots):
1. Chris Brady: 106
2. Gaga Slonina: 94
3. Caleb Wiley: 87
4. Rokas Pukstas: 86
5. Brandan Craig: 51
6. Owen Wolff: 41
7. Noah Allen: 37
8. Antonio Carrera: 35
9. Quinn Sullivan: 25
10. Alex Freeman: 22
11. Zach Booth: 18
12. Damion Downs: 17
13. Darren Yapi: 14
14. Jackson Hopkins: 7
15. Jack Panayotou: 7
16. Kobi Henry: 4
17. Korede Osundina: 4
18. Cody Baker: 3
19. Thomas Williams: 2
20. Joel Imasuen: 1
Chris Brady finished in 1st place. He placed on all 12 ballots, was 1st on 6 of them, and no lower than 5th on any.
One analyst was very enthused about Brady’s potential: “His upside is as high as any young American. Not unreasonable he’s a top 10 Goalkeeper in the world eventually.”
Another who was just as enthusiastic said: Best goalkeeper in the pipeline, dramatically underrated at this point. One of the better goalkeepers in MLS, and should be close to the senior National Team picture.
However, not everyone agreed Brady was the best ‘04, let alone the best GK in the age group. Finishing second was Gaga Slonina. He placed on every ballot, had three first place votes, and finished no lower than 8th.
Said one analyst who ranked him first: “Our highest-rated GK in the youth pool and perhaps the one to succeed Tim Howard. He does have great competition in Diego Kochen. The race for the future #1 GK for the USMNT will be exciting.”
Placing in third was Caleb Wiley. He placed on 11 of 12 ballots, including one first place vote.
Put one analyst about Wiley: “Look, his defense is a major work in progress, but he’s very athletic and has technical quality.”
The last to place on all ballots in this age group who placed on all 12 ballots was Rokas Pukstas. He placed no lower than 9th on any, had a first place vote, and overall finished 4th.
His first place voter stated: “I believe he stands a shot of making our 2026 World Cup roster as a midfielder. That’s how high I am on this kid’s potential.” Another high on him stated: “Stillwater, Oklahoma’s Pukstas flashes fearlessness and crafty play from the 8 that reminds me of a young Weston McKennie. A strong second half to his year at Hajduk Split and Pukstas should have plenty of suitors in bigger leagues.”
Two players who had some big proponents, although not everyone, were Brandan Craig and Alex Freeman. Each had a second place vote, although they only finished 5th and 10th respectively.
One analyst on Craig: “Passing is a difference maker. Very good defender. Just needs his chance in MLS.
One analyst on Freeman: “Amazing athlete and he’s technical. He has so much potential. Can do things going forward at RB no other American fullback can.”
2005 (12 ballots):
1. Benja Cremaschi: 97
2. Josh Wynder: 84
3. Obed Vargas: 82
4. Reed Baker-Whiting: 79
5. Esmir Bajraktarevic: 71
6. Kristian Fletcher: 56
7. Niko Tsakiris: 55
8. Rodrigo Neri: 39
9. Serge Ngoma: 25
T10. Marcos Zambrano: 9
T10. Grayson Dettoni: 9
12. Miggy Perez: 9
13. Brooklyn Raines: 7
14. Brandon Marshall: 6
15. Nolan Norris: 6
16. Santiago Suarez: 5
T17. Gavin Beavers: 3
T17. Emi Ochoa: 3
19. Wyatt Nelson: 2
20. Sergio Oregel: 1
21. Chris Thaggard: 1
Finishing first was Benja Cremaschi. He placed on every ballot, had 5 first place votes, and was no lower 7th on any ballot.
Said one of his first place voters: “The first touch is rough, but man can he play. Work rate and off-ball-movement is special.”
2nd through 4th was extremely close, separated by only 5 total points. Josh Wynder finished second. He placed on every ballot, including two first place votes, and placed no lower than 7th on any ballot.
Said one of his first place voters: ““Doing well in Benfica from the games I’ve seen. Just awaiting his opportunity with the first team, which will come eventually.”
Obed Vargas finished third. He had 3 first place votes, and was no lower than 9th on any ballot.
One of his first place voters made the case for him as the best ‘05: “One of the highest, if not the highest-rated 8 the US has for a U20 player. He can become a very important player for the US. The only thing stopping us from having him for the senior team is Mexico.”
Finishing fourth was Baker-Whiting.
Said one analyst high on Baker-Whiting: “A two footed outside back with the strength to muscle off veteran players and the skill to play devastating crosses. It’s no wonder he’s watched from Europe.”
The last 2005 to place on all ballots was Kristian Fletcher. While he placed no higher than 3rd on any ballot, all analyst were fans of him.
Said one: “We have so few quality wingers. He’s one of the better ones.
Another player that had a few big proponents was Serge Ngoma.
Said one: “Has looked bright but injuries held him back in 2023.
Said another: Athleticism and a sneaky good right foot. That’s Ngoma’s game in a nutshell and like is the case with Cade Cowell, it’s often enough to cause nightmares for MLS defenders. He’ll have to round out his game to get into the Men’s National Team picture.”
2006 (11 ballots):
1. Pedro Soma: 104
2. Diego Kochen: 95
3. Keyrol Figueroa: 65
4. Noahkai Banks: 61
5. Matai Akinmboni: 60
6. CJ Olney: 42
7. Matthew Corcoran: 31
8. Adrian Gill: 22
9. Taha Habroune: 21
10. Oscar Verhoeven: 14
11. Owen Presthus: 9
12. Cruz Medina: 11
13. Aiden Harangi: 9
14. Byce Jamison: 9
15. Jude Wellings: 7
16. David Vazquez: 6
T17. Chris Aquino: 5
T17. Adem Sipic: 5
T19. Dylan Borso: 5
20. Tyler Hall: 4
T21. Shakir Nixon: 3
T21. Julian Eyestone: 3
T21. Paulo Rudisill: 3
T24. Micah Burton: 1
T24. Tahir Reid-Brown: 1
T24. Bajung Darboe: 1
T24. Lalito Moreno: 1
Finishing 1st in 2006 was Pedro Soma. He was the only player in the 2006 age group to place on every ballot. 5 ballots had him 1st, and 6 had him 2nd. The other player garnering first place votes was Diego Kochen. He also got 6 place votes, yet he was 3rd on one ballot, and left off another altogether.
Third place through fifth place was very close. Keyrol Figueroa finished 3rd. Other than Soma and Kochen, he was the only player to get a 2nd place vote. He was however left off two ballots. CB’s Noahkai Banks and Matai Akinmboni and Noahkai Banks finished a point apart, with Banks edging it. Both were featured on 10 of 11 ballots, and had a high finish of 3rd.
2007 (8 ballots):
1. Peyton Miller: 60
2. Caden Glover: 59
3. Nate Worth: 50
4. Santi Morales: 27
5. Axel Perez: 24
6. Adyn Torres: 22
7. Axel Kei: 17
8. Justin Ellis: 12
9. Zack Campagnolo: 12
10. Zavier Gozo: 11
11. Kyrome Lumsden: 10
12. Neil Pierre: 9
13. Ben Manfroy: 7
14. Nelson Hernandez: 6
15. Jonathan Shore: 6
T16. Brady Boulanger: 5
T16. Ruben Ramos: 5
17. Davi Alexandre: 5
T18. Luis Rivera: 4
T18. Drew Baiera: 4
T21. Stiven Jimenez: 3
T21. Zeke Soto: 3
T23. Gavin Turner: 2
We had a very close race for first place. Peyton Miller and Caden Glover finished one point apart. Miller placed on all ballots, had 3 first place votes, and a low of 8th place. Glover also placed on all eight ballots, with a low of 6th and 1 first vote.
Close behind them in 3rd place was Nate Worth. He was placed on 7 of 8 ballots, and had two 2nd place votes.
Interestingly, Justin Ellis was able to finish in 8th place from only placing on two of eight ballots. That’s because those analysts placed him 3rd and 7th.
2008 (6 ballots):
1. Maximo Carrizo: 54
2. Nimfasha Berchimas: 53
3. Jude Terry: 41
4. Julian Hall: 40
5. Luca Moisa: 21
6. Jamir Johnson: 21
7. Ramiz Hamouda: 17
8. DeCarlo Guerra: 17
9. Jack Mize: 17
10. Pedro Guimaraes: 15
11. Chris Cupps: 11
12. Gio Villa: 7
T13. Tanner Rosborough: 3
T13. Camron Estala: 3
14. Aidan Stokes: 3
T15. Tanner Adams: 2
T15. Ollie Tan: 2
17. Dylan Judelson: 2
18. Isaac Tortola: 1
First place in 2008 went to Maximo Carrizo. He placed on all 6 ballots, including two first place votes. No ballot had him lower than 3rd.
Second place in 2008 went to Nimfasha Berchimas. He only finished one point behind Carrizo. He placed first on 4 ballots, was featured on every ballot, and had a low placing of 6th.
Third place went to Jude Terry. He had a second place vote, and no ballot had him lower than 7th.
Fourth place went to Julian Hall. He placed on 5 of 6 ballots, and had two second place votes.
Finishing fifth was Luca Moisa, in a tiebreaker over Jamir Johnson. Moisa placed on 4 of 6 ballots, and had a high finish of 2nd place. Johnson placed on 4 of 6 ballots, and a high finish of 5th place.
2009 (4 ballots):
1. Cavan Sullivan: 40
2. KK Spivey: 33
3. Linkon Ream: 27
4. Omar Hassan: 21
5. Adri Mehmeti: 20
6. Chelo Avalos: 19
7. Mathis Albert: 16
8. Ethan Degny: 9
9. Tobias Szewczyk: 6
10. Nick Morella: 6
T11. Javier Martinez: 4
T11. Warren Boyce: 4
T13. Van Parker: 3
T13. Peter Molinari: 3
T13. Daniel Wright: 3
T17. Tyson Espy: 2
T17. Jakob Garcia: 2
T19. Duncan Green: 1
T19. August Nystrom: 1
Cavan Sullivan joined Folarin Balogun and Ricardo Pepi as the only players to win their age group unanimously. Sullivan placed first on all four ballots for 2009.
Second place was KK Spivey. He finished second on three of four ballots, and 5th on the other.
Linkon Ream finished third. He finished 3rd on three of four ballots, and 8th on the other.
Fourth through sixth was separated by two points. Omar Hassan finished fourth. He placed on all four ballots. He placed no higher than 4th, but no lower than 9th. Adri Mehmeti finished fifth. He placed on only three of the four ballots, but that included a second place vote. Sixth place was Chelo Avalos. He placed on only three of the four ballots, but that included a 3rd and a 4th place vote.
The following players made every ballot sent in for their age group: Balogun, Johnny, Booth, Reynolds, Reyna, Musah, Scally, Tillman, Tolkin, Lund, Pepi, Paredes, Aaronson, Brady, Slonina, Pukstas, Cremaschi, Vargas, Wynder, Baker-Whiting, Fletcher, Soma, Miller, Glover, Carrizo, Berchimas, Terry, Sullivan, Spivey, Ream
Highest Ranked Per Vote: This shows how high each player was ranked per vote for their age group. Of course, the initial comparison was to players in their own age group, not to players in any age group, yet it does give you an idea, on average, of who the absolute highest-rated players were. There was a statistical tie for the first two players, but the rest where tied tiebreakers were capable of breaking the tie.
Thomas Deschaine (@uskeeper on X and us_keeper on Instagram)
With the September FIFA window now in the rearview mirror, and only three more windows left before final rosters are set in late May or early June 2026, Mauricio Pochettino has drawn a clear line.
He’s stated that September’s camp was the “last camp to have the possibility for new faces.”
If we take him at his word, the nearly 70 players who’ve been called across six camps and the Gold Cup will form the pool from which he selects the 2026 World Cup squad.
Of the 60 players named to the 2025 Gold Cup provisional roster, only five, Maxi Dietz, Richie Ledezma, Tim Tillman, Caleb Wiley, and Griffin Yow, have yet to appear on a #USMNT roster under Pochettino.
Comparing the 2025 Nations League provisional roster to the Gold Cup list reveals over a dozen different players, raising the question: are these minor differences simply the edges of the player pool Pochettino intends to draw from?
Goalkeepers
Nine goalkeepers have been called into Pochettino’s camps, but it’s clear that Matt Freese is his first-choice right now, with Matt Turner likely the No. 2 as we sit just 10 months from the World Cup.
Chris Brady
Drake Callender
Roman Celentano
Matt Freese
Ethan Horvath
Jonathan Klinsmann
Diego Kochen
Patrick Schulte
Zack Steffen
Matt Turner
Fullbacks
Outside of Sergiño Dest and Antonee Robinson, the USMNT’s fullback depth remains a concern. Pochettino appears high on MLS defenders Alex Freeman and Max Arfsten, while Caleb Wiley, though yet to feature in a USMNT camp but named to recent provisional rosters, could still be on his depth chart.
Max Arfsten
Sergino Dest
Alex Freeman
Marlon Fossey
DeJuan Jones
Kristoffer Lund
Shaquell Moore
Antonee Robinson
Joe Scally
John Tolkin
Centerbacks
Center back remains another position with uncertain depth. Chris Richards and the veteran Tim Ream look like locks for now, leaving three spots up for grabs. If Pochettino opts for a back three, that tactical shift could influence which players ultimately make the cut. Notably, Jackson Ragen and Maxi Dietz are the only center backs from the recent provisional rosters who haven’t been called into a USMNT camp.
Noahkai Banks
Tristan Blackmon
George Campbell
Cameron Carter-Vickers
Mark McKenzie
Tim Ream
Chris Richards
Miles Robinson
Auston Trusty
Walker Zimmerman
Central Midfielders
The central midfield position is the deepest for the #USMNT, with many players in the pool capable of also playing fullback, center back, or winger. Although Richie Ledezma has primarily played as a right back and right wing-back for his current club and for PSV last season, USMNT coaches view him primarily as a midfielder. This likely explains why he hasn’t yet been called into a USMNT camp.
Tyler Adams
Sebastian Berhalter
Gianluca Busio
Johnny Cardoso
Ben Cremaschi
Luca de la Torre
Emeka Eneli
Jack McGlynn
Weston McKennie
Aidan Morris
Yunus Musah
Tanner Tessmann
Sean Zawadzki
Attacking Midfielders
There are several players at this position who could add real quality and play pivotal roles for the #USMNT at next summer’s World Cup. Gio Reyna remains a major question mark, but his talent is undeniable. With his recent club change, there’s hope he can return to the high level of form we’ve seen from him in the past.
Brenden Aaronson
Paxten Aaronson
Brian Gutiérrez
Djordje Mihailovic
Matko Miljevic
Gio Reyna
Malik Tillman
Wingers
The winger position remains thin for the #USMNT, though several players there can also slot in as attacking midfielders, strikers, or even fullback. Notably, two young wingers, Cole Campbell and Griffin Yow, appeared on provisional rosters but have yet to be called into any Pochettino camp.
Cade Cowell
Diego Luna
Christian Pulisic
Quinn Sullivan
Indiana Vassilev
Tim Weah
Haji Wright
Alejandro Zendejas
Strikers
Another area of concern for the USMNT is striker depth. While the top options have all produced well for their clubs when healthy, injuries have kept the pool thin. If everyone is fit, the primary competition for the starting role likely comes down to three players: Folarin Balogun, Ricardo Pepi, and Josh Sargent. Haji Wright and Tim Weah can also step in as center-forward options if needed.
Patrick Agyemang
Folarin Balogun
Damion Downs
Jesus Ferreira
Ricardo Pepi
Josh Sargent
Brandon Vazquez
Brian White
Conclusion
It’s tough to read Pochettino’s mindset right now. Many expect fewer MLS players to be called for the October window, partly because the league continues through FIFA dates and the regular season ends mid-October.
Most World Cup rosters largely select themselves, with only a few surprising omissions, think of the 1994 squad, which left out several players many felt deserved a spot.
But with Pochettino still showing a shaky grasp of the USMNT player pool, this cycle could produce more notable snubs than ever, though there’s still time for him to get it right.
Caring for Villa Hills, Fort Thomas, Union, Florence, Crestview Hills and Northern Kentucky
Over the past few years, I’ve written here at Chasing A Cup about family, faith, leadership, and walking through life with intention. Some of you have been reading since the early days. Some of you prayed for my family. Some of you even rolled up your sleeves and gave blood — blood that was meant for my mom and others like her in their time of need.
I’ll never forget that.
Three years ago, my mom passed away. It was a season of heartbreak, but also one of clarity. As I stood beside my family — and as I supported others in our community grieving their own parents — I came to understand how deeply care matters. Not just in hospitals or emergencies, but in the everyday: the quiet, complicated, deeply human moments that make up the final chapters of someone’s life.
That realization stayed with me. And over time, it changed the direction of my work.
For most of my career, I worked in product management — building teams, delivering systems, and leading with structure and strategy. I still believe in all of that. But I also wanted to build something more personal. Something rooted not just in outcomes, but in presence and compassion.
Caring Excellence has been serving families across Kentucky for over 13 years. It’s a family-owned, fully licensed home care agency that specializes in non-medical, in-home support for seniors and adults — help with daily living, memory care, companionship, and more. And now, we’re proud to bring that same level of compassionate, character-driven care to Florence and the surrounding region.
Our new Northern Kentucky office serves families in places like Villa Hills, Union, Fort Thomas, Crestview Hills, and Florence — communities filled with multi-generational households, strong family ties, and seniors who deserve to age with dignity.
At Caring Excellence, we focus on people first. We don’t just fill schedules — we carefully match caregivers to clients based on personality, needs, and values. Sarah leads our caregiver hiring, drawing from her years of experience as both a caregiver and healthcare professional. She looks not just for skill, but for heart — people of integrity, empathy, and real compassion.
As for me, I now use my business background to support the team behind the scenes — building systems, developing processes, and making sure our caregivers have the tools and training they need to serve others well.
This new venture is deeply personal. It’s also missional. It’s about stepping into people’s lives when they need support most and offering something simple, but powerful: peace of mind.
We’re not moving to Florence, but we’re fully committed to this region. We’re investing in it — by hiring local caregivers, building relationships with local providers, and offering families home care in Northern Kentucky a trusted option for high-quality home care.
To those of you who’ve been on this journey with me — through writing, through prayer, through donating blood when we needed it most — thank you. I hope this new chapter reflects what we’ve always believed in here: that service matters, character counts, and small acts of care can ripple further than we think.
If you know someone in Northern Kentucky who needs support — in Union, Villa Hills, Crestview Hills, Fort Thomas, or Florence — we’d be honored to walk alongside them.
Thanks for reading, and for being part of the story.
Thomas Deschaine (@uskeeper on X and us_keeper on Instagram)
Not long ago, winning your confederation’s tournament earned a spot in the FIFA Confederations Cup, a prestigious competition held in the World Cup host nation the summer before the world’s biggest tournament.
The tournament featured the champions of all six confederations (AFC, CAF, CONCACAF, CONMEBOL, OFC, and UEFA), along with the reigning FIFA World Cup winner and the host nation, rounding out the field to eight teams. The tournament was last played in 2017.
The Concacaf Gold Cup is a semi-cycle tournament played in the first and third years of the cycle. The CAF Africa Cup of Nations is the only other confederation that plays two tournaments a cycle, and in many circles, the frequency of the Concacaf Gold Cup and the addition of the Concacaf Nations League has made the Gold Cup a throwaway tournament for the USMNT, as it’s been six years since the so called A list player pool has played in the event.
It raises the question for FIFA and Concacaf: should the Gold Cup be played once a cycle, and should FIFA consider bringing back the Confederations Cup?
The USMNT won the inaugural Gold Cup in 1991 and has claimed seven of the 17 editions since. Only two other CONCACAF nations Mexico (9) and Canada (1)—have lifted the trophy, and both are contenders in this edition.
The USMNT has a strong track record at the Gold Cup, finishing first in their group every year except 2011. They’ve reached 12 finals, with a record of 69 wins, 12 draws, and 9 losses, scoring 189 goals and conceding just 60
Gold Cup Player Stats
Across 17 editions of the Gold Cup, the USMNT has netted 189 goals, conceded just 60, and recorded 50 clean sheets. Here’s a look at the players who made it happen, those who found the back of the net, and those who kept it out.
17-Kasey Keller 11-Tim Howard 8-Tony Meola 7-Matt Turner
Shutouts
14-Kasey Keller 8-Tim Howard 6-Tony Meola 6-Matt Turner
Captain
10-Michael Bradley 10-Kasey Keller 9-Carlos Bocanegra 8-Tony Meola 7-Claudio Reyna
Gold Cup Manager Stats
Over the past 34 years, the USMNT has reached 12 of the 17 Gold Cup finals under the leadership of seven different managers. Here’s a look at how each of them performed.
In the future, U.S. Soccer and the USMNT should clearly communicate roster expectations for the Gold Cup, especially if a full A-list squad is not planned. Transparency on this front is essential, as it directly affects fan interest and attendance.
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