Club News
Bert’s 10 Biggest 2019 Snubs
Beyond The Groupies: The 10 Biggest USMNT Snubs In 2019
As a USMNT fan, listening to Greg Berhalter (Bert) constantly refer to his core players as “The Group” is like hearing the pompous popular kid in high school brag about his social exploits with his “bros.” Infuriating!
We need not mention the indefensible number of minutes that so many unqualified players received in the dismal first year of his tenure, as that hymn has been sung widely and loudly. In fact, rather than mock, let’s embrace this new group with an endearing moniker. Since Bert uses the term “The Group” so frequently, henceforth the core members of this inner circle will be called…..wait for it…..Groupies!
But this piece will not focus on them, but rather the snubs. Specifically, who were the 10 most slighted players under Gregg Berhalter in 2019? Let’s have a look.
1. Duane Holmes, CM, Derby County. The most shocking omission of the fall roster by a wide margin is the creative, dynamic midfielder making his trade in the English Championship. Last spring, Holmes was Derby County’s second highest-rated player on WhoScored behind only Mason Mount, who – BTW – is now starting for both Chelsea and England.
Holmes then donned the shirt in a pre-Gold Cup tryout camp and provided the only display of riveting soccer through his 20-minute cameo in the abysmal 1-0 loss to Jamaica. An injury kept him out of the Gold Cup, but his resurgence for Derby this fall should have assured his spot for what – now in hindsight – was an important match in Toronto against Canada in the Nations League. Instead, Groupie idol Christian Roldan got another call-up and almost secured his first-ever USMNT assist…..for Canada. (Since Bert is not counting, we will: that’s 19 USMNT appearances for Roldan as an attacking midfielder, with no goals or assists. Zero.)
Bert had the opportunity to redeem himself in the follow-up home Canada fixture. But another Groupie, Sebastian Lleget, was deputized instead. In his defense, Lleget played well but does not offer the attacking capabilities that Holmes does.
Most worrying about this snub is that Camp Cupcake is up next, where neither Holmes nor any European-based players will be able to compete against the MLS contingent. Since he has not yet established himself as a Groupie, come spring time Holmes’s roster spot will likely fall behind (insert the name of a mediocre MLS attacking mid who has a strong January showing against an Antiguan B Team). Depressing.
2. Antonee Robinson, LB, Wigan. Robinson’s casting-out might be the most infuriating because Berhalter Apologists plainly manufacture new reasons for boxing him out. With the unveiling of the now-abandoned “inverted right back” role in the spring, the Apologists said we simply needed a stay-at-home LB, not one with Robinson’s attacking assets and undisciplined defense. So the 27-year-old, never-capped Daniel Lovitz would suit just fine.
Next, in a pre-GC friendly against Jamaica, when he was half-heartedly thrust into a 3-5-2 formation that Bert had never – and has not since – employed, Robinson played very poorly. His detractors immediately cited this performance to keep him out of the conversation, ignoring the obvious, looming LB warning signs. They must have cringed in the GC final when Mexico changed their formation at halftime expressly to attack 31 y/o, slow-of-foot LB Tim Ream. (By this time, Lovitz had been promoted to “savior off the bench”/ “last attacking substitute” role for the GC Final. He did not play the part well, but whose fault is that?)
Most recently, the haters will point to Robinson’s subpar performance against a Canary Islands club team that was broadcast primarily on pirated cable. And that would be just silly. The match featured about two dozen disparate U-23 players from ~15 leagues that had practiced together for 2 days. (Oh, and their interim coach had already his full-time MLS tenure prior to the tournament.) Meanwhile, across the pond in Cuba, Bert’s System shifted its focus to attacking LB Lovitz, who bumbled forward and cantankerously quibbled with Cuban players as about 730 onlookers stared in bemusement.
This snub has become obnoxious. Robinson is and has been an absolute stud for Wigan and showed capably against Mexico, Colombia and Brazil in the USMNT shirt in 2018. Besides displacing Lovitz, Robinson should be looked-at for winger options, where neither Tyler Boyd or Paul Arriola has overwhelmed in 2019, and nor has Jordan Morris covered himself in glory against a non-Cuban opponent.
3. Richie Ledezma, CM, Jong PSV. Some might find his spot on this list too high, but if you watch him with any regularity, you see that his craft is unparalleled in the current (or prior!) USMNT player pool. Any argument that it’s “too soon” or that he belongs in U-23 camps is nonsensical when you watch how poorly the senior team’s midfielders take opponents on, pivot off defenders, charge with the ball into open space, and hit inch-perfect passes to attacking teammates more than 10 yards away. Kind of….all the things Ledezma does really well!
Did we mention Mexico lingers?
If USMNT faithful felt anxious by Sergino Dest’s Netherlands courtship, buckle-up for El Tri’s media blitz on Ledezma as he gets his first-team PSV appearance, which is bound to be before the Olympic qualifying window. (Read: he will not be made eligible for Olympic qualifying by PSV.) Mexican media has already dubbed him “The Mexican Pulisic,” and regularly posts about his achievement on their social media platforms. He should have been in the Toronto squad, where he might have actually provided a reasonable justification for subbing-off Christian Pulisic after 60 minutes. And we would have ended the Mexican courtship.
4. Julian Green, CM, Greuther Furth. Some USMNT fans will not allow his name to be uttered simply due to his premature hype. But a strong series of run-outs under Dave Sarachan – he scored against France, for the love of the Crest! – and a Top 15 FotMob Player Rating in Bundesliga 2 surely should have earned him a look in the 30-man Gold Cup squad. (In fact, he was not even on the preliminary 40-man roster; Andrew Guttman, Marlon Fossey & Greg Garza were.) He could have been a more creative attacking mid or wing option, both of which he played in 2018 for USMNT against better teams than Mexico.
His uneven performances mean he might never be a Groupie without a move to Bundesliga I, which he will have to earn, since it will not happen through a Furth promotion. If he does get there and earns minutes, Bert’s underperforming CM Groupies will be under enhanced pressure, as Bert has shown inclination to start guys playing in top five European leagues.
5. Ventura Alvarado, CB, Nexaca. I will confess to not having watched Alvarado much beyond compilation videos, but a lot of very talented evaluators, whose judgment I trust, have. Even those not intimate with his on-field acumen can see this much: the 27-year-old has captained Nexaca to consecutive Liga MX playoff appearances, and we have all seen how Liga MX clubs shred their MLS counterparts in CONCACAF Nations League matches.
To those that argue the CB spots on the senior team are settled, I will remind readers that Omar Gonzalez was a USMNT player on the 2019 Gold Cup team. That is pathetic; surely Alvarado deserved to be on the roster ahead of him, to say nothing of an aging, rigid Tim Ream or the technically flaccid Walker Zimmerman.
6. Cameron Carter-Vickers, CM, Stoke City. CCV is lower on this list than Alvarado, despite having higher upside, because he has not found his regular rhythm at club level; he goes in fits and starts. He does not look likely to break through at Tottenham’s first team, so the hope is that he can find a permanent transfer to another Premiership club. If he does, he has demonstrated a pattern of breaking into a new Starting XI after 3-5 games as a substitute, and then subsequently ripping off an impressive 7-10 game streak of starts.
If he can find a top table club where he can hone his trade – his passing is probably his most distinguishable attribute as a CB – at the highest-level each week, he should enjoy a long USMNT tenure. In the meantime, does he really belong behind Tim Ream? He is 11 years younger and has shown just as effectively in the same league.
7. Emmanuel Sabbi. Sabbi scores goals and can play multiple positions, but he is most suitable to supplant Everybody’s Least Favorite Groupie, Gyasi Zardes. OK, OK…not going to happen. But wouldn’t it be nice to see him compete with (say) a one-dimensional speedster and Gold Cup roster spot holder like Jonathan Lewis? After all, his scoring prowess from various spots on the field is unmatched by almost any USMNT player, regardless of league.
If you do not think he is good enough to supplant be 23-man roster Groupie, here is a revelation: the Danish SuperLiga does not play games in the month of January. Maybe Bert lets Corey Baird go surfing this year and gives Sabbi a look, along with other Scandinavians?
8. Fabian Johnson, LB/RB/Wing. Johnson is lower on this list than most would probably project because 1) I am unclear that he is even interested in returning, and 2) I am not convinced he has been that strong since Bert has been in charge. Perhaps I am too hasty to brush him under the rug with the likes of Eric Lichaj, Geoff Cameron, etc. as Ghosts of the Failed 2018 Run?
My personal biases aside, most supporters probably look-at Bert’s head-scratching inclusions like Corey Baird fume that options like Johnson are overlooked. I do not disagree, but I would be just as happy if Bert used a combination of versatile winger/FB options – Dest, Cannon, Yedlin, A. Robinson – rather than calling-in a 31-year-old who is not a starting option for his club when healthy.
9. Any Compelling Dual National Recruit, Anywhere. Bert has shown no inclination toward publicly recruiting dual nationals. The two cap-tying acquisitions that came in his first year were barely his doing: Tyler Boyd was on record publicly declining New Zealand call-ups for more than 18 months prior to his switch, while Sergino Dest’s loyalty to the US was cemented by a group of now-departed USYNT coaches.
Despite facing a pool with plenty of gaps, Bert does not seem to foster a competitive dynamic by courting “Passport Americans.” Some would justifiably argue that the available player pool of dual nationals is light, but surely there is a shocking coup somewhere in this stock. Would Efra have been able to ignore a senior team Gold Cup call-up? Could Kik Piere have been encouraged to join Sergino Dest’s presser in announcing his allegiance to the US? Could Jordan Siebatcheu have genuinely stated his intention to wait for a France call-up if US Soccer courted him on social media?
But we dream. With so many drab roster drops in Bert’s first year, the fan base’s fury can hardly extend to his lack of recruitment from outside the pool.
10. Matt Miazga, Reading FC. A player that made 90% of Bert’s rosters should hardly be on here, except that his exile came for arguably the most important games in the campaign: the last two. How could this omission be justified when Miazga’s club form was as strong as ever, and he played no part in the Toronto Debacle? Further, is there more fiery, competitive player in the pool that you would want in the lineup for a must-win game? (I will accept Weston McKennie as an answer, but not many other active players!)
Sadly, this baffling evaluation of player resources has frustrated USMNT fans all year, and there does not seem to be an end in sight with Bert at the helm. His January 2019 camp still looms too large, and with his 2020 session up shortly, we as fans are prepared for a new round of mediocre MLS talent that will become Groupies in 2020, at the expense of more deserving players that will make the team a better product.
At least we get to make another list like this next year!
Feel free to reach-out to the author on [email protected]
Honorable Mention: Darlington Nagbe, Andrija Novakovich, Andrew Wooten (spring), Josh Sargent through the Gold Cup, Romain Gall, Bobby Wood.
Club News
USL’s American Soccer Dream
USL made national headlines when they announced on February 13th, 2025, their plans to launch a Division One league, followed by the announcement of promotion/relegation on March 19th for the new Division One league, the Championship, and League One. If sanctioned by US Soccer, USL Division One would be of equal status to MLS and compete for the best major soccer league in the U.S. The implementation of promotion/relegation in the USL would become the first in the U.S. and test the question asked for many years, “would pro/rel work in the U.S.” USL HQ informed the public that they planned to have the inaugural season of Division One during the 2027-2028 season with promotion/relegation beginning in 2028.
Until November 3rd, with the announcement of Tony Scholes being hired as the President of the Division One, only three teams have applied for membership to the inaugural season of Division one: Louisville City, North Carolina FC (who announced at the time of the Scholes news that they would fold until the launch of Division One), and Pittsburgh Riverhounds. There has been a rapid expansion of teams in the already existing leagues since the two announcements. Teams joining League One are: Fort Lauderdale FC (2026 debut), New York Cosmos (2026 debut), Port St. Lucie SC (2027 debut), Sporting Cascades FC (2026 debut), and Rodeo FC (2027 debut). Fort Wayne FC and Sarasota Paradise would also be joining League One from League Two (2026 for both teams). For the Championship, Reno, NV will once again have a team planned for a 2027 debut. Along with those teams, USL is actively working to expand to other markets. The markets and partners they are looking at are Brevard County, FL (Space Coast Pro Soccer), Riverside, CA (Riverside Pro Soccer), Brownsville, TX (City of Brownsville), Winter Garden, FL (Central FL Pro Soccer), Santa Rosa, CA (City of Santa Rosa), and Pensacola, FL (City of Pensacola).
Along with these recently announced teams and partnerships, USL has teams joining the organization just in time for promotion/relegation that were announced prior to the February and March news. Starting with League One, these teams include: Corpus Christi FC (2026 debut) and Athletic Club Boise (2026 debut). As for the Championship, they will be adding Brooklyn FC (2026 debut), Sporting Jax (2026 debut), Atlético Dallas (2027 debut), Milwaukee Pro Soccer (TBD), USL Pro Iowa (TBD), Buffalo Pro Soccer (TBD), and Ozark United FC (2027 debut), while Santa Barbara Sky FC (2027 debut) would replace Memphis 901 FC.
Other than that, news on the Division One and promotion/relegation had been quiet until USL snatched Tony Scholes from the English Premier League. Tony Scholes will be the President of Division and help with the implementation of promotion/relegation. Scholes served as the chief football officer of the EPL and will join USL at the end of the EPL season. As of November 15, 2025, USL Division One has not been sanctioned as a division one league by US Soccer. The hiring of Scholes indicates that they are confident this new league will get approved or they have already been told it will, behind closed doors. The fact that we have not heard news on what the promotion/relegation format would be, and Scholes task would be to help implement it could mean that USL has not come to a decision on one. Since we do not have any ideas on what the format could be, I want to provide a possible option that they could go with.
One of the biggest questions people have had since the USL announced promotion/relegation was how they would tie it to the playoffs. There is an option they could do, but it would result in only having one playoff. USL would have a playoff for Division One, but they would eliminate the concept for the Championship and League One. It might not be the most popular idea here in the U.S., but the main goal for the lower leagues is to get promoted, not to win a trophy. They would retain the league title for those two leagues with the winner being the team with the most points at the end of the season, just like how it is in the European leagues. The purpose is to create fairness for the top performing team(s) in the two lower leagues and reduce confusion. If there is a need for a playoff format, they could adopt the format the Bundesliga uses where the 16th best team in the first division and the 3rd best in the second division face-off in a two-leg match to see who would be in the first division the following season. The other option is the Championship concept, where the teams who finished 3rd through 6th in the table compete in a promotion playoff. The semi-finals are two-leg matches while the final is a single-leg match. The winner is promoted to the EPL. The execution of promotion/relegation must be done perfectly to retain fans, gain fans, prevent confusion, and be entertaining.
USL already has a division one league with their women’s Super League, who is competing against the NWSL. Currently, the S League has only nine teams (Brooklyn FC, Carolina Ascent FC, Dallas Trinity FC, DC Power FC, Ft. Lauderdale United FC, Lexington FC, Spokane Zephyr FC, Sporting Jax, and Tampa Bay Sun FC) to the NSWL’s 14 teams (3 teams in the works). The Super League will be adding an additional nine teams (Athletic Club Boise, New York Cosmos, Ozark United FC, Buffalo Pro Soccer, Chattanooga Red Wolves FC, Forward Madison FC, Indy Eleven, Oakland Soul SC, and USL Palm Beach) with all but three to have their inaugural season to be determined. What makes the S League unique from the rest of the soccer leagues in the U.S. is that they use a fall-summer schedule. Competing against a top five women’s league in the world is a tall ask, but it shows the ambitions of USL.
They are also willing to take risks by voting to pass promotion/relegation for the men’s league and have a fall-summer schedule for the S League. If the S League schedule format proves successful, it stands to reason that they would move the men’s leagues to the same schedule. It would also avoid the organization from having to fight MLS for viewership when the leagues are in play, especially when they launch a direct rival and are at their most ambitious point in their history. The same can be done for the S League if promotion/relegation is successful for the men. USL can start establishing lower women’s leagues and introduce promotion/relegation to the women’s game here in the U.S.
Many would say USL still stands no chance at competing against MLS, even with promotion/relegation and having a division one league. That is the case when you look at the quality of the players is finance, but that is the reason why the USL made these decisions based on the reports prior to the announcements and afterwards. Promotion/relegation and the introduction of a division one league could see an increase in investors. We are already seeing that with the likes of Gio Reyna joining Fort Lauderdale as an investor, BellTower Partners investing into USL, Sofia Huerta and Kasey Keller joining the Athletic Club Boise ownership group, and the Chickasaw Nation becoming an investor of the OKC for Soccer just this year alone. Then there is the expansion fee for MLS, MLS Next Pro, and the USL leagues. MLS charges an astounding $500 million! Yes, the money is used to construct a proper stadium, acquire players, etc., but at this point it will discourage many from purchasing a franchise license. MLS currently only has two leagues and one of them is advertised as a development league to prepare for MLS. The expansion fee for an independent team to join MLS Next Pro is unknown, but Sports Business Journal reported in 2024 that it is significantly cheaper than the USL Championship. The fee to join the USL Championship is $20 million while League One is only $5 million. These two fees are significantly lower than MLS and that will be more appealing to potential owners, but unlike the MLS fee, it is not enough for a stadium, training grounds, and players. As for what the fee is to join USL Division One, that is unknown at the moment.
I highly recommend reading the ESPN article by Jeff Carlisle titled “Will USL’s Move to Pro-Rel Change U.S. Soccer, Threaten MLS?” In there, Carlisle discusses the reasons behind the decision and that it is mostly financial. For example, a USL spokesperson said they expect to see an increase in commercial revenue by 15% to 30% due to promotion/relegation. Also, the former owner of San Diego Loyal lost $40 million in 4 seasons. As for the reaction from MLS, we have not heard one yet. The only possible reaction we have seen from them is what the former MLS Next Pro president, Charles Altchek, told to Backheeled back on March 6th, 2025. In the interview, he told them they aim to have 40 to 50 teams and a possible second league with one of the MLS Next Pro leagues being a second division, putting it in direct competition with USL Championship. The biggest question is, whichever league that is, can compete for fans? Due to the Apple TV deal, we currently do not have the ratings of MLS Next Pro. The closest idea we have is the attendance, which is 5,580 for USL Championship per match to MLS Next Pro’s 3,361, according to Transfermarkt. Unlike the attendance, the viewership for USLC is much higher where the season premiere match had 453,000 viewers. MLS Next Pro’s massive expansion plan announcement date was either a coincidence, or MLS got word USL’s promotion/relegation implementation with the division one news, and this was their response. I will let you come to your own decision.
It seems, as of right now, it appears MLS will sit back and wait to see how the USL’s Division One and promotion/relegation will play. Division One and promotion/relegation will either be successful for USL and lead them to the financial success they are hoping for or lead to the possible collapse of USL. American sports fans are not the only ones keeping their eyes on USL now, but the rest of the soccer world is after their two massive news. The coming years are going to be exciting times for American soccer!
Club News
The constructing of a World Cup roster
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.
Club News
From Louisville to Lisbon: Joshua Wynder’s Journey with S.L. Benfica
The current state of the USMNT has been at an all-time low since Couva in 2017. One of the positions in dire situation is Center Back. Tim Ream will be 38 by the time of the 2026 World Cup. Chris Richards has too many highs and lows and has not shown his club form with the US. Cameron Carter-Vickers and Auston Trusty have yet to perform for the national team. Miles Robinson, despite what many MLS fans want to believe, is not good enough and makes too many errors, like the second Turkish goal on June 7th, 2025. Walker Zimmerman has one World Cup left in him and he has a history of making critical errors as well, like the penalty against Gareth Bale in the 2022 World Cup. Lastly, Mark McKenzie has improved his game since his move to Toulouse, but he is lacking the deserved opportunities and a good partnership.
Our U20 CBs will need to be called up sooner rather than later, either before or immediately after the 2026 World Cup. The top 3 prospects by fans and analysts are Noahkai Banks, Matai Akinmboni, and Joshua Wynder. Of the three, Joshua Wynder is the oldest at 20 years old and is part of a club that is world-renowned for their development, S.L. Benfica.
How did Wynder manage to accomplish such a move from Louisville City in the USL Championship to Benfica? To summarize, Wynder had a breakout season for Lou City at 17 years old in 2022, so much so that he was included in the US U20 World Cup team in 2023.
Wynder secured a spot to go on trial at Benfica and passed. On June 8th, 2023, Benfica officially acquired Joshua Wynder from Lou City for a record-breaking $1.2 million transfer fee, which still stands today.
Benfica registered Wynder with the second team for the 2023/2024 season, who participate in Liga Portugal 2. Due to Portuguese rules (players play in the youth system until they are 19 years old), he spent the season with Benfica’s UEFA Youth League team and U23 team and only received 21 minutes with the B team until a season-ending injury. What began as a promising start, with the support of the fans, was cut short after just six matches. The following season went according to plan for Wynder. Wynder became a consistent starter for the B team where he started in 29 matches and appeared in a total of 31 matches. He also scored four goals, all headers from corners.
His success with the B team made him a fan-favorite and several calls to be called up to the first team by fans on social media. That day came on April 9th, 2025, when he made the team sheet for Benfica’s Taça de Portugal Semi-Final match against FC Tirsense. Wynder made his first team debut when he was subbed in at the 76th minute mark of that match. He made a following appearance on the bench for the first team in their second leg match against FC Tirsense.
As early as November 27, 2024, it was reported by Glorioso 1904 that Joshua Wynder had gained the attention of the Benfica manager, Bruno Lage. The report further said that Wynder was becoming an option for the next season’s first team. A similar report surfaced on March 25, 2025, by Record, in Portugal, that Wynder is on track to be with the first team for the 2025/2026 season. That day may be coming sooner rather than later. Joshua Wynder will be joining Benfica on their 2025 Club World Cup campaign. This will be a true test for him to prove to Bruno Lage that he is ready to be part of the first team for the upcoming 2025/2026 Liga Portugal and UEFA Champions League season. If he is given serious minutes with the first team and performs, Joshua Wynder needs to be considered for the 2026 World Cup or immediately following the World Cup.
Benfica is in Group C of the Club World Cup with Auckland City, Bayern München, and Boca Juniors. Their first match is against Boca Juniors, 33-time Argentine champions, on June 16th. Game two is on June 20th against 10-time New Zealander champions, Auckland City FC. Lastly, their 3rd group stage match is against the 6-time UEFA Champions League winners, Bayern München, on June 24th.
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