USMNT

Dual National Panic

Published

5 years ago

December 4, 2020

The Dual National Situation

Let’s talk about Dual Nationals. With this November Camp roster having several un-caped dual nationals and December camp having more, this conversation has come up once again. As with most USMNT fans, I believe it is an important one. There are many elements to the dual national question, so let’s break it down.

The USMNT is becoming a very attractive team to play for. The young talent coming up at big name academies and playing at some of the world’s largest clubs is a massive draw. The willingness to give youth players a chance shows dual nationals that they will have a place in the team. For some the opportunity to play with the USMNT may come up before the opportunity to play for their other country/contries because of our willingness to give youth a chance.

USMNT Recruitment

There are several people responsible for dual national recruitment. They are all integral to the process and each does something a little different. To successfully recruit, it is important that everyone is on the same page and working together. While each group has certain tasks in their job description, in reality, different people may do different things for each player. The importing thing is that someone is covering all the bases with each player.

Youth National Team

The youth national teams are an excellent way to bring in promising dual nationals and start integrating them into the program. It shows kids from a young age that they have promise and are valued in our program. Unfortunately, the work of the youth national team coaches can often be overlooked, but it is extremely important and makes a massive difference in the end.

“The USMNT helped me when it didn’t go well, and I’m thankful for that. They helped me through hard times, and if they hadn’t given me a chance, maybe I wouldn’t be here now…maybe I’d never have reached this level.”
Sergiño Dest on Choosing the USMNT

Gregg Berhalter and USMNT Coaching Staff

The senior USMNT coaching staff is integral in the recruitment of dual nationals, since after all these are the people the player will be playing under. Therefore, they must communicate the desire to have the player. The staff will explain their plan for him and how he fits into the team set-up. It is also important that they make the players feel welcome and a part of the team. Once that is done, the final decision is down to the player.

Earnie Stewart and Brian McBride

As overseers of the whole men’s program, Stewart and McBride have a vital role in the recruitment and retention of dual nationals. They are tasked with identifying potential players that are not currently in the US set-up. They are also responsible for ensuring the player that the US is watching and connecting the player and his family.

Outside Influences

Choosing a national team is a very personal decision. There are a lot of factors that influence a player’s ultimate decision. These influences are often out of the control of US Soccer. Despite that, it is important to understand them.

A player’s friends and teammates can have great influence over a player. If a player is at a club with a large number of internationals for one of his nationalities, they can help recruit the player on a daily basis. It means he already knows others on that team when he is called up. The club he is at can also try to encourage the player to select one team over another.

Experiences had with his other national team also influence a player. If a player has a bad experience with one of his other national teams, that can make him more likely to play for the USMNT. Similarly if a player has a bad experience with the USMNT, it can make him more likely to switch.

“It was good, but I wasn’t comfortable there. I just didn’t feel comfortable. I didn’t feel like one of them, you know? The facilities were great, the coaches were great, but I didn’t feel comfortable.”
Uly Llanez on his time with the Mexico Youth National Team

The most important external factor though, is if the player feels American. If the player does not feel like an American and does not really want to play for the USMNT, then he will not. A dual-national needs to want to be apart of the program and represent the USA. If he does not, then the USMNT is not his team.

The Rules for Dual National Players

FIFA sets the rules for national team eligibility. The rules can be found in the FIFA Statutes. For the USMNT, there are three key clauses. They relate to provisional cap-ties, one-time switched, and cap-ties. Understanding the rules is crucial to understanding the dual national conversation.

Provisional Cap-Tie

When a player plays in an official youth tournament, they are provisionally cap-tied. Once a player is provisionally cap-tied he is only eligible for nations that he was eligible for at the time of his provisional cap-tie. He can still switch nations, however, he must file a one-time switch to do so. A provisionally cap-tied player can also still accept call-ups to other nations he remains eligible for, but he cannot play until a one-time switch is approved.

For the USMNT, this is important information to know. It can help filter through the dual national pool to see who is still available to represent the US. On the other side it can also narrow down who is now only able to represent the USMNT.

One-time Switch

Filing a one-time switch, officially a change of association, enables a player to change his national team. This can only be done once. After it is approved, it can not be undone. As a result, it is a very serious decision. Players typically take some time and put in a lot of thought before filing.

“He has not played a match (either in full or in part) in an official competition at “A” international level for his current Association, and at the time of his first full or partial appearance in an international match in an official competition for his current Association, he already had the nationality of the representative team for which he wishes to play”
Conditions to file a one-time switch, Article 18.1.a

Once a player decides to file for the switch, there is paperwork that must be completed and sent to FIFA. The Players’ Status Committee then reviews the paperwork and issues a decision on the switch. The player is ineligible to play for any nation while waiting on a decision. If the switch is approved, the player is immediately tied to his new nation. If the request is denied, the player remains eligible for his original nation.

Cap-Tie

The most straightforward of the rules is the cap-tie. A player becomes permanently cap-tied after appearing in an official senior or “A” international competition. There is no way to un-do or switch nationalities after a player is cap-tied.

There have been some discussions recently about adjusting the cap-tie rules. These adjustments are based on preventing predatory cap-ties. The proposed rule changes would allow a player to switch nationalities if he played fewer than 3 times, all before his 21st birthday, after 3 years.

Avoiding potentially predatory cap-ties when discussing USMNT dual nationals is extremely important. If the US were to cap-tie a player as a teenager, then his development stagnates, he could fall out of the US pool. However, he may have remained in the pool for his other national team/s. Getting top players cap-tied is extremely important, but it can also be a dangerous game. It is important to give young dual nationals some time to make sure they are confident in their decision before proceeding with a cap-tieing match.

The Role of Dual Nationals

Dual Nationals are a massive part of the USMNT and America. They are extremely important to the team and nation. The USMNT features many players with multiple nationalities. All are extremely valuable. These players must be recruited into the set-up. The USMNT needs to have a plan for them and communicate it.

While the recruitment and integration of dual nationals is important, it is also important to not overlook single nationals. A dual national player should not be given a spot simply because he is a dual national. He needs to earn his place. It is delicate balance of ensuring the player feels valued and not favoring the player to get him to commit to the USMNT.

Navigating the integration and recruitment of dual nationals will always be a hot topic to discuss. There will always be someone left off or leaving the USMNT. The important thing to remember is that every player has very personal reasons for selecting his national team. A player chosing to play for someone else, does not automatically mean something went wrong. What matters is that every effort was made to show he has a place on the USMNT.

Club News

USL’s American Soccer Dream

Published

1 week ago

November 16, 2025

Zach McCabe

USL made national headlines when they announced on February 13^th, 2025, their plans to launch a Division One league, followed by the announcement of promotion/relegation on March 19^th 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 3^rd, 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 16^th best team in the first division and the 3^rd 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 3^rd through 6^th 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 6^th, 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!

USMNT

From Maradona to Messi

Published

4 weeks ago

October 31, 2025

Thomas Deschaine

From Maradona to Messi: A Quick Look at World Cups 1986–2022

Thomas Deschaine (@uskeeper on X and us_keeper on Instagram)

A quick look back at the last ten World Cups reveals how the world’s greatest sporting event has evolved and grown through the decades. With over 200 days until the 2026 FIFA World Cup kicks off, here’s a high-level recap of the tournaments that shaped its legacy, and a glimpse of what’s next.

1986 – Mexico

Diego Maradona delivered a World Cup for the ages, scoring both the “Goal of the Century” and the infamous “Hand of God” in the same match, then leading Argentina past West Germany to claim their second World Cup title.

1990 – Italy

** FILE ** Argentina’s Diego Maradona and West Germany’s Guido Buchwald tangle with one another during the World Cup soccer final in Rome on August, 7, 1990, won by the Germans 1-0. Argentina and Germany will meet Friday June 30 in Berlin in a quarterfinal match of the 2006 soccer World Cup. (AP Photo)

The USA returned to the World Cup after a 50-year absence in what became the lowest-scoring tournament in history, as West Germany edged Argentina 1–0 on a late penalty. It marked West Germany’s final World Cup before reunification.

1994 – United States

The USA hosted its first-ever World Cup, setting all-time attendance records as Brazil defeated Italy in the tournament’s first final decided by a penalty shootout in front of the largest crowds in US since the 1984 Olympics.

1998 – France

FIFA’s first 32-team World Cup saw host nation France capture its first-ever title, becoming the seventh country to win the trophy. Led by Zinedine Zidane triumphed on home soil with a commanding victory over defending champions Brazil.

2002 – South Korea/Japan

The first World Cup with co-hosting nations saw South Korea stun many by reaching the semifinals, while Brazil claimed their fifth title, powered by Ronaldo’s two goals in the final against Germany.

2006 – Germany

Germany came up short on home soil, losing in extra time to eventual first-time finalist Italy in the semifinal. Italy went on to claim its fourth World Cup, edging France on penalties in a final forever marked by Zidane’s infamous headbutt in extra time.

2010 – South Africa

The first World Cup hosted by a CAF nation, South Africa, saw the host nation become the first ever to fail to advance past the group stage. Meanwhile, Spain captured their first World Cup, showcasing their tiki-taka mastery and defeating the Netherlands in extra-time with Andrés Iniesta’s decisive goal.

2014 – Brazil

Host nation Brazil reached the semifinals on home soil but suffered a shocking 7–1 defeat to Germany and then fell 3-0 to the Netherlands in the third-place match. Germany went on to defeat Argentina in extra time, with Mario Götze scoring the decisive goal, while Lionel Messi claimed the Golden Ball as the tournament’s best player.

2018 – Russia

France’s golden generation, spearheaded by tournament Best Young Player Kylian Mbappé, captured their second World Cup title with a thrilling 4–2 victory over Croatia, led by Golden Ball winner Luka Modrić.

2022 – Qatar

Soccer Football – FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 – Semi Final – Argentina v Croatia – Lusail Stadium, Lusail, Qatar – December 13, 2022 Argentina’s Julian Alvarez celebrates scoring their second goal with Lionel Messi, Rodrigo De Paul and Nahuel Molina as Croatia’s Dominik Livakovic and teammates look dejected REUTERS/Carl Recine

The 2022 World Cup, overshadowed by controversies over migrant worker treatment and extreme heat, which pushed the tournament to November and December, ultimately delivered a historic finale. Lionel Messi achieved crowning glory as Argentina triumphed on penalties in a thrilling 3–3 final against France, highlighted by Kylian Mbappé’s hat-trick.

2026 – United States/Mexico/Canada

The 2026 World Cup will feature a major expansion from 32 to 48 teams and, for the first time ever, be hosted by three nations. Mexico will make history as the first country to host matches in three different World Cups, while the United States becomes the sixth nation to host at least twice. What unforgettable moments will define this landmark tournament?

USMNT

One Home or Many? The Debate Over a Primary Venue for U.S. Soccer

Published

1 month ago

October 16, 2025

Thomas Deschaine

Thomas Deschaine (@uskeeper on X and us_keeper on Instagram)

The logics of the United States make it almost impossible for the USMNT or USWNT to have a primary venue to play all of their home matches but a trend of playing in a handful of stadiums has been developing over the last couple of cycles. US Soccer says there are specific factors behind where matches are played, some make sense, while others come across as lazy or lacking creativity.

If and when Major League Soccer aligns with the FIFA calendar and observes international breaks, more MLS stadiums could become available for matches. While not all MLS venues currently feature natural grass, US Soccer has indicated they would be willing to invest in installing grass, though at a cost of around $500K and with potential concerns about surface reliability.

Global Approach to Scheduling

Many of the top-tier international teams play their World Cup qualifiers and other critical matches in a primary venue or two. Here’s a sample of some of those countries and generally where they play based on my research.

Here are some of the more notable nations that play nearly all of their home matches at a single venue, a setup made practical by their smaller size and simpler logistics, which also makes it easier for fans.

Germany and Spain are known for rotating their non-critical home matches across multiple venues.

Argentina-Estadio Monumental (River Plate)

Belgium– King Baudouin Stadium (Brussels)

Colombia-Estadio Metropolitano Roberto Meléndez

England-Wembley Stadium

France– Stade de France (Saint-Denis, near Paris)

Italy-Stadio Olimpico

Northern Ireland-Windsor Park (Belfast)

Norway-Ullevaal Stadion (Oslo)

Portugal– Estádio da Luz (Lisbon)

Republic of Ireland-Aviva Stadium (Dublin)

Scotland-Hampden Park (Glasgow)

Uruguay-Estadio Centenario

Wales-Cardiff City Stadium

What’s in a location?

Here’s a look at the past few cycles, highlighting the USMNT’s home matches and the venues they’ve used. While US Soccer has clarified that they don’t control Gold Cup or Nations League venue selection, a point still under debate, they do manage the locations for Friendlies and World Cup qualifiers and continue to review and adjust those choices.

2026 Cycle (Matches Scheduled Through the end of 2025) – 46 Home Matches – 30 unique cities

So far, half of the USMNT’s home matches in the 2026 cycle have been held across eight venues. Only two more windows, March and May/June, remain for Friendlies before the 2026 World Cup.

4-AT&T Stadium, Arlington, Texas
4-Energizer Park, previously CityPark, St. Louis, Missouri
4-Q2 Stadium, Austin, Texas
3-Inter&Co Stadium (previously Orlando City Stadium and Exploria Stadium, Orlando, Florida
2-Allegiant Stadium, Paradise, Nevada
2-Geodis Park, Nashville, Tennessee
2-Rentschler Field, East Hartford, Connecticut
2-TQL Stadium, Cincinnati, Ohio

AT&T Stadium, Arlington, TX

2022 Cycle – 43 Home Matches – 24 unique cities

I can almost give US Soccer a pass on city and venue selection during the 2022 cycle, given the global circumstances at the time. That said, it’s interesting that they scheduled three consecutive home World Cup qualifiers in Ohio, with final round two matches in Columbus. Columbus has been a recurring choice, hosting multiple qualifiers in 2014, 2018, and 2022, handling one match each during both the semifinal and final rounds of qualifying in 2014 and 2018.

Lower.com, Columbus, Ohio

2018 Cycle – 47 Home Matches – 33 unique cities

During the 2018 cycle, the USMNT played in a wider variety of cities and venues. Aside from four matches in Carson, California for the January camp, they only repeated a location eleven times.

Dignity Health Sports Park, Carson, CA

2014 Cycle – 43 Home Matches – 29 unique cities

During the 2014 cycle, the USMNT repeated cities twelve times, but only two cities hosted more than two matches: Carson, California, where two of three games were for Camp Cupcake, and Kansas City, Kansas, which hosted three matches.

Children’s Mercy Park, Kansas City, Kansas

2010 Cycle – 35 Home Matches – 18 unique cities

One of the leanest home schedules in recent cycles saw the USMNT play in just 18 different cities, with 11 of them hosting only a single match. Over half of their home games were concentrated in four cities: Carson, California (7 matches); Chicago, Illinois (5 matches); and Foxborough, Massachusetts and Washington, D.C. (3 matches each).

Soldier Field, Chicago, IL

2006 Cycle – 44 Home Matches – 24 unique cities

The USMNT played eight matches in Foxborough, Massachusetts—double the number held in the next two cities, Columbus, Ohio, and Miami, Florida, which each hosted four matches. Notably, the team has excelled in Foxborough, losing only once in 22 games played there.

Foxboro Stadium, Foxborough, MA

2002 Cycle – 38 Home Matches – 16 unique cities

During the 2002 cycle, California was clearly a preferred destination for the USMNT, hosting matches in five different cities across twelve games. Foxborough, Massachusetts, and Washington, D.C. each hosted five matches as well.

GENERAL VIEW OF THE CROWD AND THE STADIUM 1994 WORLD CUP FINAL BRAZIL V ITALY FOOTBALL ROSEBOWL LOS ANGELES USA PHOTO: CRISPIN THRUSTON ©SPORTING PICTURES (UK) LTD TEL:+44 020 7405 4500 FAX:+44 020 7831 7991 www.sportingpictures.com Mandatory Credit: Action Images / Sporting Pictures

Rose Bowl Stadium, Pasadena, CA

1998 Cycle– 40 Home Matches – 21 unique cities

Washington D.C. was the city of choice for the USMNT during the 1998 cycle playing six matches. The USMNT would also play more than two matches in Los Angeles, California (5 matches), Foxborough, Massachusetts (4 matches) and Pasadena, California (3 matches) while playing only one match in twelve other cities.

RFK Stadium, Washington, DC

Long Term Venue Strategy

While US Soccer may favor a single venue for most USMNT and USWNT matches, doing so would limit access for thousands of fans across the country. However, with the move to Georgia and the Arthur M. Blank U.S. Soccer National Training Center set to open in early 2026, ahead of the World Cup, it’s likely that future matches will focus on venues within three to four hours of Atlanta. We can expect the majority of games to continue taking place in roughly ten to twelve core cities.