USMNT
Five Players Who Must Hit for USMNT To Be Successful in 2020
By John Roche ([email protected])
For the die-hard USMNT fan, 2019 was a frustrating year, with much angst attributed to Bert’s dull and inept player selection. (Quick—who was your USMNT breakout player of the year?)
If we can draw on one encouraging data point, though, it is this: if you are healthy and playing regularly in an elite Top Flight European league, you are getting a call-up. These pickings are very slim currently largely due to injuries, but the current injury trend will endure, as it always does. We have to consider that, in 2020, the core of our most talented, European-based contingent will likely never be on the field together because, at some point, any one of – and probably multiple of – Christian Pulisic, Tyler Adams, Weston McKennie, Josh Sargent, John Brooks, Sergino Dest, DeAndre Yedlin, Alfredo Morales, etc. will be hurt.
Right now, Bert’s backfill to this plague is a markedly less-talented MLS contingent. And while we have seen encouraging spurts from some of them, we largely know what we can expect from this bunch, and it’s simply not good enough. Few supporters would argue that USMNT will be successful heading into World Cup Qualifying in September with the current “Group” of Berhalter-favored MLS options like Christian Roldan, Daniel Lovitz, Paul Arriola, Gyasi Zardes, Jonathan Lewis, Corey Baird, etc. Even the in-form Jordan Morris is not known for dissecting hunkered-down Honduran or Jamaican defenses, a skill that is so critical to grinding-out results in a brutal Hexagonal qualifying cycle (Hex).
So, what do we do in September 2020, when the Hex kicks-off, if Weston McKennie, Tyler Adams, and Josh Sargent are all on the shelf? Ideally, we call on the below players, each of whose development is crucial this year because their core strengths address critical attacking gaps.
I would go so far as to say that if these five players are not all regular contributors by the time of the Hex, USMNT senior team is doomed in 2020. A combination of Bert’s poor talent selection and awful in-game management, coupled with an inevitable rash of injuries, will cripple USMNT in the early stages of qualifying. So, no pressure guys, but you have to perform at the club level in a way that Bert simply must call you in!
Please note a few caveats: Firstly, as always, I do not talk about goalkeepers.
Secondly, the emergence of these players is weighted by combining a positional need with the likelihood that Bert will call them in. At CB, for example, I consider that Chris Richards or Miles Robinson emerging as a top-choice option would serve as a relatively moderate upgrade over current starters in the short-term. Hence, they are not on here. Similarly, Julian Green might garner another seven MOTM performances in 2020, but so long as he does it in Bundesliga 2, he will not be a blip.
Lastly, we would all LOVE for there to be an as-yet-unknown player in the pool somewhere, perhaps a youth player whose stock skyrockets quickly, or a dual national who declares unexpectedly, who could jump to the front of the line. For good measure, I have included a couple of Dark Horse candidates, but – while I would love to be wrong – I think the best emerging prospects are in plain sight.
Let’s dive in.
1. Paxton Pomykal, ACM or Winger, FC Dallas
So, after all the buildup of the European contingent, an MLS player tops this list! Pomykal is simply the most practical candidate to inject a much-needed attacking flair into the midfield in 2020 under Bert. (Emphasis: under Bert.) He is slippery, creative, versatile, and –though not big – can play physical, as he demonstrated most capably against a group of larger, more seasoned French U-20’s. An injury slowed his progress post U-20 World Cup, but few doubt that a full-fitness Pomykal is an upgrade at ACM or winger.
Bert has already called him into a couple friendlies, so the hope is that a dominant January Camp – which is very feasible considering how he distinguished himself against his MLS peers in 2019– means he should leapfrog a thoroughly underwhelming Christian Roldan in a Starting XI. He could realistically do so by March, at which point Dallas would justifiably keep him and his $650k annual salary out of Olympic Qualifying.
Given his new contract, he is likely to remain in MLS for this full season. However, at his current trajectory and with access to a European passport, he is almost certain to be in a Top Five European league by January 2021, ideally through a $7m-$10m transfer fee. But that is for later; USMNT needs him in 2020.
2. Richie Ledezma, ACM, PSV Eindhoven
Ledezma may be second on this list, but his upside as a creative midfield force – the vision, the pivots, the ball control in tight spaces, the open field sprints, GLORY BE! – is higher than anyone else in the current pool. His physicality needs to evolve, but put him next to a destroyer in the midfield, and that wart just about disappears.
PSV’s situation is an interesting one, with a new manager at the senior team and a relegation-threatened Jong side, but the organization clearly rates Ledezma. He should see first-team opportunities in 2020, and the hope is that he seizes his chances and makes Bert bristle at the prospect of an all-European midfield. Likely the only inhibiting factor is another long-term injury.
3. Tim Weah, Winger, Lille
More compelling than his obvious athleticism and versatility – in peak form, he is an upgrade at winger or striker – Weah brings a much-needed intangible: leadership. Did you see how, after he scored the game-tying goal against Ecuador in the U-20 Quarterfinal, he demonstrably huddled and rallied his teammates with an emphatic pep talk? Can you think of anyone in Bert’s current arrangement (maybe McKennie?) that would do something like that?
Perhaps it’s bold to think he would be such a strong presence for the senior team right away, but his competitive fire will be needed during away games in the Hex: humid nights, hostile crowds pelting the players with debris, belligerent opposing players hacking them at every touch, the pitch coming apart under their feet, etc. At minimum, Weah needs to be a first option off the bench in these circumstances.
4. Giovanni Reyna, Winger/ACM, Borussia Dortmund
Stop us if you have heard this one before: a US teenage phenom ascending the first-team latter at Dortmund before his 18th birthday! Reyna, like Weah, offers positional versatility, with a significantly higher goal-scoring upside that the senior team desperately needs right now. Few who have seen him play believe he cannot transition to senior team football in 2020, and others (this guy!) would argue to include him in the Hex even if he is not yet playing senior team football every week.
If you think calling him a “must hit” for 2020 is aggressive, you might be right, but I would argue his indoctrination into Dortmund’s first team and the senior USMNT squad at such a young age would be a continued momentum builder for the broader player pool by adding to the unprecedented number of young Yanks thriving at football’s highest levels.
5. Chris Gloster, LB, PSV Eindhoven
Sergino Dest’s decision to play for the US has somewhat offset the need for Gloster to emerge right away, but adding a pure LB with Gloster’s rigid defending and probing, crafty attacking thrusts would allow Dest to play his more natural RB.
Gloster’s trajectory since the 2017 U-17 World Cup – from RBNY to Germany to commanding a premium salary as a foreign-born player at one of the top clubs in Holland – is hugely encouraging. A first-team chance at a very unsettled PSV side could well emerge in 2020, and if Gloster grabs it, Bert would have no choice but to finally stop calling in Daniel Lovitz!
Dark Horses:
Ulysses (Uly) Llanez, Winger, VFB Wolfsburg
Most USMNT die-hards would probably have Llanez higher on this list. His blend of audacious ball possession (both to get out of tight spaces and dart through the open field), deft give-and-go passing, and dangerous shot-taking is unparalleled in USMNT senior team player pool annals. He is dominating for Wolfsburg’s U-19 team and will almost certainly see a senior team debut in the spring for a senior team not brimming with creative options.
He is low on this list for two (2) reasons. First, his physicality against senior competition has not yet been tested, and I worry there is a 3-to-6-month injury spell lurking just after his emergence for his senior club team. Secondly, USSF leadership is so inept they are not actively courting him, even for the U-23/Olympic qualifying tournament. (This came from his father on social media.) They will likely come around just in time, but well after most supporters would like to see him.
Nick Tatigue, Winger, Schalke
The sample size is extremely small and has been gathered against far inferior competition, but when he is healthy, the 20-year-old winger looks and plays like Christian Pulisic. He was once rated in the Guardian’s Top 50 teenagers in the world (along with Pulisic) and it’s not outrageous to think a healthy, productive spell on the U-23’s could land him on their first team come spring. He will impress if he gets that call-up; the only question is health, which has been an even bigger problem for him than most.
Brenden Aronson, ACM, Philadelphia Union
Aronson was something of a surprise debutant in 2019, taking MLS by storm in the spring. He tapered-off a bit, as any youngster thrust into a grueling MLS schedule would. But he followed-up a slow end to the season with an impressive performance against a Brazil U-23 team in the fall, shielding possession, taking players on, and architecting scoring chances – all against top-level competition. Like Pomykal, we hope he can dominate a January camp and supplant more tired CM options.
Jesus Ferreira, Striker, FC Dallas
Finally a US citizen, Ferreira is lower on this list because Dallas no longer employs him as a pure striker, so Bert may not be evaluating him as such. But someone will have to player striker in January Camp! Let’s hope that it is him, as striker depth is much-needed, and the 19-year-old Ferreira projects to see the pitch for FC Dallas regularly in 2020.
Owen Otasowie, CB/DM, Wolverhampton Wanderers
He is lower on this list because he has recently transitioned to being a CB for Wolves, where he has made the bench twice in the Prem and seen time in Europa League (where he almost scored in his first touch) at the age of 18. Apparently larger clubs are beckoning with his contract due to expire in the spring of 2020, so England – where he also has citizenship – might take notice. If Bert can find a way to employ him as a destroying CM, he would be higher on this list.
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.
USMNT
Launching Caring Excellence in Northern Kentucky
USMNT
Concacaf Gold Cup is becoming tarnished
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.
Goals
18-Landon Donovan
13-Clint Dempsey
9-Eric Wynalda
8-Brian McBride
7-Jesus Ferreira
Assists
16-Landon Donovan
7-Michael Bradley
6-DaMarcus Beasley
6-Alejandro Bedoya
6-Eric Wynalda
5-Clint Dempsey
Wins
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.
Matches Coached
25-Bruce Arena
18-Bob Bradley
12-Gregg Berhalter
12-Jurgen Klinsmann
10-Bora Milutinovic
8-Steve Sampson
5-B.J. Callaghan
Matches Won
19-Bruce Arena – GF-52-, GA-14
14-Bob Bradley – GF-34, GA-17
11-Gregg Berhalter – GF-26, GA-3
9-Jurgen Klinsmann – GF-32, GA-9
8-Bora Milutinovic – GF-15, GA-8
6-Steve Sampson – GF-14, GA-5
2-B.J. Callaghan – GF-16, GA-4
Gold Cup Trophies
3-Bruce Arena
1-Gregg Berhalter
1-Bob Bradley
1-Jurgen Klinsmann
1-Bora Milutinovic
Conclusion
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.
The constructing of a World Cup roster
Launching Caring Excellence in Northern Kentucky
Concacaf Gold Cup is becoming tarnished
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