USMNT
The Case for Sergino Dest
The Case for Sergino Dest… in a USMNT Senior Shirt….RIGHT NOW
Sergiño Dest is an absolute baller. For those not familiar with the 18-year-old Jong Ajax RB’s game, @USMNTVideos has recent archives, and you can find his U-20 CONCACAF highlights from this past November — where he shone on both sides of the ball in the elimination round – sprinkled across various internet outlets.
The highlights may not paint the bigger picture, which we can summarize curtly: he probably has a higher ceiling than any USYNT fullback or winger ever. He can dribble, defend, pass, cross, make deep runs and even shoot better than most American players in the senior pool. The only debate on whether we need him in a USMNT senior shirt is…when? And if Berhalter gets the relationship or the timing wrong, Dest may be wearing Dutch orange.
Well, we should no longer be having this debate. Dest should be called into the senior USMNT right now, or – at minimum – for the Gold Cup. Below is a comprehensive breakdown of why we need him now, and how we will lose him soon to the Dutch if we do not act quickly.
Disagree? Argue away on @DisgruntleUSMNT.
He is playing football against (arguably) better competition than Major League Soccer (MLS). The same USMNT traditionalists who applauded Benny Feilhaber and Dax McCarty’s inclusion in our ill-fated October 2017 squad will say that Dest should not be called-in because “he is not getting first-team minutes.” Depending on who is making this argument, it ranges from disingenuous to downright ignorant.
The disingenuous who cite this lack of first team minutes realize the Ajax senior team might be one of the 10 best in the world right now, having just dispatched Real Madrid from Champions League to reach the Quarterfinals of the competition for the first time since 2003. In all likelihood, not a single American would start for Ajax’s senior team, and only a select few would even see minutes. Of the clubs where Americans are actively playing, none have a first team with near the number of quality international players as Ajax. Why should Dest’s form be measured by not playing amidst these superstars by age 18?
The ignorant contingent might not appreciate that Jong Ajax is not *really* a reserve team. Yes, their roster consists entirely of U-23 players, but they compete in the Dutch 2nd division against primarily full senior teams. There are only three other “Jong” (U-23) teams in this division, two of whom, Utrecht & AZ, are likely to get relegated. (The third is the U-23 junior affiliate of PSV Eindhoven, the Netherlands’ other football powerhouse.) When you consider Jong Ajax is 9th in the 20-team table and has scored the fourth-most goals of any club, you can see that Sergiño Dest is starting on what is a very competent professional team.
There is no reasonable way to measure how the Dutch 2nd Division compares to MLS, but given the US domestic league’s recent performances in CONCACAF Champions League, this is not the time for the pro-MLS contingent to be bullish. We think we can reasonably conclude that Dest would be starting for at least 75% of MLS clubs right now, probably all of them.
So, if we are comfortable that he is playing at a level comparable to many of his USMNT peers, what are the unique drivers that warrant his call-up?
Sergino Dest is more skilled than probably anyone in the current USMNT senior pool. A Uruguayan-American friend has watched USMNT with me for over a decade and has consistently made the same observation, even as our more talented younger generation has appeared on the field of late: the United States needs more Futsal players.
I do not know whether Sergiño Dest was ever a Futsal player, but it’s enough that he plays like one. His feet are quick, and his calculated movements appear almost nonchalant. He can beat opposing players, as he did Mexico’s Diego Lainez in the U-20 CONCACAF qualifying final, in a humiliating fashion. This is surely welcome to a fan base in a country that loves flamboyant NBA dunks and graceful, toe-tapping NFL sideline catches. Does anyone believe these types of skills are in adequate supply within USMNT senior team pool, especially as we debate capping players like Corey Baird and Jonathan Lewis for the March friendlies?
Lastly, Sergino Dest can defend. Like really well. So his offensive skills do not create a gap there.
Positional Play
His versatility is a great fit for USMNT coach Gregg Berhalter’s system. All signs from Gregg Berhalter’s first camp as USMNT Manager – some surprise starters, in-game adjustments against Costa Rica that turned the tide of the game, player interviews after the camp – point to him and his staff being extremely tactical.
After January, USMNT pundits crowed about the “inverted RB” or “Nick Lima role,” but that was likely a function of the players he had in the camp. Whether we see that formation again is irrelevant; the more important takeaway is that we should expect Berhalter to make tactical line-up adjustments based on player availability and quality/style of opponent. Dest is a huge asset because he can play RB, LB or either winger spot, which can offset the need to call-in multiple, purpose-built bench players.
What do we mean? Consider that USMNT RB mainstay DeAndre Yedlin is suddenly not starting at Newcastle, Antonee Robinson looks to have lost his LB spot at Wigan during injury, Tim Weah and Jonathan Amon are consistently unused subs, etc. Across multiple spots in a USMNT Starting XI right now, there is risk to a player’s form dipping and back-ups needing to be called into action. Traditionally, this would have meant naming multiple back-ups – like Reggie Cannon, Baird, Lima, Jorge Villafana – who can really only excel in one position (excel being used loosely here).
At a minimum, Sergino Dest could be a super sub for as many as 4-5 spots on the field depending on a Berhalter configuration.
Sergino Dest at Ajax
Ajax is a major pipeline for the Dutch National team, whose RB situation is unsettled right now. After missing both the 2016 European Championships and 2018 World Cup, the Dutch national team showed a resurgence last fall by winning their 3-team UEFA Nations League group with Germany and France. The interesting part about their renaissance is that it’s not being driven by youth. Of the regular Starting XI from their Nations League matches, the only consistent starters under the age of 25 were PSV winger Steven Bergwijn (21), and two regulars from Ajax’s senior team: CB Matthijs de Ligt (19) and Barcelona-bound Frankie de Jong (21).
The appointment of these three players is consistent with a Dutch soccer tradition dating back to time immemorial: the biggest clubs in the Netherlands are key pipelines to the senior Dutch National team. (Moving to a bigger European club has also proven to be a rite of passage for the best Dutch players, as de Jong just did.) Within the Dutch senior team picture, two details are most interesting for Sergino Dest – and perhaps nerve-wracking for USMNT fans:
Firstly, many Ajax and PSV youngsters are called into National team duty after limited first-team club minutes. De Ligt, for example, was cap-tied at age 17 after just two Ajax first-team appearances. If Sergino Dest makes a spring-time appearance for Ajax’s first team – he already has a senior team contract – does Dutch Manager Ronald Koeman reach-out?
He might do so if he thinks that his team has a RB crisis on their hands, which they well might. At a minimum, the spot appears up for grabs. Consider that, in the four (4) Nations League matches they played last fall, RB duties were split between two players:
- Kenny Tete, a 23-year-old at Lyon who got his first senior team appearance in 2015 after featuring only briefly for Ajax’s senior team. Since last fall, he has been out of favor, having appeared in only five (5) Ligue One games and not making the bench for European games.
- Denzel Dumfries, a 22-year-old from PSV whose Nations League appearances for The Orange were his first at any level; he represented Aruba as a youth. He does not appear to be a regular first-choice RB for PSV, having made only 12 appearances this season.
If these overtures cause panic in USMNT supporters, some (slight) relief comes in the form of two additional Ajax data points:
- Joel Veltman was club and country’s first-choice RB prior to having a serious knee injury in August 2018, from which he is due to return in the spring. He will likely be given the chance to earn his starting spot(s) back, which should push Dest further down in the pecking order.
- With so much talent in Ajax’s system, the Dutch cannot grab ALL the talent, and some Dutch-born players do defect. Attacking midfielder Hakim Ziyech and current starting RB Noussair Mazraoui, for example, were both born in the Netherlands but now represent Morocco. Ziyech, 25, played at the 2018 World Cup, while Mazraoui, 21, became cap-tied this past fall through an Africa League of Nations Qualifier.
Guest post from: @DisgruntleUSMNT
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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