USMNT 2022 Roster Vision

USMNT World Cup 2022 Qatar

I’d like to start off by saying I hope everyone is staying safe during this crazy time. This pandemic has given a lot of us way too much time on our hands, and by a lot of us I mean me. If you’re an American Outlaw like me that means you’ve spent at least a quarter of your day thinking about US Soccer. I’d like to break down the USMNT Roster Selection for World Cup 2022 in Qatar.

If you’re a fan of the USMNT you’re living in a scary/exciting time if that makes sense. The wound of missing out on the 2018 World Cup still burns slightly. But the emergence of quite a few potential stars has helped eased the pain. We aren’t sure when we will see the USMNT on the pitch again. That gives time to discuss. What is the best 11 for the USMNT right now, and more importantly, who will be the best 23 players to hopefully lead us in the next World Cup.

So enough with the chit chat. This is my opinion of what the best 23 will be when the USA travels to Qatar in the winter of 2022. I will reiterate that this roster is MY OPINION. It was actually harder than I thought which is a good thing. There is also definitely some guessing seeing that a lot can happen in two seasons. Anyway, here we go!

(Players age is the age they will be in Qatar)

Goalkeeper

Zack Steffen, Ethan Horvath, David Ochoa

Zack Steffen – 27 – Fortuna Düsseldorf (on loan from Manchester City)
Steffen is the US #1 for the near future. He’s been impressive in Düsseldorf. So much so that the rumor is Pep Guardiola wants him back in Manchester. He’s a lock.

Ethan Horvath – 27 – Club Brugge
Horvath has had some bad luck. Brugge brought Simon Mignolet in to sell tickets. It’s caused people to forget how good he is. I expect by 2022 he will be starting again for a different club.

David Ochoa – 21 – Real Salt Lake
Ochoa is the wild card. He started two matches in the U-20 World Cup in Poland and impressed. He’s showed promise but is still young. But I think in the next two seasons he will be the guy for RSL and if so should make the roster for experience.

Defender

John Brooks, Matt Miazga, Aaron Long, Chris Richards, Sergino Dest, Reggie Cannon, Antonee Robinson, Deandre Yedlin

John Brooks – 29 – VfL Wolfsburg
Brooks is a shoe-in. Ever since his unforgettable goal against Ghana in the 2014 World Cup hes the best CB that we have. It’s that simple. A healthy Brooks heads the back line for the USMNT for the near future.

Matt Miazga – 27 – Reading (on loan from Chelsea)
Miazga is a guy that gets disrespected in my opinion. He had success on loan in the Netherlands playing for Vitesse. He’s a Premier League level defender and I bet by 2022 he will be playing for a mid table club in the Prem. The spell in Nantes held him back a little bit but he’s back in-form in the English championship playing for Reading. I think Chelsea will sell him soon. If so he’s the next best guy.

Aaron Long – 30 – New York Red Bulls
Long has proven to be a solid CB for the USMNT. He’s a bit of a late bloomer for sure making his first US appearance at 25. That being said he’s been a mainstay in the team for two years now. He’s even gotten interest from European sides such as West Ham. Hopefully by 2022 he will be overseas. He will be the oldest of the bunch, 30, by the time the World Cup comes around. I see him as a solid bench option.

Chris Richards – 22 – Bayern Munich
Richards is the wild card for the CB position. He started all five matches at the U-20 World Cup last summer. He’s showed a ton of promise. He’s a mainstay player for Bayern II who plays in the Bundesliga 3. I believe he might have what it takes to break through for Bayern. But even if not by 2022 I think he will be playing first team ball somewhere in Europe. That gives him the nod to possibly be the breakthrough guy that John Brooks was at the 2014 World Cup.

Sergiño Dest – 22 – Ajax
Dest put the USMNT in the headlines for a good reason a few months back when he chose the US over long time powerhouse Netherlands. Dest played four matches in last summers U-20 World Cup including a stellar performance against France. It’s rumored he’s on his way to Bayern and will be without a doubt the best fullback we have. He can play both sides so it really just depends who’s the next best fullback we have in 2022.

Reggie Cannon – 24 – FC Dallas
Cannon is a fan favorite, in Dallas and with USMNT fans. He has impressed in a US shirt no doubt. By 2022 I expect him to be in Europe and thriving. He’s a solid all around RB in my opinion that will definitely be able to get the job done.

Antonee Robinson – 25 – Wigan Athletic
Robinson is a guy I’ve been a fan of for awhile. He was an exciting prospect when he signed his professional contract with Everton in 2015 after already appearing for a US youth side. He never broke through with Everton which cause him to fall off the radar a bit. A loan move to Wigan in 2018 changed that. He has had some rough outings for the US but he’s also played against some really tough opponents and impressed. His form this season for Wigan in the English championship saw him on the verge of signing with one of the biggest clubs in the world, AC Milan, for $13 Million before an irregular heartbeat stopped the move. Let’s hope he gets healthy and if so may be the starting LB of the future allowing sergino dest to play in his natural position.

DeAndre Yedlin – 29 – Newcastle United
Yedlin might be the most disrespected USMNT player right now. I see a lot of hate for him and I don’t get it. The guy has been a mainstay in the premier league for years and has made 135 appearances in Europe total at only 26 years old. He is the most capped defender, talking about guys relevant right now, for the USMNT by far. He’s also versatile which is a big strength. He’s played outside mid and winger for Newcastle over the years. He will still be 29 by the time the World Cup comes around and in my opinion still in the picture.

Midfielder

Tyler Adams, Weston McKennie, Paxton Pomykal, Jackson Yueill, Duane Holmes, Richie Ledezma

Tyler Adams – 23 – RB Leipzig
Adams could arguably be The most important player for the USMNT right now. He moved to Germany and slotted almost immediately into the starting 11. In my opinion he can play every position in the midfield and we also know he can play RB as well. By 2022 he will be even better.

Weston McKennie – 24 – Schalke 04
McKennie is a player I love. His passion and tenacity are second to none. At 21 he’s already made 83 appearances for Schalke and has scored in the champions league. Hopefully by 2022 he’s patched up all the little things. If so he will be an absolute force in the center of the park.

Paxton Pomykal – 22 – FC Dallas
Pomykal is an exciting player. He was a leader for the U-20 team at the World Cup last summer. He’s showed a lot of promise and began the season scoring for FC Dallas in the opener. There’s been European squads sniffing around since last summer. He could be a starter for the US in 2022. But I think we will be an off the bench utility guy that can play the 10 or the 8.

Jackson Yueill – 25 – San Jose Earthquakes
Yueill is a favorite of Berhalters. He’s the guy on the roster that may not be the most athletic or technical but is a solid utility player. He burst onto the scene for the USMNT in 2019 and made 6 appearances for the US. In his few appearances I’ve been impressed with him as well. He’s a solid 8 that if he develops a little more defensively could turn out to be a solid backup for Tyler Adams.

Duane Holmes – 28 – Derby County
Holmes is another player I feel most US fans aren’t too keen on. I am not one of those fans. I’ve been waiting awhile for him to breakthrough onto the USMNT scene. He made his way up as a youth into the Huddersfield senior team when they were in the championship. He bounced around after that on loan until landing in Frank Lampard’s arms in 2018. He’s been a mainstay in Derby’s starting 11 since. Holmes’ a bit of a late bloomer but he will still only be 28 in Qatar. He’s a creative player that can definitely play the 10 but has the motor and tenacity to play the 8 as well. I’m betting he will be a mid table premier league player by 2022.

Richie Ledezma – 22 – PSV Eindhoven
Ledezma is the wild card in the midfield. There’s no doubt that there is a ton of potential there. He was instrumental in the U-20 win vs France in the World Cup. His play for Jong PSV has been superb. He just extended his contract with PSV and I expect him to be a mainstay in the first team by 2022. He may even be playing for a bigger club by then. If that’s the case I think he will be the starting 10 in Qatar. Fingers crossed.

Forward

Christian Pulisic, Josh Sargent, Gio Reyna, Tim Weah, Uly Llanez, Jesus Ferreira

Christian Pulisic – 24 – Chelsea
Pulisic is the best player for the US right now. By USMNT World Cup 2022 he will be one of the best attackers in the premier league I have no doubt. At 21 he’s made 150 European appearances and scored 25 times including the champions league. He’s appeared 34 times for the US and was the youngest player to ever captain the American side. He’s already shown flashes in his first season with Chelsea and will only get better. Expecting big things from CP.

Josh Sargent – 22 – Werder Bremen
Sargent is a player that has had ups and downs and has been a little frustrating for fans. His potential is massive and has shown glimpses such as his golazo on the last match day before this covid business. I’m complaining but the kid already has 31 European appearances and he just turned 20. By USMNT World Cup 2022 he will be a consistent player that has already shown he can finish with the best of them. If he fixes the little things he will be our #1 striker in Qatar.

Gio Reyna – 20 – Borussia Dortmund
Reyna is the youngest player the US will field in Qatar. He burst out on to the scene this season much like Christian Pulisic with his rapid rise in Dortmund. Gio has already shown glimpses of world class quality. He scored a worldie in the DFB Pokal and assisted in the champions league already. He will only get better. It won’t be easy jumping to senior level from U-17 international but if he plays as he has for Dortmund he should adapt quick. By Qatar he will be 20 years old and still entering his prime. Could be a scary front 3 for the Americans in Qatar if it all pans out.

Tim Weah – 22 – LOSC Lille
Weah, like Sargent has had his ups and downs. The downs being injury. After a good move to French side Lille he tore his hamstring just two games in. Then after a 6 month recovery Weah tore it again. Hes out until next season at least. But when healthy he has shown glimpses of stardom. He’s made 26 first team appearances in Europe which includes playing and scoring for French giants PSG as a teenager. Weah’s already scored for the US and has scored for Lille. He’s a guy that can play striker or on the wing and should be a key member for years to come.

Uly Llanez – 21 – VfL Wolfsburg
Llanez is another player of promise that showed well at the 2019 U20 World Cup. A creative winger that moved to Germany in 2019 he’s scored 11 times in only 16 games for the Wolfsburg U-19 squad. He was called in to first team training before this unfortunate break. Llanez made his debut for the US in February and scored the winner, and only goal, against Costa Rica. He is near a breakthrough with the Wolfsburg first team and I’m betting by 2022 he will be a mainstay. Definitely an exciting winger.

Jesús Ferreira – 21 – FC Dallas
Ferreira is the wild card of the forward position. I will say it was hard to leave Jozy Altidore out but I know berhalter is a fan of Ferreira and at 19 he’s already one of the best strikers in MLS. Born in Colombia, Ferreira gained US Citizenship in January 2020 and made his senior debut for the US a few weeks later. He’s already scored 9 goals in MLS at 19. I’m expecting by 2022 he will be much better and may even be overseas. If that’s the case he makes the roster. No questions

Rounding out the provisional USMNT World Cup 2022 30 man roster

Jozy Altidore (ST) – 33 – Toronto FC
The veteran of the forwards. Will be passed up by the youngins at this point.

Jordan Morris (Wing/ST) – 28 – Seattle Sounders
Most frustrating player in the pool for me. Has played great for the US recently. Lord knows how good he could have been had he moved to Germany years ago.

Miles Robinson (CB) – 25 – Atlanta United
Has become one of the best defenders in MLS. Could very well nudge Aaron Long out of the 23 soon. Still on the fringe for me.

Cameron Carter-Vickers (CB) – 24 – Luton Town (on loan from Tottenham Hotspur)
Needs a move from Spurs ASAP. Started off very well for Luton. I think he could be a decent premier league defender by 2022. CB should be stacked for us.

James Sands (CDM/CB/CM) – 22 – New York City FC
A lot of buzz coming out of NYC for this kid. He’s made 26 first team appearances at only 19 and could blossom into Tyler Adams back up soon.

Sebastian Lletget (CAM/CM) – 30 – LA Galaxy
Has played well for the US when healthy. Should still be a solid option in the midfield in 2022.

Sean Johnson (GK) – 33 – New York City FC
Berhalter is a big fan. Should he still be a starter in MLS I’m sure he’d be in this mix still.

There’s even a handful more that could’ve made the USMNT World Cup 2022 list.

Here is my preferred starting 11 if this was the roster:

As USMNT fans we have been in a down period there’s no doubt. But with the talent we have on the way up combined with the talent we already have at the senior team level. I think we may have some big things to cheer about sooner rather than later. Feel free to hit me up and discuss I’d love to hear your opinions!! Thanks.

Average age – 24
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