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USMNT

USMNT Positional Analysis: Goalkeepers

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Overview

This is the first of a series of position by position analysis of the USMNT player pool now that we have all of the data from World Cup Qualifying (WCQ). I will analyze each position within the context of the USMNT system (4-3-3). Within this series I will look at the health and storylines to track for each position between now and the World Cup, along with my way too early squad predictions for the World Cup.

As of right now the squad sizes for the World Cup is 23, but there are discussions of it being expanded to 26 and I am expecting that they will make the decision to expand to 26. 

Timeline

Players have eight months to improve their stock in the eyes of the USMNT decision making circles, more specifically, Gregg Berhalter. It’s inevitable that between now and then, players will emerge, fade away and while we hope that they don’t, injuries could happen. There won’t be a ton of opportunities for players to impress at the International level, but still lots to show at the club level. Here is a high level overview of what will be going on from now until December: 

Now – May
End of 2021 – 2022 season for players in Europe 

Now – October 
2022 season for players in Americas 

May 30 – June 14
Two friendlies + Two Concacaf Nations League group stage matches

June – July
U20 Concacaf Tournament – Players born in 2003 or later compete in a Concacaf tournament that can be as many as seven matches if the US makes it to the final. This tournament serves as the qualifier for the U20 2023 World Cup and the 2024 Olympics 

July – November 
Start of 2022 – 2023 European club seasons

September 19 – 27
Two friendlies, one rumored to be Argentina. 

THE POOL

Let’s start with the guys between the pipes. 

The USMNT went into World Cup Qualifiers (WCQ) with what seemed like an open competition for the #1 jersey after an impressive debut summer by Matt Turner. In reality, it’s clear that Gregg’s first choice keeper is still Zack Steffen, but because of nagging back issues, Matt Turner did get his chances. I am starting to get concerned by Gregg’s dedication to Zack. Zack continues to make too many mental errors that create chances. Yes, he’s a better distributor of the ball, but I think the data shows that Matt Turner is clearly the better shot stopper, and that that skill is going to be pivotal in the World Cup. I really hope Matt gets a fair shot at taking the #1 job. The third keeper spot remains open between Ethan Horvath and Sean Johnson and there is a young start approaching fast on their heels. 

The three Nation’s League matches in June can be approached in a couple of ways by Gregg Berhalter. It can be a platform for Steffen and Turner to compete, or it could be a platform for Horvath and Johnson to compete. Maybe it can be both? Johnson will be in the middle of his club season, so I think this will be a big opportunity for Horvath to lock down the final keeper spot. 

Look Like Locks

Zack Steffen (Manchester City)

Zack has continued to be a steady #1 for USMNT. He’s had too many shaky moments in my opinion, but he’s also made some big saves when he’s needed to, specifically in both matches against Mexico. He’s the #2 at Manchester City and that doesn’t look to be changing before WC2022, so he’ll need to make the most of his time with club and country to retain the upper hand. 

6 starts
0.78 Goals Conceded / 90
0.87 Expected Goals Conceded / 90
5.46 Long passes / 90
62.9& Long pass accuracy

Matt Turner (New England Revolution / Arsenal)

Matt Turner has a very big summer ahead! He’s moving from Boston to North London at the beginning of July to join Arsenal. What does this mean for USMNT? It remains to be seen, but Nation’s League is in June, before the move, so it will be interesting to see if the Revs release him to USMNT in what might be his last chance to make an impression on Gregg and the staff before WC2022. 

Once he arrives at Arsenal, the assumption is that Matt will be in a similar position as Zack, a #2 keeper at a top club in the Premier League where he’ll be called on in cup matches and if the #1 goes down. 

8 starts
0.59 Goals Conceded / 90
0.75 Expected Goals Conceded / 90
5.29 Long passes / 90
62.2% Long pass accuracy

In the Mix

Ethan Horvath (Nottingham Forest)

What a roller coaster of a career Ethan Horvath has had. The talent is unquestionable, but his last two clubs, Club Brugge in Belgium and his current club, Nottingham Forest in the English Championship, have been challenging places to get playing time. The good news is that the narrative might be changing. Ethan has started the last 6 matches for Forest and he’s playing at a very high level. It’s possible that he is the only keeper that is consistently playing in Europe going into the World Cup and with his combination of shot stopping and distribution, he could have an outside chance of overtaking the two incumbents above, though not likely given Gregg’s trust in Zack. 

What could make this story even more intriguing is if Forest make it to the Premiership and Horvath in the toughest league in the world. We’ll see. What is clear is that if things go well for Ethan, it will be very hard for any other keeper to overtake him as the 2nd or 3rd keeper. 

Sean Johnson (New York City FC)

After last summer where Ethan Horvath became a Nation’s League hero and Matt Turner had a great Gold Cup, it seemed like Sean was out of the picture for USMNT. Additionally, early in the summer, it seemed that David Ochoa was considered the keeper of the future. Instead, Ochoa chose ElTri and Horvath’s move to England did not initially pan out, while Sean had another stellar MLS campaign on his way to the MLS Super Cup victory. During that playoff push Sean outperformed Matt Turner to win a penalty shoot out in the quarterfinals. All of this to stay, Sean became a consistent #3 keeper for USMNT through qualifying and keeps his name in the hat for WC2022. It’s an uphill battle, but he’s definitely still “in the mix”. 

Keep An Eye On… 

Gabriel Slonina (Chicago Fire)

There is a lot of hype around Gaga and rightfully so. Some are calling him the best young goalkeeper prospect in the world, so yeah, a lot of hype. Let’s remind ourselves that he is 17 and there is a long way to go, but the improvement from last year to this year has been evident and that’s all you want to see from a young talent, improvement and increased consistency. It’s going to be challenging for Gaga to make the World Cup roster, but it’s not inconceivable if he continues to grow at the rate he’s at. His primary International focus this summer is leading the U20s to the U20 World Cup and Olympics. 

My way too early prediction: Zack Steffen, Matt Turner, Ethan Horvath

USMNT

Concacaf Gold Cup is becoming tarnished

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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.

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Club News

From Louisville to Lisbon: Joshua Wynder’s Journey with S.L. Benfica

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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. 

LOUvOKC.Photographer: EM Dash Photography

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.

Louisville City FC, LOUvPIT.Photographer: EM Dash Photography

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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USMNT

A Legacy of Stars and Stripes: The Evolution of the USWNT Kits

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

The release of new kits is always an exciting moment for U.S. Soccer fans. Traditionally, U.S. Soccer unveils new designs during the spring or summer international windows. The USMNT did have their 2022 World Cup kits released in September, three months before the World Cup.

The USWNT recently debuted their new home kit during their last two friendlies, while the USMNT is expected to showcase their new away kit in the lead-up to the 2025 Gold Cup.

U.S. Soccer has unveiled two stunning new kits for the USWNT. The home jersey, dubbed The Brilliant Kit, will make its debut when the USWNT faces China. The away jersey, known as The Heartbeat Kit, will be worn by both the USWNT and USMNT. Both designs have been met with widespread praise from fans, with many calling them among the best in recent memory. I believe these are the sharpest U.S. kits we’ve seen in nearly fifteen years.

History of the USWNT Kit

For those who follow me on social media, you might remember a project I completed back in 2022, where I tracked the history of the USMNT from the evolution of the U.S. Soccer crest to the iconic team kits. Now, I’m channeling that same passion into a new labor of love: researching and recreating the kits of the USWNT to help preserve and celebrate their rich history.

USWNT Kits – 1985 – 1993

Forty years ago, the U.S. Women’s National Team played it’s first-ever match, wearing a white Adidas home kit with red diagonal pinstripes. But like many things in those early days, the kit wasn’t made with the women’s player in mind. The kits were designed for the men’s players in size and fit. For years, USWNT players were forced to pin back and alter oversized uniforms just to keep them from getting in the way on the field. It wasn’t until 1994 that they finally received a kit specifically tailored for women.

USWNT Kits 1994 – 2011

In 1994, the final year Adidas outfitted U.S. Soccer, the USWNT finally received its first uniquely designed kit made specifically for women. This marked the beginning of a new era, with the team continuing to wear custom kits through the 2011 World Cup.

USWNT Kits – 2012 – Current

Starting in 2012, Nike decided to unify the look of the USWNT and USMNT by having both teams wear the same kits. However, there have been a few exceptions over the years where one team debuted a unique design. A recent example is the newly released USWNT home kit, while the USMNT continues to wear the 2024 home kit.

USWNT and USMNT Kits Going Forward

Nike hit the most recent kit release out of the pitch, and it raises the question of what will be next for the USWNT and USMNT kit creations. The 2026 World Cup will see at least two new kits for the USMNT, with the USWNT likely wearing one or both of them.

For decades, both the USWNT and USMNT have struggled to establish a strong, unified identity through their kits. While some designs are instantly recognizable, there’s still a sense that both teams lack a distinct visual representation that truly reflects who they are. I hope that Nike continues to create kits that bring both teams together, while also allowing for occasional unique designs, once or twice per cycle, that capture the essence of American identity, something both teams have long needed

The true identity of the USWNT and USMNT is embodied in the Stars and Stripes, woven together in red, white, and blue, perhaps with the addition of a bold sash to complete the look.

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