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USMNT Positional Analysis: Right-Backs

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Dating back to last summer, many of us believed that our RB depth was going to be much better than it has been. Sergiño Dest is far and away the most talented of the group and the clear first choice RB. It seemed like Reggie Cannon was solidifying himself as the #2, while DeAndre Yedlin was the reliable veteran that could fill in when needed. Julian Araujo was also viewed as an up and coming RB prospect, but he chose to commit to Mexico. Bryan Reynolds was a player that a lot of people were excited about after signing with Roma. 

Reggie was scheduled to be the starting RB in the Gold Cup, but injuries limited his availability and Shaq Moore was given the opportunity and played well. 

Additionally, Joe Scally, a 19 year old that was not expected to impact Borussia Mönchengladbach, had a very successful start to the 2021 – 2022 season after injuries thrust him into the starting lineup. 

All of these events led to a somewhat jumbled mess and now we have a clear competition for RB2 heading into the summer before the World Cup. 

Look Like Locks

Sergiño Dest (Barcelona)

Without a doubt Sergiño Dest is the starting RB. He’s had some brilliant moments in WCQ, most notably the golazo against Costa Rica and locking up Tajon Buchannon in Canada. He’s also had some not so great moments, but overall, he’s been a real bright spot. His creativity in the attack is a dynamic element that USMNT needs. There is a noticeable gap when he is not in the lineup. The biggest challenge has been his availability. His reemergence at Barcelona is also a reason to be optimistic heading into the World Cup. 

WCQ Stats:
436 minutes played
1 goal
1 assist
3.1 crosses per 90, 33% accuracy 
9.1 dribble attempts per 90, 52.3% success rate
31.79 ground duels per 90, 46.1% success rate

In the Mix

DeAndre Yedlin (Inter Miami)

DeAndre is one of two players that are in the mix from the 2014 World Cup squad. DeAndre is one of the few “veterans” in the pool and Gregg has relied on that during qualifying. He’s participated in a lot of big matches, including both Mexico matches in WCQ. DeAndre is what he is at this point in his career. He’s not a game changer, but he’s reliable and tough on defense. To me, if none of the younger, more talented RBs emerge over the next several months, Yedlin is your reliable contingency plan that will bring World Cup experience and grit. 

WCQ Stats:
393 minutes played
1 assist
2.52 crosses per 90, 54.5% accuracy 
1.2 dribble attempts per 90, 40% success rate
19.47 ground duels per 90, 62.4% success rate

Reggie Cannon (Boavista)

Reggie has had a pretty rocky past 9 months dating back to the 2021 Gold Cup where he was supposed to be the starting RB, but was limited by a knock. That knock stuck around and limited him at Boavista for the first few months of the season. During that time another RWB emerged and Reggie has since predominantly played at RCB in a three back system. He’s been in and out of the USMNT setup during WCQ and hasn’t stood out, good or bad. Reggie still has a very good chance to make the World Cup roster, but I think it will take a strong finish to this club season and a strong start to make it happen. 

WCQ Stats:
113 minutes played
4.78 crosses per 90, 16.7% accuracy 
0.8 dribble attempts per 90, 100% success rate
13.5 ground duels per 90, 47.1% success rate

Shaq Moore (Tenerife)

Shaq is a very interesting player for me and how his club situation pans out over the next several months will be interesting to evaluate. Shaq impressed me in the Gold Cup. He had a poor performance against Panama in Panama and an impressive performance at home against Panama. His club season has been up and down. He’s been in and out of the starting lineup for a second division Spanish club, Tenerife, who are fighting for a promotion to LaLiga. MLS teams were in hot pursuit of Shaq this winter, but Tenerife wanted to keep him around for the promotion push. What I am curious about is what will happen with Shaq if Tenerife gets promoted? Do they keep him around for LaLiga next year? That would be a great challenge for Shaq. Do they upgrade and that means Shaq pursues MLS interest? If they don’t get promoted, you have to think a move for Shaq is inevitable. 

Like Reggie, Shaq will really need to impress from now until November for him to win a spot on the World Cup roster. Rumor has it that Shaq will head to Nashville this summer, which will give him more of a chance to impress this summer leading up to the World Cup. This is a trend you might see a lot of with players looking to get on Gregg’s radar ahead of the World Cup.

WCQ Stats:
217 minutes played
4.15 crosses per 90, 10% accuracy 
2.1 dribble attempts per 90, 80% success rate
20.3 ground duels per 90, 61.2% success rate

Keep an Eye On

Joe Scally (Borussia Mönchengladbach)

I think it’s fair to say that the number one complaint of USMNT fans, at least on Twitter, is Gregg’s evaluation of Joe Scally. Let’s be real, Joe was ahead of schedule in terms of having an impact in the German Bundesliga. That caught a lot of us by surprise. Joe was called into one camp and apparently Gregg was not impressed, and he hasn’t been called back since. 

I don’t always agree with Gregg’s evaluation of players, but to his credit, he doesn’t usually give up on players forever, especially young players and I think we’ll see Joe get another chance. Anyone can have a bad camp. My hope is Joe gets a chance with USMNT this summer and at that point it is on him to change Gregg’s opinion. He can’t completely rely on his performances in Germany. He has to show up in camp as well. I think he needs one big time performance this summer to have a shot. 

Joe has shown the highest level of play within this group outside of Dest, so hopefully he can rise in the eyes of Gregg this summer.  Gregg usually takes a little longer to get to player evaluations that are aligned with the fanbase, but he does usually get there. Let’s hope that happens here.

Bryan Reynolds (Kortrijk / Roma)

Offensively, Bryan might have the highest ceiling at RB outside of Sergiño Dest. Unfortunately for Bryan, the Roma transfer has not been positive and so Bryan wasn’t able to show Gregg much for the entire first half of the season. Bryan was loaned to Belgian side, Kortrijk and has been a positive player for them. Bryan was invited to December camp, but did not start over Brooks Lennon, which was concerning, but did come in and look bright. 

I would imagine Bryan and his camp is looking for a permanent move out of Roma this summer and with the right move and strong growth, Bryan has an outside chance to make some noise. 

Brooks Lennon (Atlanta United)

I wouldn’t keep my eye on Brooks Lennon because I think he is a pretty limited player and below the quality of the rest of the guys in this group, but he has been called in recently so I feel compelled to have him on the list. 


My way too early prediction: Sergiño Dest, DeAndre Yedlin, Joe Scally

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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