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Youth Movement

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The 2018 World Cup is around the corner and we’ve seen a surge of youth on the US Men’s National Team roster. The past two qualifying games saw no less than 10 players on the field that will not yet be 30 years old in 2018. There were a few more on the roster and still others that missed out on this round, but are on coach Jurgen Klinsmann’s radar.

Around the world we have several prospective studs like Lynden Gooch (age 20) starting on Sunderland in the English Premier League. There are those who have cracked major club lineups like Julian Green (age 21) on Bayern Munich, Emerson Hyndman (age 20) on Bournemouth and Carter-Vickers (age 18) on Spurs who have made the lineup; not to mention strong prospects like Perry Kitchen and Ethan Horvath playing in other parts of Europe who have not yet had their chance to fight for a spot on USMNT.

As we start to look down the stretch it seems several young guns have established themselves at certain positions. Here’s what I think Jurgen’s board for 2018 currently looks like (assuming all are healthy):

   Dempsey    Altidore

Pulsic       Klijstan    Bradley     Bedoya

Johnson    Brooks    Cameron    Yedlin

Guzan

Again the above are not my choices for the positions, this is my guess at what Klinsmann is probably planning for his 2018 line-up. I’d like to look at younger options at a few key positions and offer a faster alternative lineup that with a few appearances in friendlies and qualifiers could really change the dynamic of the team.

Jozy

Pulsic       Hyndman       Kitchen       Arriola       Gooch

Johnson       Brooks       Birnbaum       Yedlin

Horvath

This line up excites me, especially those in the field of play. I’m not saying these guys are ready, or even that they will be ready in 2018. I’m offering a potential line up that could really change the way the US plays. This would put (in theory) 3 players from the English Premier League, 3 from Bundesliga League, and 4 others from other parts of Europe and MLS. This line up gives us an extremely youthful side that could deliver the fast paced attacking game that Jurgen has promised. We saw a small glimpse of what could be in the second half of the T&T game. The quality of the competition aside, it was a very exciting half of soccer to watch as a US fan.

The key changes that could be made:

Probably Never Gonna Happen

Horvath for Guzan

This is a huge stretch as Horvath has been around, but not earned a minute on the field yet. The opportunity here is the fact that even after the success of Copa, Howard and Guzan are sharing the spot. Guzan is in a fight to keep his starting job in England which likely opens the door for a 39-year-old Howard, but maybe this too allows Horvath a shot. I see Howard the ageless wonder probably being the guy in this one, if Guzan can’t keep his starting job.

Birnbaum for Cameron

I’m a huge Cameron guy and as long as he’s starting at Stoke the partnership of Brooks/Cameron is my first choice. However, both Birnbaum and Gonzales have gotten minutes. Birnbaum’s recent stint of goal scoring for his club may peak Klinsmann’s interest. Birnbaum has had a few European teams interested in his services and DC United may eventually sell which could open up a door for him. I don’t see Cameron losing this spot unless he gets benched at Stoke, but Birnbaum is certainly making a case.

Intriguing possibilities that if nothing less pushes the starters to their best play

Kitchen for Bradley

This change probably won’t and shouldn’t happen, but Kitchen has done very well to get a transfer from DC United in the MLS to Hearts in Scotland. He missed Heart’s first game this season against Celtic and it hurt, but since his return to the lineup they have not lost in league play. Jurgen was behind this move to Scotland and he’s invited Kitchen to past camps. Kitchen was left out of qualifying only because of a recent injury. Stanko and Danny Williams could play here too, but I think this spot is Kitchen’s to steal from Bradley. As I said Jurgen will likely lean on his Captain that led them through the successful Copa, but a yellow card, injury or continued poor passing could see a look at Kitchen in the next two years.

Hyndman for Klijstan

I don’t think there’s even a whiff of a case here yet, but we do know that Jurgen is seeking a new creator in the middle. He has to eventual replace Jermaine Jones. It does not appear Nagbe has captured that spot and Klijstan has only just emerged as a prospective replacement. He was a last minute call up due to a John Brooks injury. Klijstan looked fantastic in the two qualifiers and if his play continues he may have secured a role here. He plays well with Pulisic and bring a creative element we haven’t see much of. However, Hyndman has done well on the U-20 team, played a few minutes for the senior team and has cracked into the bench of Premier League team Bournemouth. While he’s getting some great experience he’ll need to get regular minutes on the pitch in the next six months to really have a shot at cracking the US lineup.

Likeliest potential holes to fill

Gooch for Bedoya

Jurgen has made no secret that he’s kept an eye on Gooch breaking into a starting lineup in the Premier League. That along with Bedoya’s move to MLS (along with a change in position) and a recent unfortunate exchange with American soccer legend Eric Wynalda may not have him in the brightest light. Gooch is fast and looks like he could add some excitement to a position that Bedoya has long been lauded for his hard work and defensive support, but not his offensive prowess. I think this may be the most likely move to happen if Gooch continues to start for Sunderland.

Arriola for Dempsey

Dempsey is a mainstay and a beast, probably my favorite player that has ever worn a USMNT jersey. However, even this tough Texan will be 35 in 2018 and as of today we do not know if he’ll return from his heart issue. Assuming he doesn’t return, the Jozy/Wood experiment didn’t look great when we saw it last. That may leave the opportunity open for Jurgen to experiment with more of a 4-5-1 and a faster lineup to include Arriola who has scored a goal in each of his last two appearances. He’s small, but fast and hard working as well. He brings a little more speed and creativity on the offensive end, he may need to work on his defensive skills to threaten cracking into the midfield. This is another one based on Jurgen playing Arriola in the last two qualifiers that may not be too far off from being tested.

I’m not saying all of these are good moves, certainly would be hard to see Cameron and Bradley sitting in a meaningful game and I don’t see Jurgen having a sudden change of heart and playing any new goalie. I am looking however to the future and the possibility of fielding a team that could provide the style of play we’ve hoped Klinsmann would bring. You may think the team is set in stone today, but remember this is the guy that brought Chris Wondolowski and Julian Green to the 2014 World Cup over Landon Donovan.

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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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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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