Thank you, US Soccer:
BERHALTER CALLS 25 PLAYERS TO CINCINNATI AS 2022 WORLD CUP QUALIFYING CAMPAIGN NEARS HALFWAY POINT
USMNT Sits in Second Place of Octagonal with USA-Mexico, Presented by Allstate, Set for Nov. 12 at Sold-Out TQL Stadium
CHICAGO (Nov. 4, 2021) – U.S. Men’s National Team head coach Gregg Berhalter has called 25 players to Cincinnati as 2022 FIFA World Cup Qualifying nears the halfway point. The BioSteel USMNT Training Camp roster will begin reporting to camp this Sunday.
With the USMNT holding second place in the standings after six matches, all eyes are focused on USA-Mexico, presented by Allstate, at TQL Stadium in Cincinnati on Friday, Nov. 12 (9 p.m. ET; ESPN2, Univision and TUDN). Four days later, the USMNT will face Jamaica at Independence Park in Kingston on Tuesday, Nov. 16 (Paramount+ and Universo).
Fans will also be able to follow all the matches via Facebook, Twitter @USMNT, Instagram @USMNT and the official U.S. Soccer App.
“Our focus remains on a next game up mentality. After this window we’ll be more than halfway through the Octagonal, so we have a chance to position ourselves well heading into next year,” Berhalter said. “When it comes to USA-Mexico, I’m excited for our players because it isn’t just a game - it’s an event. This is the best of World Cup Qualifying, and our group is ready for the challenge.”
Detailed Roster by Position (Club/Country; Caps/Goals):
GOALKEEPERS (3): Sean Johnson (New York City FC; 9/0), Zack Steffen (Manchester City/ENG; 24/0), Matt Turner (New England Revolution; 12/0)
DEFENDERS (9): Reggie Cannon (Boavista/POR; 22/1), Mark McKenzie (Genk/BEL; 8/0), Chris Richards (Hoffenheim/GER; 4/0), Antonee Robinson (Fulham/ENG; 17/1), Miles Robinson (Atlanta United; 14/3), Joe Scally (Borussia Mönchengladbach/GER; 0/0), Sam Vines (Royal Antwerp/BEL; 8/1), DeAndre Yedlin (Galatasaray/TUR; 69/0), Walker Zimmerman (Nashville SC; 20/2)
MIDFIELDERS (7): Kellyn Acosta (Colorado Rapids; 42/2), Tyler Adams (RB Leipzig/GER; 20/1), Gianluca Busio (Venezia/ITA; 7/0), Sebastian Lletget (LA Galaxy; 33/8), Weston McKennie (Juventus/ITA; 27/7), Yunus Musah (Valencia/ESP; 9/0), Cristian Roldan (Seattle Sounders; 29/0)FORWARDS (6): Brenden Aaronson (Red Bull Salzburg/AUT; 13/5), Paul Arriola (D.C. United; 41/8), Jesús Ferreira (FC Dallas; 2/2), Ricardo Pepi (FC Dallas; 4/3), Christian Pulisic (Chelsea/ENG; 40/16), Tim Weah (Lille/FRA; 16/1)
The matches are scheduled during a FIFA international window, making all players available for selection. While teams can summon a larger group, the game day roster for World Cup Qualifiers may only include 23 players.
SITTING IN SECOND PLACE
While the road to Qatar is long and winding, the USMNT has positioned itself well at the start of the campaign, having completed the first two windows of 2022 FIFA World Cup Qualifying with a 3-1-2 record during the first two “triple dates” and picking up 11 points total, including four on the road capped by a historic comeback in the 4-1 win away to Honduras on Sept. 8. Those results have lifted the United States into sole possession of second place after six matches.
MANY HAPPY RETURNS
With a total of 33 players having earned a cap during this qualifying campaign – and a whopping 25 getting their first appearance – experience is beginning to develop in the group. Twenty players carry over from the October World Cup Qualifying roster, with Tyler Adams and Brenden Aaronson having the distinction of appearing in all six matches of the Octagonal thus far. The USMNT welcomes Christian Pulisic back into the fold after the attacker missed the last round of matches due to the ankle injury suffered in the win away to Honduras in September. Meanwhile, Reggie Cannon, Jesús Ferreira, Sam Vines, and first-time call-up Joe Scally join the effort to reach Qatar ’22.
LAST TIME OUT
The U.S. Men’s National Team closed the October World Cup qualifying window on a high note with a 2-1 win against Costa Rica. After a frenzied start in which Costa Rica took the lead after just one minute of play, defender Sergiño Dest scored a spectacular goal to equalize in the 25th minute, and forward Tim Weah’s hard-hit shot in the 66th resulted in the game-winning own goal from Costa Rica. Playing in front of a raucous, sell-out crowd of 20,165 in its return to Columbus at the new Lower.com Field, the USMNT improved to 9-1-3 all-time in the Ohio capital. With an average age of 22 years, 61 days, the USA took the field not only with its youngest lineup in World Cup qualifying but also in any official competition.
FINAL ROUND QUALIFYING – THE OCTAGONAL
For the first time, Concacaf has included eight teams in the final round of qualifying for the World Cup. The teams will play a round-robin, home and away format which includes 14 matches each. Due to the global health pandemic, a process which normally takes place during the course of 18 months has been reduced to seven. Additionally, the condensed schedule includes four ‘triple dates’ consisting of three matches during a seven-day window. The following teams have reached the final round: Canada, Costa Rica, El Salvador, Honduras, Jamaica, Panama, Mexico and the United States. Learn more about the USMNT’s Road to Qatar 2022.
ONLY FORWARD/SOLO PA’LANTE
U.S. Soccer kicked off its “Countdown to World Cup Qualifying” promotion with the launch of “Only Forward,” / “Solo Pa’lante,” U.S. Soccer’s new creative campaign focused on uniting fans and the MNT in a collective journey to qualify for the 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar.
Developed in conjunction with the players, coaches and staff, “Only Forward / Solo Pa’lante” highlights a young, diverse and global-minded Men’s National Team that is humble yet resilient as it looks to tackle the challenge of World Cup Qualifying during the next eight months. After an action-packed summer in which the deep U.S. player pool responded to adversity on and off the field and proved itself with two regional championship trophies, the USMNT is ready to show the world that they are prepared to change the way the world views American soccer.
See the full roster and more information on the Facebook Page of Soccer Long Island Magazine.