USA World Cup 2022 Roster: USMNT’s Projected Squad and Possible Starting XI for Qatar

With the United States securing a spot at the 2022 FIFA World Cup, the nightmare of failing to qualify in 2018 has officially been put to bed, and USMNT fans are looking forward to the big dance.

Now, the journey back to FIFA’s most prestigious tournament begins.

It was expected to provide 23 players on the roster, but the official rule-making body, the IFAB, confirmed that World Cup rosters will be expanded to 26 players, allowing teams to bring three additional players than in the past. So who will be among the 26 players brought into football’s most prestigious event, and who will remain out of the fold?

Manager Greg Berhalter and his USMNT coaching staff have spent the last few months preparing the final roster of talent, and here we wonder who will make the final roster in mid-November. At the end of October, he brought some homegrown players who had been eliminated from the club competition to a mini-camp to keep them fit.

Of course, injuries will have a major say in how it plays out. Some USMNT players have recovered in recent weeks, but even that could change in a hurry with two weeks before the World Cup begins.

USMNT World Cup Roster for Qatar 2022

The World Cup roster previously consisted of 23 players, including three goalkeepers, but FIFA expanded the roster to 26 this year, meaning Berhalter has a bit more room to bring in players who can contribute in different areas.

Whittling down the US player pool to the 26 best — or, most useful — players is going to be extremely difficult for Berhalter, given the team’s chemistry.

The starting lineup and key contributors seem relatively set, but every roster spot is valuable, and the goal is to maximize each position with players who can contribute in multiple ways on and off the field.

So, with that in mind, here are 26 players Sporting News predicts will be on the World Cup roster.

Predicted USMNT Roster

When will the USMNT World Cup roster be announced?

US Soccer will announce its 26-man World Cup roster on Wednesday, Nov. 9 at 5 p.m. ET.

The roster reveal will take place at a special event at the Brooklyn Steel in New York City, when all 26 players who will play for the USMNT at the 2022 World Cup in Qatar will be announced.

Head coach Greg Berhalter will be in attendance with selected players to announce the roster at an event that will include a reception, roster reveal and post-reveal party.

How to Watch the USMNT 2022 World Cup Roster Announcement

The USMNT 2022 World Cup roster announcement will be shown on ESPN2 and will be broadcast live on ESPN+ beginning Wednesday, November 9 at 5 p.m. ET.

Where to watch USMNT World Cup games?

All of the USMNT’s World Cup group stage games will begin at 2pm ET and will be shown in the United States on Fox and Telemundo.

USMNT stars, strengths, and weaknesses at the 2022 World Cup

Stars

The undisputed star of the USMNT team is Christian Pulisic, and his ability to stay healthy and carry the attack will determine how far the U.S. can advance in the World Cup. With his playing time at Chelsea dwindling, he will need to re-energize himself ahead of the tournament in Qatar.

The Leeds United duo of Tyler Adams and Brendan Aaronson have also been prominent in this team, their pressing ability fitting Greg Berhalter’s system perfectly. Adams is an engine in midfield in particular, generating turnovers in the No. 6 position and building possession from the back.

Weston McKenney is another fixture at the beach, and his partnership with Adams and Yunus Musah is affectionately referred to as “MMA”. The absence of any of those three has proven costly for America and their health will be critical. McKennie and Musah have developed a true No. 8 pivot, with Musah in charge of progression while McKennie has a box-to-box role.

The midfield for the US is a clear strength of the team. While it’s not particularly deep, the presence of the “MMA” trio is a big boost for the United States and those three could match up with many of the world’s midfield players. However, an injury to Luca de la Torre has highlighted the lack of depth behind that back three.

Strengths

Full-back is also a position of strength, surprisingly, after years of lack of talent in that area. The presence of Anthony Robinson on the left and Sergino Dest on the right allows Berhalter to work his tactical approach around the pair’s strengths. Depth, however, is significantly lacking, and any injury to either player would prove a significant blow.

Youth is also an extremely important aspect of this U.S. team, as they not only enter the 2022 World Cup with energy and enthusiasm but also look to the 2026 tournament, which the U.S. will host alongside Canada and Mexico. Any success at the 2022 World Cup will give hope that this same group can build on that foundation to become genuine contenders four years from now.

There is only one player on the projected roster who is 30 or older — third-string goalie Sean Johnson — while the rest are still early in their careers. Only one player, DeAndre Yedlin, was part of the 2014 World Cup roster. Talented young players like Aaronson, Dest, Gio Reyna, Tim Weah, and 24-year-old Pulisic offer hope for a bright future.

The goalkeeping position was one with some concerns a long time ago, but it’s amazing what a few months will change. Matt Turner was facing game-time concerns before his move to Arsenal, and form heading into the World Cup was a real concern. However, Turner has seen time as Arsenal’s cup goalkeeper and has played very well so things are looking up.

Weaknesses

There are a large number of question marks on this team that will reach the World Cup.

Chief among them is the striker position. Jesús Ferreira looks set to play a starring role, largely due to a lack of options other than Ferreira’s ability to claim a spot. Behind him is a mish-mash of in-form but inexperienced fringe players and preferred options struggling for form. Ricardo Pepi is still young, but his trip to Augsburg has been disastrous, and he needs a loan to the Netherlands to regain form. Jordan Payfolk and Haji Wright have been in excellent form at his club, but Berhalter seems resistant to calling them up. Payfolk’s absence from the September camp roster raised many eyebrows, but Berhalter made it clear that he is not out of the running for a spot in Qatar. . FC Cincinnati’s Brandon Vazquez has been in great form for his club, but Berhalter’s harsh words have made a place for him, and this has been confirmed by Vazquez himself, who is said to be out of the running.

Similarly, the center-back position is a matter of confusion for the United States. Walker Zimmerman is the obvious starter, but with him, it’s anyone’s guess. Myles Robinson wanted to be that guy, but a torn Achilles ended his chances for a spot in the lineup. Aaron Long is a preferred Berhalter alternative, but his poor play in MLS could strengthen Berhalter’s hand after returning from injury. Cameron Carter-Vickers has performed well at Celtic, but has only recently returned to the mix after years of toiling off the radar.

The remaining center-back options offer little hope. Chris Richards was considered a young, talented option, but injuries have set him back significantly and he has barely played at Crystal Palace. Eric Palmer-Brown or Mark McKenzie could earn a spot based on club form, but their few national team appearances do not inspire confidence. Tim Ream had an impressive start to the season at Fulham to re-insert the veteran into the conversation, but he was not called up to the September camp, and Berhalter’s explanation left Ream an unlikely option.

Following De La Torre’s loss, James Sands, boasting the ability to play defensive midfield after establishing a role with Rangers, lost his starting place when his form appeared until September against Champions League competition. Club, he was deployed in midfield against Napoli at the end of October and played well despite the 3-0 defeat. With Luca de la Torre currently injured, the options are slim, and Sands is a logical addition to the roster given his positional flexibility and club minutes, alongside the likes of Djordje Mihailovic and Sebastian Leithgate.

USMNT starting lineup at FIFA World Cup

So now that we have the final 26, how will they line up? The starting lineup is pretty self-explanatory, though there are still some decisions to be made.

The biggest question comes between the pipes. With recent starting goalkeeper Matt Turner moving to Arsenal, where he will compete for time and possibly back up Aaron Ramsdell, that makes two USMNT goalkeepers with upper-echelon Premier League teams…both as backups. The form is important for goalkeepers, meaning it remains to be seen whether Steffen or Turner will get enough minutes to prepare themselves for the World Cup matches.

Another key question is the third midfield position. Weston McKenney and Tyler Adams, when healthy, are locked for the starting lineup. Last place looked increasingly up in the air until Brendan Aaronson put in a superb performance at the head of the midfield trio, including a superb performance against Morocco during the summer international break. Could this be a way to get all the best American offensive players on the field at the same time?

United States projected starting lineup (4-3-3): Turner (GK) — A. Robinson, Carter-Vickers, Zimmerman, Dest — Adams, McKenney, Musa — Pulisic, Ferreira, Aaronson.

Projected USMNT World Cup Roster Cuts

With only 26 spots available for Berhalter, some players will be left on the lookout.

Up front, Ricardo Pepi’s meteoric dip in his move to Augsburg looked like he would be on the outside, but he looks to make the roster thanks to a revival on loan with Dutch side Groningen. Instead, it’s Josh Sargent who fails to make the team, as Jordan Payfolk essentially evaporates after his excellent early-season form. The days of Gyasi Zardes making this team are long gone.

The center-back battle is wide open, with Carter-Vickers, Palmer-Brown, McKenzie, and Richards all in contention. A season-ending injury to Richards left him off the summer roster, and while he hasn’t even gotten a few minutes since his move to Crystal Palace, the current injury has made him an unlikely selection. McKenzie has not looked comfortable in any of his USMNT appearances to date. Carter-Vickers has played very well at Celtic and will make it, while Richards and Palmer-Brown will come in the former fit and healthy.

In midfield, Cristian Roldan looked to be the frontrunner for the final backup spot, but a groin injury ended his World Cup chances. Likewise, Luca de la Torre looked set for a place at Celta Vigo despite a lack of club minutes, but a hamstring injury in late October may have cost him that chance.

At goalie, Sean Johnson is an experienced option and his talents are a more viable option on the field if needed, leaving Ethan Horvath as the odd man out. Veteran Brad Guzan tore his ACL with Atlanta United and won’t be a substitute, and the World Cup comes a little early for young Gaga Slonina. Stephane Frei had a great performance in the CONCACAF Champions League for Seattle, but even with an injury to Jack Steffen over the summer, he couldn’t see Horvath calling up another man.

Projected USMNT World Cup Roster Cuts