Several players vying for a place in the USMNT's March camp, and ultimately the World Cup roster, could bolster their case with strong recitals in European leagues, Major League Soccer and Mexico’s Liga MX.
The U.S. men’s national soccer team is now in a World Cup year, which means players angling for a place on Mauricio Pochettino’s 26-man squad. First, though, they will aim to get themselves on the roster for the March friendlies against Belgium and Portugal in Atlanta.
A call-up to the last training camp before Pochettino selects his World Cup team in late May will not come with summer guarantees. Nor will missing out in March preclude selection to the tournament.
Over the next two-plus months, though, Pochettino and his staff will keep a close eye on club performances before sending out invitations. Barring injury, most of the regulars are assured of making the list. Several candidates, however, would bolster their case with strong recitals in European leagues, Major League Soccer and Mexico’s Liga MX.
Here are 10 players with the most to gain:
Ricardo Pepi, PSV Eindhoven
Back in PSV Eindhoven’s starting lineup and bubblingwith confidence, the Texas-born striker is poised to move up the U.S. depth chart. With Pepi out of the U.S. picture until the end of 2025 — due to injuries and club playing time — Monaco’s Folarin Balogun strengthened his top-man status and Coventry City’s Haji Wright proved a worthy back-up.
Pepi, who will turn 23 on Friday, is in great form with goals in five of his past six PSV appearances and five goals and two assists in the seven matches before the winter break. Across all club competitions, he has 10 goals and three assists in 21 games. He is also a hot commodity on the transfer market, with PSV reportedly turning down a $35 million offer from Premier League side Fulham.
Gio Reyna, Borussia Mönchengladbach
The enigmatic midfielder bolstered his U.S. status with superb performances in the November window — his first call-up since March. But to help remain in Pochettino’s good graces and stay in the World Cup mix, the 23-year-old must continue earning starts for Mönchengladbach, the Bundesliga club he joined from Borussia Dortmund over the summer.
A sub most of the first several months, Reyna started the last four matches before the winter break and received mixed reviews. He has yet to record a goal or assist this season.
Noahkai Banks, FC Augsburg
Though he has never played for the U.S. team, the 19-year-old center back remains an intriguing character as the World Cup approaches. The Hawaiian-born German American received his first senior call-up in September but did not get into either friendly. Having started almost every game since early October for Augsburg in the Bundesliga, Banks shouldn’t be overlooked.
Pochettino’s center back corps is not set in stone. He has used Crystal Palace’s Chris Richards, Charlotte’s Tim Ream, Cincinnati’s Miles Robinson, Toulouse’s Mark McKenzie and Celtic’s Auston Trusty. (Toronto FC’s Walker Zimmerman and Vancouver’s Tristan Blackmon are also in the pool, and Celtic’s Cameron Carter-Vickers is recovering from an Achilles’ tendon injury.)
Johnny Cardoso, Atlético Madrid
If relying solely on his club portfolio, the 24-year-old center midfielder should be a U.S. regular. In the past two years, he has moved from Brazil’s Internacional to Spain’s Real Betis and attracted interest from England’s Tottenham Hotspur before leaping to Atlético Madrid last summer on a $35 million transfer.
But injuries have hampered his ascent and, oddly, he has never played very well for the national team. His most recent appearances, in the June friendlies against Turkey and Switzerland, were forgettable. Regular assignments with Atletico might earn him one last chance with Pochettino.
Patrick Agyemang, Derby County
The 6-foot-4 Connecticut native took a bit of risk last summer by leaving a certain role in MLS for the uncertainties of the English Championship. Had he sat on Derby County’s bench, Agyemang would have lost all World Cup hope.
But he has adapted well, recording six goals and three assists in 19 starts, including a two-goal effort against Sheffield Wednesday last month. A good run over the next two months would keep him in contention for a March call-up.
Alex Zendejas, Club América
The only Liga MX candidate under serious consideration, the clever, Mexican-born winger has been terrific for Club America and shown flashes of brilliance for the national team. His volleyed goal against Japan in September was all class. However, he withdrew from the October camp with a knee injury and wasn’t called up a month later.
Luca de la Torre, Charlotte F.C.
Reduced playing time in San Diego last season damaged his U.S. standing, but with a move to Charlotte this offseason, the 27-year-old central midfielder with 32 caps could reenter the conversation. Like most MLS players, though, he will not have much time to make his case: The regular season doesn’t start until Feb. 21.
Yunus Musah, Atalanta
Once a mainstay in the U.S. lineup – 47 caps before he turned 23 – the versatile Musah has faded from the scene since the Nations League finals last March. After joining Atalanta on loan from AC Milan in Serie A this season, he has been used almost exclusively as a sub. His minutes have picked up recently, hinting at a larger role down the stretch.
While Pochettino and U.S. fans have all but given up on the Norwich City striker, there is always that possibility Sargent goes on a crazy scoring surge. After all, he has scored 52 goals the past 3 ½ years in England’s second division. Even if he did go wild, though, there is little faith in a U.S. uniform: He hasn’t scored for his country since November 2019.
Damion Downs, Hamburg
Sometimes a change of scenery does wonders, and in the case of this 6-foot-4, 21-year-old striker with six caps, this week’s move to Hamburg on loan from Southampton could do the trick. He started once in the English Championship and hadn’t played since Nov. 25.
Category: General Sports
