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USA World Cup Roster Announced: The 26 Players Going to Qatar

Robert Bell
Nov 11, 2022
5 min read

 

US soccer coach Gregg Berhalter has named his 26-strong roster for the FIFA World Cup in Qatar, and there are a few surprises in there. Among the players who didn’t make it, goalkeeper Zack Steffen’s exclusion is the biggest shock.

 

Others who won’t be playing in Qatar include Ricardo Pepi and Paul Arriola, with Miles Robinson and Chris Richards also missing out due to injuries.

 

The USA is in Group B, together with England, Wales and Iran. You can read our group B preview here.

 

So, who will be the players trying to make their country proud?

 

GOALKEEPERS

Matt Turner – Arsenal

 

The Arsenal goalkeeper had an excellent Gold Cup, where the team conceded just a single game in six games. He then started the early World Cup qualifiers, but it still wasn’t clear to onlookers whether Berhalter preferred him or Steffen.

 

In the end, it looks like Turner will start the first group game against Wales on November 21. While he deserves the chance, fans will be hoping that his relatively poor footwork doesn’t let him down.

 

 

Ethan Horvath – Luton Town

 

With eight international appearances to his name, Horvath also has a wealth of experience playing with the US youth teams at different age levels.

 

He’s currently on loan from his parent club Nottingham Forest to Luton Town, where he’s kept a total of eight clean sheets already this season.

 

Horvath has already shown that he can be relied upon, replacing Steffen in the 2021 CONCACAF National League final and playing a big part in the victory.

 

 

Sean Johnson – New York City FC

 

Johnson is probably regarded as the roster’s third-choice keeper, so it’s unlikely we see him play in Qatar.

 

However, the New York City FC captain is thought to be an important member of the group. He’s only played once in the US national team in the last couple of years.

 

Defenders

 

Cameron Carter-Vickers – Celtic

 

The first of the defenders has been hugely successful since moving to Scotland to play in 2021.

 

Carter-Vickers had come through the Tottenham academy and had spent time at several clubs on loan before joining Celtic on a loan that turned into a permanent deal this summer.

 

He got his first cap back in 2016 and will be looking to add to the 11 he’s earned in total.

 

 

Sergiño Dest – AC Milan

 

There had been serious doubts about whether the AC Milan full-back would be part of the World Cup roster, as he’s had a difficult time in 2022.

 

On loan at the Italian club from Barcelona, Dest first played for the US team in 2019, having represented the country at various youth levels before then.

 

 

 

Aaron Long – New York Red Bulls

 

This California-born center-back joined the MLS in the 2014 draft and has been playing with the Red Bulls since 2017.

 

In 2018, Long was the MLS Defender of the Year and earned the first of his 29 caps to date. This is considered one of the team’s weakest areas, so supporters will be hoping to see him perform strongly.

 

 

Shaq Moore – Nashville SC

 

Moore returned to the US this year, with the right-back signing for Nashville SC after spending the early years of his career in Spain.

 

He’s been part of the national team since 2018 and returned to the roster for the 2021 CONCACAF Gold Cup are being overlooked for a couple of years.

 

Tim Ream – Fulham

 

The Fulham captain’s international career seemed to be over a few years ago, with Berhalter suggesting that he might not be fast enough to play with a high defensive line.

 

Yet, the veteran center-back is now back and will be hoping to add to his 46 international appearances to date.

 

 

Antonee Robinson – Fulham 

 

Robinson was born in England but chose to play for the US national youth teams before getting his first full cap in 2018.

 

Expect to see him start against Wales in the left-back position, as the player known as Jedi played in all but one of the qualifying games.

 

 

 

Joe Scally – Borussia Monchengladbach

 

Able to cover both full-back positions, New York-born Scally moved to Germany in 2019 and has been ever-present for his team this season.

 

He made his debut with the national team just a few months ago but his versatility means that we may see him step in if either full-back misses a game.

 

 

DeAndre Yedlin – Inter Miami

 

This defender is the only member of the World Cup 2022 roster to have played in the 2014 tournament, where he made some late appearances.

 

This time around, his versatility means that he can cover several positions on the right-hand side if needed.

 

 

Walker Zimmerman – Nashville SC

 

Born in Georgia, Zimmerman won his first US cap in 2017 but seemed out of the picture until he became a starter during the qualifying campaign.

 

He’s now expected to start in one of those troublesome center-back spots, although he’s never started a game with Ream before.

 

Midfielders

 

Brenden Aaronson – Leeds United

 

The first midfielder on the list, Aaronson started his career with Bethlehem Steel but became the second most expensive American player in history when he joined Leeds this summer.

 

He now has 24 appearances and 6 goals for the US team and can play in a more advanced position, so he could become one of the key players in Qatar.

 

 

 

 

Kellyn Acosta – Los Angeles FC

 

Born in Texas and with Japanese/Puerto Rican parents, Acosta joined his current team at the start of 2022.

 

He made his first international appearance in 2016 and is well-known for his free-kick ability as well as for adding defensive strength to the roster.

 

 

 

 

Tyler Adams – Leeds United

 

After coming through the New York Red Bulls academy, Adams now plays in England with Leeds. He’s another member of the roster who adds a high degree of versatility, but his role is normally as the midfield destroyer for the US.

 

 

 

Luca de la Torre – Celta Vigo

 

One of the final players to impress during the qualifying campaign, de la Torre plays in the Spanish league and has a high level of technical skills.

 

His first start came against Honduras at the start of 2022.

 

 

Weston McKennie – Juventus

 

McKennie played most of his soccer in the US and Germany before moving to Italy as the first American to join Juventus.

 

He’s a crucial part of the team’s 3-player midfield and can start attacks from deep or else move forward to join the attack.

 

Yunus Musah – Valencia

 

Musah represented England at various youth levels before committing to the US program in 2021. Since then, he’s picked up 19 caps and has become a starter in the team’s midfield.

 

He’s been impressive with Valencia in Spain and could move to one of the continent’s biggest clubs before too long.

 

 

 

Cristian Roldan – Seattle Sounders

 

One of the more surprising selections for the World Cup roster, Roldan is a hard-working player.

 

While some analysts believe that he doesn’t fit into Berhalter’s preferred system, he adds depth to the midfield options.

 

 

 

 

Forwards

 

Jesus Ferreira – FC Dallas

 

Moving on to the forwards, Ferreira has sometimes looked like the best choice as the number 9 in the coach’s system, but doubts remain over his ability to score enough goals at this level.

 

Having said that, he got his first international hat trick this year.

 

 

Jordan Morris – Seattle Sounders

 

One of several excellent wingers on the roster, Morris faces a challenge to add to his 49 caps and 11 goals.

 

He got back into the national team at the start of 22 after a long injury lay-off, and he said that the dream of playing in the World Cup helped him on the road to recovery.

 

 

Christian Pulisic – Chelsea

 

Another winger, Pulisic can also play as an attacking midfielder. He’s the youngest player to ever captain the US, and also the most expensive American player ever sold.

 

Many experts are tipping him to be one of the stars of the tournament in Qatar, as he is the main star in the USA roster.

 

 

Gio Reyna – Borussia Dortmund

 

Capable of playing as a winger or attacking midfielder, Reyna missed most of last season but has started this season in good form.

 

One of the most exciting young players in world football, and this could be a breakthrough tournament for him.

 

 

Josh Sargent – Norwich City

 

Sargent seemed to be falling out of the picture lately but has enjoyed a good start to the season with Norwich to force himself into the roster.

 

Despite Norwich’s relegation last season, the Missouri-born forward has been one of the highlights of the team.

 

Timothy Weah – Lille

 

Another young winger, Weah was born in New York and is the son of the legendary player George Weah.

 

He’s got 3 goals in 25 international appearances and should get some game-time in Qatar.

 

 

Haji Wright – Antalyaspor

 

The last name on the list is probably the one that surprised most people. Wright has played with most of the roster in US youth teams, but he hasn’t been part of the qualifying campaign.

 

Yet, a goal-scoring start to the season in Turkey saw him added to the list and with a chance to add to his solitary international goal to date.

 

 

 

Credits on Featured Image: Tasnim News Agency, CC BY 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons

 

Robert Bell
Nov 11, 2022
5 min

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