The USMNT has a staggering number of players who have not played in a World Cup before in its roster for the tournament this summer. The lack of experience could give Mauricio Pochettino's side fearlessness. However, they are co-hosting the tournament, so there will be tremendous pressure.
It will be down to leaders with World Cup experience, such as Tyler Adams, Tim Ream, and Christian Pulisic, to help guide this team at the tournament. The USMNT has 13 veterans from the 2022 World Cup. They, of course, failed to qualify for the 2018 tournament, so their roster has limited experience at World Cups.
13 USMNT players named in the World Cup squad for the first time
Goalkeepers: Matt Freese and Chris Brady
Matt Freese will likely start for the USMNT in goal. Chris Brady has earned his first call-up for the Stars and Stripes at the senior level. Matt Turner was the number one for the USMNT at the 2022 World Cup, but he has lost his place after inconsistent club form, which led to a move back to MLS.
Defenders: Max Arfstan, Alex Freeman, Mark McKenzie, Chris Richards, Miles Robinson, Auston Trusty
Tim Ream is the USMNT's most experienced defender. He played 90 minutes in each of the Stars and Stripes' World Cup matches in 2022. However, he is now 38, and playing back in MLS with Charlotte FC.
Pochettino has top defenders competing in Europe, such as Chris Richards and Auston Trusty. However, neither of those two players has been to a World Cup before. Sergino Dest and Antonee Robinson will likely play at right-back and left-back, respectively. However, Pochettino has a big decision as to who will partner with whom at center-back.
The USMNT head coach has also put a lot of faith in MLS players, Max Arfstan, Mark McKenzie, and Miles Robinson, for their first World Cup call-up. Playing in one of Europe's top five leagues is no doubt a higher level of soccer than MLS. However, Pochettino has valued form over which division you are playing in during his tenure in charge of the USMNT.
Midfielders/wingers: Sebastian Berhalter, Malik Tillman, Alejandro Zendejas
Alejandro Zendejas was the shock inclusion in this USMNT roster. However, he has been in form for Club America this season. Zendejas has scored 12 goals and provided seven assists in 33 games in all competitions this season.
Malik Tillman was one of the shock exclusions from Gregg Berhalter's roster for the 2022 World Cup. Whilst Sebastian Berhalter has been a key player for the Vancouver Whitecaps recently.
The midfield and wing positions are where the USMNT is quite strong; the likes of Adams, Pulisic, and Weston McKennie would no doubt get more game time ahead of these three players.
Strikers: Folarin Balogun and Ricardo Pepi
Many supporters were outraged that Ricardo Pepi was not included in the 2022 World Cup roster. However, he was on the back of failing to make the grade at FC Augsburg and was rebuilding his reputation at Groningen at the time.
Pepi has since become a key player for PSV Eindhoven and has come close to joining Premier League side Fulham. He has found the back of the net 16 times in 26 Eredivisie games this campaign.
Folarin Balogun is arguably the USMNT's best striker as he is the one who is scoring goals in one of Europe's top five leagues. He has scored 13 goals in 30 Ligue appearances for AS Monaco this season.
The USMNT also has Haji Wright as an option at center-forward. He has just helped Coventry City to promotion to the Premier League.
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