The U.S. men’s national team will kick off a pivotal summer with a roster short on consequential decisions and long on European experience.
It is not quite the USMNT’s Copa América roster. That will be announced on or around June 14, after friendlies against Colombia (June 8) and Brazil (June 12), before a June 15 deadline.
But it’s close. The 27-player squad announced Monday is a clear window into head coach Gregg Berhalter’s thinking as the pan-American tournament nears.
Berhalter avoided his trickiest decision, at striker, by selecting all four of the players — Folarin Balogun, Haji Wright, Josh Sargent and Ricardo Pepi — who could play crucial roles at the position.
Speaking via Zoom, he justified the selections by explaining that he now sees Wright “more fulfilling the winger role” — which is where Wright has been playing, and scoring, for his English Championship club, Coventry City; and where the USMNT lacks depth behind Tim Weah and Christian Pulisic.
USMNT roster for pre-Copa América friendlies
GOALKEEPERS (3): Ethan Horvath (Cardiff City), Sean Johnson (Toronto), Matt Turner (Nottingham Forest)
DEFENDERS (9): Cameron Carter-Vickers (Celtic), Kristoffer Lund (Palermo), Mark McKenzie (Genk), Shaq Moore (Nashville), Tim Ream (Fulham), Chris Richards (Crystal Palace), Antonee Robinson (Fulham), Miles Robinson (Cincinnati), Joe Scally (Borussia Mönchengladbach)
MIDFIELDERS (8): Tyler Adams (Bournemouth), Johnny Cardoso (Real Betis), Luca de la Torre (Celta Vigo), Weston McKennie (Juventus), Yunus Musah (AC Milan), Gio Reyna (Nottingham Forest), Malik Tillman (PSV Eindhoven), Timmy Tillman (LAFC)
FORWARDS (7): Brenden Aaronson (Union Berlin), Folarin Balogun (Monaco), Ricardo Pepi (PSV Eindhoven), Christian Pulisic (AC Milan), Josh Sargent (Norwich City), Tim Weah (Juventus), Haji Wright (Coventry City)