The USMNT will begin its next World Cup qualifying campaign window with a home game against El Salvador in Columbus, Ohio, at 7 p.m. ET. The 28-man roster was announced on Jan. 21; now the starting USMNT lineup needs to be decided.
Head coach Gregg Berhalter routinely employs a 4-3-3 formation with his squads and would be expected to do so again against El Salvador. With the players he has chosen, this is the starting lineup expected for Thursday.
Expected USMNT Lineup Vs. El Salvador
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This is one of the USMNT’s stronger lineups, but it still doesn’t have all of the star power. Borussia Dortmund ace Gio Reyna has been sidelined with a hamstring injury since the last time El Salvador and the USMNT played in September.
When fit, Berhalter employs Reyna on the right wing. The biggest European stars for the USMNT — Pulisic, McKennie, Dest, Adams and Reyna — have never started a game all together. That once again won’t happen with Reyna out injured.
When will we see the USMNT lineup at full strength?
To be completely honest, we don’t know. Injuries have plagued the USMNT with all five of the aforementioned stars picking at least one up in the last year. If Reyna isn’t recovered by the end of March, then the soonest we see a 100 percent roster will be for the World Cup*.
*If the U.S. qualifies.
