The World Cup draw has been completed, and USMNT fans now know their team is going up against England, Iran and the winner of Ukraine/Scotland vs. Wales. The U.S. will need to be at its best to come out of this group, and this way too early USMNT World Cup roster can get the job done.
This mock USMNT World Cup roster is taking several things into account, including that every available American player is healthy and predicting how players will perform with their clubs over the next seven months.
26-Man USMNT World Cup Roster Prediction
Goalkeepers (3):
Ethan Horvath
Matt Turner
Zack Steffen
Defenders (9):
Sergiño Dest
Antonee Robinson
DeAndre Yedlin
Reggie Cannon
Joe Scally
Walker Zimmerman
Miles Robinson
Chris Richards
John Brooks
Midfielders (6):
Tyler Adams
Kellyn Acosta
Weston McKennie
Yunus Musah
Luca de la Torre
Gianluca Busio
Forwards (8):
Christian Pulisic
Brenden Aaronson
Gio Reyna
Tim Weah
Paul Arriola
Jesús Ferreira
Daryl Dike
Jordan Pefok
There are several players on here for which I will need to explain myself, and I’m prepared to do so.
Daryl Dike Over Ricardo Pepi??
Yes, believe it or not I think come November Dike will be in better form than Pepi. I feel bad for the young American as his move to Augsburg has proved horrendous so far with little starting time and zero goals through nine games.
I believe a healthy Dike with West Brom will be the superior attacker for the USMNT. I wasn’t thrilled with Gregg Berhalter’s decision to essentially oust the Oklahoma native from the national team after a so-so Gold Cup. Dike deserves another chance.
Jordan Pefok Over Josh Sargent??
It will take me a bit of time to forgive Pefok for that dreadful miss at the Azteca, but one moment doesn’t define a player. Sargent is aboard the sinking ship S.S. Norwich and unless he jumps ship to another club, I don’t think he’ll be in good enough form for the USMNT World Cup roster.
Pefok’s club form has been sensational, and he will once again force Berhalter’s hand to put him on the roster.
John Brooks??
I want players with World Cup experience on the roster. Sending a bunch of kids to the world’s biggest stage sounds fun on paper, however I want an experienced veteran among the kiddos to ease the nerves and tension. Brooks and Yedlin can supply that experience.
The 29-year-old center back has seven months to win Berhalter over, and I will be rooting for him every step of the way.
Joe Scally Will Actually Make A Roster??
Berhalter’s continuous snubbing of the Gladbach defender has ticked off fans more than nearly any other decision. The versatile Scally will overcome the Berhalter barriers in the next seven months and finally prove he’s worthy of making the roster.
