It’s been almost a full year since we saw a USMNT with European-based talent defeat Cuba 4-0 to advance to the Nations League Final Round — although a largely domestic-based squad defeated Costa Rica back in February — but the U.S. is finally able to welcome its Yanks Abroad back into the fold for a pair of November friendlies against Wales in Swansea and Panama in Austria.
On Tuesday, manager Gregg Berhalter revealed the group that’s set to take on the world’s 20th and 77th-ranked nations, and it’s one that’s loaded with wonder, potential and guaranteed social media engagement — albeit low on caps and actual club minutes.
We’ve got the young stars who we haven’t stopped talking about over the last few years — Zack Steffen, Tyler Adams, Weston McKennie, Christian Pulisic, Tim Weah, Sergiño Dest, Reggie Cannon, Antonee Robinson and Josh Sargent — but now we have the introduction of even younger stars that we haven’t stopped talking about over the last few months.
There’s Bayern Munich sensation Chris Richards, the New Jersey native in Brazil Johnny Cardoso, PSV baller Richard Ledezma, newly anointed King of Valencia Yunus Musah (who just accepted the call-up despite being eligible to represent Italy, England and Ghana), Wolves talent Owen Otasowie, Barcelona’s Konrad de la Fuente, Borussia Dortmund’s American Dream Gio Reyna and U.S. youth star Sebastian Soto.
Other uncapped players include goalkeeper Chituru Odunze and forward Niko Gioacchini. There’s also room for Uly Llanez, who scored the game-winner against Costa Rica on his only USMNT appearance so far.
The roster’s average age is just 21 years and 300 days but includes nine players that are participating in this season’s Champions League. The experience is provided by defenders Tim Ream (40 caps) and John Brooks (38).
We still don’t know anything about the Wales squad — hopefully we’ll see the likes of Gareth Bale, Aaron Ramsey and Daniel James — but we do know they’ll be without manager Ryan Giggs. The 46-year-old will not be involved in the squad’s international camp after being arrested by police last Sunday on suspicion of assault.
USMNT 2020 Squad Vs. Wales and Panama (Club | Caps/Goals)
Goalkeepers: Ethan Horvath (Club Brugge | 4/0), Chituru Odunze (Leicester City | 0/0), Zack Steffen (Manchester City | 17/0)
Defenders: John Brooks (Wolfsburg | 38/3), Reggie Cannon (Boavista | 10/0), Sergiño Dest (Barcelona | 3/0), Matt Miazga (Anderlecht | 18/1), Tim Ream (Fulham | 40/1), Chris Richards (Bayern Munich | 0/0), Antonee Robinson (Fulham | 7/0)
Midfielders: Tyler Adams (RB Leipzig | 10/1), Johnny Cardoso (Internacional | 0/0), Richard Ledezma (PSV Eindhoven | 0/0), Weston McKennie (Juventus | 19/6), Yunus Musah (Valencia | 0/0), Owen Otasowie (Wolverhampton | 0/0)
Forwards: Konrad de la Fuente (Barcelona | 0/0), Nicholas Gioacchini (Caen | 0/0), Christian Pulisic (Chelsea | 34/14), Uly Llanez (Heerenveen | 1/1), Gio Reyna (Borussia Dortmund | 0/0), Josh Sargent (Werder Bremen | 12/5), Sebastian Soto (Telstar | 0/0), Tim Weah (Lille | 8/1)
Match Information
Wales vs. USMNT | Thursday, Nov. 12
2:45 p.m. ET | Swansea, Wales
FS1, UniMás and TUDN
Panama vs. USMNT | Monday, Nov. 16
2:45 p.m. ET | Wiener Neustadt, Austria
FS1, UniMás and TUDN
