John Brooks was one of several surprise inclusions on the 60-man United States men’s national team preliminary roster for the Concacaf Nations League. There could be a chance for a John Brooks USMNT reunion.
The Concacaf Nations League resumes in June with the United States vs. Mexico and Canada vs. Panama as the semifinals. The tournament requires teams to release preliminary rosters with up to 60 players and those were unveiled on Friday.
Concacaf requires the four Nations League semifinalists to submit up to 60 names to preliminary roster. Here’s the USMNT list, which will be reduced to 23 before June 5-12 camp opens: pic.twitter.com/7VWQujknai
— Steven Goff (@SoccerInsider) May 19, 2023
Current USMNT head coach Anthony Hudson will have to narrow the 60-player list down to 23 by June 8.
Brooks’ last appearance for the national team was on Sept. 9, 2021, when he had one of his worst performances during a World Cup qualifier vs. Honduras. He was substituted at half time and was essentially banished by Gregg Berhalter from the national team picture.
Since then, the 30-year-old center back left Wolfsburg for an unsuccessful spell with Benfica and is now a regular starter for Hoffenheim.
Brooks making the final 23-man roster for the Concacaf Nations League is a long-shot as he’s one of 11 center backs included in the 60-man list.
USMNT center backs on preliminary roster
- John Brooks
- Miles Robinson
- Walker Zimmerman
- Chris Richards
- Mark McKenzie
- Auston Trusty
- Erik Palmer-Brown
- Aaron Long
- Jalen Neal
- Matt Miazga
- James Sands
Hudson will likely select four or five center backs from the list. With star defenders like Tim Ream and Cameron Carter-Vickers out injured the door is cracked open for Brooks.
The 60-man list had a handful of other names that raised eyebrows. Here were some other big talking points.
- Folarin Balogun officially included.
- Timothy Tillman, brother of injured Rangers star Malik, was included. Timothy Tillman recently announced he will represent the U.S. instead of Germany.
- Tyler Adams, who is recovering from hamstring surgery, was named to the roster suggesting he could recover in time for the tournament.
- Columbus Crew midfielder Aidan Morris was named on both the USMNT and Canada roster.
The USMNT will play Mexico in the Concacaf Nations League semifinals on Thursday, June 15, at 10 p.m. ET at Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas. The final will be played three days later on Sunday, June 18, at 8:30 p.m. ET.
