There are no surprises on the U.S. men’s national team that will head to the Copa America, with all 26 players coming from the 27-man roster that featured in two friendlies this month against Colombia and Brazil.
LAFC midfielder Timothy Tillman was the only player to return to his club, while Norwich City striker Josh Sargent was included in the team despite a foot injury that kept him out of both the Colombia and Brazil friendlies.
The roster features 18 players that were a part of the 2022 World Cup, led by stars Christian Pulisic, Gio Reyna, Tyler Adams, Weston McKennie and Tim Weah.
Hey @dak, @Bijan5Robinson and @MattBesler….
You got that Copa América roster drop?! 🏆🇺🇸
— U.S. Soccer Men’s National Team (@USMNT) June 14, 2024
This will be the second-youngest team the U.S. has sent to a Copa America, surpassed only by the 2007 squad. The average age on opening night will be 25 years and 230 days. Nine players are 23 or younger: Brenden Aaronson (23); Folarin Balogun, Johnny Cardoso, Kristoffer Lund, and Malik Tillman (22); Yunus Musah, Ricardo Pepi, Gio Reyna, and Joe Scally (21).
The roster also features Tim Ream, who, at 36 years and 263 days, becomes the oldest outfield player named to a U.S. Copa America roster in history. He surpasses Fernando Clavijo, who was 36 years and 145 days old at the start of the 1993 edition.
The U.S. will open play in the Copa America on June 23 in Dallas against Bolivia. The U.S. has played in the tournament four times since the competition’s inception in 1916, appearing in 1993, 1995, 2007 and 2016. The U.S. advanced to the semi-finals in both the 1995 and 2016 tournaments.
Will Sargent play a role?
The U.S. clearly feels like Sargent has a chance to get healthy for the tournament. While the Norwich forward did not play in either friendly, he did train on his own and U.S. coach Gregg Berhalter voiced some level of optimism about the striker before the 1-1 draw against Brazil.
Sargent will be part of the USMNT side for the Copa America (John Dorton/ISI Photos/USSF/Getty Images)
“Josh is progressing well,” Berhalter said on Tuesday. “He’s not able to take part in this (Brazil) game, but he is progressing while he’s out there.”
Sargent scored 16 goals in 26 Championship games for Norwich last season. The Missouri native also played in the No 9 position for the 2022 World Cup. Berhalter is bringing four strikers on this team, including Sargent, Pepi, Balogun and Haji Wright, who can also play on the left wing.
If Sargent cannot recover in time for the tournament, the U.S. does have options. Copa America rules allow for a replacement for any player who suffers a serious injury or illness up to 24 hours before a team’s first game of the tournament.
Who are the likely starters?
Coming out of the Brazil game, there are questions about what the starting XI will look like against Bolivia.
We know nine of the likely starters: Matt Turner in goal; Antonee Robinson, Ream, Chris Richards, and Joe Scally at the back; McKennie and Reyna in midfield; Pulisic and Weah in attack. The remaining spots, the No 6 and No 9 positions, are still up for debate.
Cardoso started in defensive midfield against Colombia, while Yunus Musah got the nod against Brazil. Cardoso, coming off a good year with Real Betis in Spain, had some shaky moments against Colombia, as did most of the team. Musah, starting against Brazil, was solid if not spectacular, with his confidence in carrying the ball out of pressure proving quite useful.
It should be noted that Adams, who did not play against Colombia, got about 15 minutes against Brazil. The U.S. is clearly working him up to full fitness, but it’s unlikely he is ready to start against Bolivia.
Balogun started against Colombia, while Pepi played against Brazil. Neither scored, but each bring distinct qualities for Berhalter to consider. Balogun excels at running behind the lines and finding space in the box. Pepi’s willingness to run and press was valuable against Brazil, and he has been productive for the USMNT, scoring 10 goals since his debut in September 2021.
USMNT Copa America roster
Goalkeepers (3): Ethan Horvath (Cardiff City), Sean Johnson (Toronto FC), Matt Turner (Nottingham Forest).
Defenders (9): Cameron Carter-Vickers (Celtic), Kristoffer Lund (Palermo), Mark McKenzie (Genk), Shaq Moore (Nashville SC), Tim Ream (Fulham), Chris Richards (Crystal Palace), Antonee Robinson (Fulham), Miles Robinson (FC Cincinnati), Joe Scally (Borussia Mönchengladbach).
Midfielders: 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).
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).
(Mark Thorstenson/ISI Photos/USSF/Getty Images)
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