USMNT’s roster for friendlies against Mexico includes 10 World Cup players: Who gets to start?

The US men’s national team, which will take on Mexico in a friendly match next week, includes 10 players from last November’s World Cup squad. Here’s what you need to know:

• The game falls outside the FIFA window, which means clubs are under no obligation to release players. Because of this, the roster is made up almost entirely of MLS players.
• The only two players from outside the domestic league are Serginho Dest, who has not played for Milan since January 24 and received his release to play in this match, and Alan Sonora, who plays for FC Juarez in Mexico.
• The 10 players from the World Cup squad are Dest, Sean Johnson, Aaron Long, Shaq Moore, DeAndre Yedlin, Walker Zimmerman, Clean Acosta, Cristian Roldan, Jesus Ferreira and Jordan Morris. It is worth noting that Club America did not release winger Alejandro Zendegas in the match.
• The friendly match is part of a new “Continental Clásico” series that will pit Team USA against teams from the Americas. The match against Mexico will take place on April 19 in Glendale, Arizona.

USMNT List

Goalkeepers (3): Drake Callender (Inter Miami; 0/0), Roman Celentano (FC Cincinnati; 0/0), Sean Johnson (Toronto FC/Canada; 11/0)

Defenders (9): Sergiño Dest (AC Milan/ITA; 24/2), Aaron Long (LAFC; 31/3), Julian Gressel (Vancouver Whitecaps/CAN; 2/0), Matt Miazga (FC Cincinnati; 22/1), Shaq Moore ( Nashville SC; 17/1), Caleb Wiley (Atlanta United; 0/0), Joshua Winder (Louisville SC; 0/0), DeAndre Yedlin (Inter Miami; 77/0), Walker Zimmerman (Nashville SC; 39 /3)

Medium (6): Colin Acosta (LAFC; 57/2), Aidan Morris (Columbus Crew; 2/0), Christian Roldan (Seattle Sounders; 32/0), James Sands (New York City FC; 7/0), Alan Sonora (FC Juarez) / MEX; 2/0), Jackson Yueill (San Jose Earthquakes; 16/0)

Attackers (5): Paul Arreola (FC Dallas; 50/10) Cady Coyle (San Jose Earthquakes; 2/0) Jesus Ferreira (FC Dallas; 17/7) Jordan Morris (Seattle Sounders; 51/11) Brandon Vasquez (FC Cincinnati; 1/2)

Additional list notes

Three players on this list are eligible for the U.S. U-20 team: defenders Caleb Wiley and Josh Winder, and forward Cady Coyle. Wiley and Winder were among four players in camp looking for their first cover, along with goalkeepers Drake Callender and Roman Celentano.

the athleteInstant Analysis:

players to watch

Winder, 17, is currently with USL club Louisville City but is set to make a USL record-breaking move to Benfica in the summer window, a source familiar with the deal confirmed to the athlete. If played, Winder would become the first US-based non-MLS player to appear for the USMNT since Jonathan Gomez made his international debut against Bosnia and Herzegovina on December 18, 2021, just weeks before his transfer from Louisville City to Real Madrid. Sociedad has become official.

Wiley is enjoying a breakout season with Atlanta United and will attract a lot of outside interest given his form. The 18-year-old outside-back has scored three goals and two assists in seven games so far this season.

What is the possible starting XI for the game?

It depends on how much the team’s veteran manager Anthony Hudson wants to play, versus how much he uses this game to test players for the future of the program. Examples of such decisions in areas such as centre-back: Winder vs. Matt Miazga or goalkeeper with Callender vs. Johnson.

Here are a possible XI with a mix of veterans and fresh faces:

A goal keeper: Johnson

tuck: Wiley, Zimmerman, Winder, Dest

MFs: Acosta, Maurice, Roldan

x: Morris, Vasquez, Coyle

what are they saying

“We’re thrilled with the group we’ve put together. Anytime you play against your closest rivals, it’s a special opportunity, and we have players who understand what this rivalry is about and are ready to compete in the Allstate Continental Clásico,” USMNT head coach Anthony Hudson said in a statement. “It’s another opportunity to build on the progress we’ve made in the past four years and prepare to defend my CONCACAF titles this summer.”

required reading

(Photo: Trevor Roskowski/USA Today)