With the former Bundesliga pros Christian Pulisic and Weston McKennie as well as Giovanni Reyna from Borussia Dortmund and Joe Scally from Borussia Mönchengladbach, the USA travel to Qatar for the World Cup.
The USA have called up the maximum possible 26 players in the squad. The team meets Wales, England and Iran in Group B of the World Cup.
Pulisic played for Borussia Dortmund in the Bundesliga and is now with Chelsea FC active, McKennie went from FC Schalke 04 to Juventus Turin. The 19-year-old defender Scally was not used in the World Cup qualifiers, but is a regular in Gladbach after a good season so far.
According to data from “ESPN” It’s the second youngest USA squad after the 1990 home World Cup. Only defender DeAndre Yedlin von InterMiami already has World Cup experience, he was at the 2014 tournament in Brazil when Jürgen Klinsmann was still the head coach of the US team.
Berhalter to Pepi: “Really difficult conversation”
At the squad announcement on Wednesday in New York, Ricardo Pepi, on loan from FC Augsburg to FC Groningen, was absent despite his three goals in the World Cup qualifier.
“It was a really tough conversation I had to have. It’s always difficult when someone who helped you get to the World Cup and scored three goals in qualifying isn’t there.”said national team coach Gregg Berhalter.
Surprisingly, goalkeeper Zack Steffen was not nominated either. The pro of Manchester City, who has played for Fortuna Düsseldorf in the Bundesliga, was number one for most of Berhalter’s tenure. In goal, the 49-year-old Berhalter relies on Ethan Horvath (Luton Town), Sean Johnson (New York City F.C) and Matt Turner (Arsenal FC).
The entire squad:
Goalkeeper: Ethan Horvath (Luton Town), Sean Johnson (NYCFC), Matt Turner (Arsenal)
Defender: Cameron Carter-Vickers (Celtic), Sergiño Dest (AC Milan), Aaron Long (NY Red Bulls), Shaquell Moore (Nashville SC), Tim Ream (Fulham), Antonee Robinson (Fulham), Joe Scally (Borussia Monchengladbach), DeAndre Yedlin (Inter Miami), Walker Zimmerman (Nashville SC)
Midfield player: Brenden Aaronson (Leeds United), Kellyn Acosta (LAFC), Tyler Adams (Leeds United), Luca de la Torre (Celta Vigo), Weston McKennie (Juventus), Yunus Musah (Valencia), Cristian Roldan (Seattle Sounders)
Storm: Jesus Ferreira (FC Dallas), Jordan Morris (Seattle Sounders), Christian Pulisic (Chelsea), Giovanni Reyna (Borussia Dortmund), Josh Sargent (Norwich City), Tim Weah (Lille), Haji Wright (Antalyaspor)