Picking USA's 2018 World Cup Squad After Latest International Games
Now that the panic has subsided and the United States men's national team is back on track to qualify for the 2018 FIFA World Cup in Russia, it's time to project who may be a part of the 23-man traveling party next summer.
Since taking over from Jurgen Klinsmann, Bruce Arena has shown no fear in assimilating youth into the squad, as well as some veterans who were left out in the dark by the previous boss.
Add in a solid group of first-team mainstays, including Clint Dempsey and Jozy Altidore, and Arena has a wide talent pool to select from.
Plenty of factors went into predicting the squad 16 months out, with age being one of the most difficult ones to figure out with some of the current players reaching the end of their careers.
We also tried to factor in the influence of a young player, such as Julian Green in 2014, who may not appear in the team until the direct buildup to the World Cup.
Keeping all that in mind, we selected the 23 best options for Arena to take to Russia with him for the 2018 World Cup.
Brad Guzan
1 of 24
Age is going to play a major role at the goalkeeper position as the World Cup approaches. Tim Howard and Nick Rimando are 38 and 37, respectively, but they are still at the top of their game. If that form continues into 2018, Arena will have a difficult decision to make.
It was tough for us as well to look past Howard and Rimando and bring in a younger trio of netminders for the World Cup, but it felt necessary, with Brad Guzan leading the charge.
Guzan is the successor to Howard whenever the Colorado Rapids man chooses to hang up his international boots for good. By the time next summer rolls around, the 32-year-old Guzan will once again have plenty of first-team club minutes under him, as he is off to Major League Soccer expansion side Atlanta United in the summer.
Guzan has plenty of experience as the USMNT's No. 1 already, and it should be an easy transition to make him the full-time starter in 2018.
Ethan Horvath
2 of 24
The discussion about the next great American goalkeeper has seen plenty of names thrown into the fire, but one appears to be above the rest at the moment.
Club Brugge netminder Ethan Horvath, 21, impressed during his time with Molde FK in Norway before earning a move to Belgium in January.
Horvath was the top choice in net for the 2015 FIFA U-20 World Cup side and the under-23 team that failed to qualify for the Olympics in 2016.
The next step in his progression would be a spot with the USMNT, something he could solidify during the 2017 CONCACAF Gold Cup, a tournament Arena is expected to use as a testing ground for young players.
Bill Hamid
3 of 24
After Guzan and Horvath, the USMNT goalkeeping depth chart is a bit hard to navigate given all the potential contenders.
Any one of five or six netminders could work themselves into the No. 3 position behind Guzan and Horvath, and some of them could be determined during this summer's CONCACAF Gold Cup.
Of the names available, Bill Hamid seems like the best choice at the moment. The 26-year-old with a pair of international appearances is one of the most reliable goalkeepers in MLS, and he's had quite a few games in which he's kept D.C. United in front by way of spectacular saves.
Hamid will compete alongside David Bingham, Luis Robles, William Yarbrough and a few others for the third goalkeeping position in the next 15 months.
Jorge Villafana
4 of 24
For too long, the USMNT's answer to the left-back conundrum was to either bring DaMarcus Beasley out of international retirement, or play someone out of position.
That problem appears to have been solved with the inclusion of Jorge Villafana in the team. The former Portland Timbers man, who used a terrific 2015 MLS campaign to earn a move to Santos Laguna in Liga MX, performed admirably in his first competitive start on Friday against Honduras.
Sure, Villafana needs to pass tougher tests on the road in CONCACAF before he can lock down the first-choice left back spot, but Friday was a solid start.
If the 27-year-old continues to improve in the next year, the USMNT won't have to pull Fabian Johnson back into defense, and Arena's best defenders can build chemistry together ahead of Russia.
Greg Garza
5 of 24
Before he suffered a string of injuries, Greg Garza was the left-back of the future.
Now, he's starting to rediscover some form with Atlanta United under the tutelage of former Argentina boss Gerardo Martino.
The 25-year-old, who has made 10 international appearances, was brought into the annual January camp this year by Arena—a positive sign for his future with the Yanks.
Garza should only get better under Martino as Atlanta keeps impressing in MLS, and it could easily get the defender back in the national-team picture on a permanent basis.
The reason for bringing along Garza in this squad is to have a backup full-back for a team that holds seven true defenders.
John Brooks
6 of 24
As long as John Brooks is healthy, he will be one of the two starting center-backs for the USMNT in Russia.
Brooks has established himself as one of the first names on the teamsheet in the last year, and he started to develop a nice partnership with Geoff Cameron in the middle of the back four.
Injuries on the outside of defense and to Brooks in March have hampered the further development of the Brooks-Cameron pairing, but as of now, it's the best combination the Yanks have to offer.
The addition of Villafana to the full-back ranks and DeAndre Yedlin holding down the fort at right when healthy will help the continuity in the back line.
The biggest test of the Brooks-Cameron partnership's readiness for the World Cup will come against Mexico on June 11 at the Estadio Azteca.
Geoff Cameron
7 of 24
For the longest time, Geoff Cameron was the man Klinsmann turned to for versatility, whether it be in defense or as a stopgap in front of the back four in defensive midfield. But now he's firmly planted in the center-back role next to Brooks.
Even with Arena in charge, Brooks and Cameron should be the go-to pairing in the middle of defense until someone proves they can take a starting position from either player, which doesn't seem to be the case anytime soon.
Having Brooks and Cameron together also benefits the USMNT in the long run since both players have already tasted what a World Cup is like.
Putting out two World Cup veterans for the opening match in Russia will be a massive help for the Yanks.
Walker Zimmerman
8 of 24
If there's a younger player who can take a starting spot away from Brooks or Cameron in the next 15 months, it could be one of two impressive center-backs at FC Dallas.
Walker Zimmerman has received a bit more attention than team-mate Matt Hedges, and he was included in the squad for the March Hex matches over his defensive partner at the club level.
It's that decision, and the fact that Zimmerman is three years younger than Hedges, that leads us to select the Georgia native as a reserve center-back for the trip to Russia.
The 23-year-old will only get better at the club level under manager Oscar Pareja, who has worked wonders with prospects, including a midfielder who will feature later in this piece.
Omar Gonzalez
9 of 24
World Cup experience is something you just can't teach, and as great a player Zimmerman is and will be, the USMNT still need a veteran to fill out the defensive depth chart.
That's where Omar Gonzalez becomes more valuable than the other options for the fourth center-back spot. The former LA Galaxy man has been out of the American spotlight a bit since his move to Club Pachuca, where he's become a reliable option at the back in Liga MX.
The combination of big-game experience and form that the 28-year-old has at the moment is too good to pass up, and on top of that, he knows Arena's style better than many from their time together with the Galaxy.
Younger options are out there in the form of Hedges, Tottenham Hotspur product Cameron Carter-Vickers, D.C. United man Steve Birnbaum and World Cup veteran Matt Besler, but Gonzalez has an edge over all of them entering April 2017.
DeAndre Yedlin
10 of 24
The right-back conversation starts and ends with DeAndre Yedlin.
There's no debating that the Newcastle United man is one of Arena's four defensive starters when he is healthy. He missed the Honduras and Panama matches with a thigh injury.
Yedlin broke out on the international stage at the 2014 World Cup thanks to his raw speed and technical ability. That skill set earned him a move to England, and after struggling to force himself into Mauricio Pochettino's plans at Tottenham Hotspur, he landed at Newcastle where he's thrived this season.
At just 23, Yedlin carries some of the best experience in pressure-packed scenarios of any USMNT players. He featured in the World Cup, fought through a relegation race with Sunderland and is currently on top of a rigorous Championship with Newcastle.
Michael Bradley
11 of 24
Not that he needed to, but Michael Bradley silenced plenty of his big-game critics with his performance on Friday against Honduras.
Bradley, who comes under more pressure than others due to his role on the USMNT, is the link between the back four and attackers in midfield, and he is not leaving the starting lineup anytime soon.
Bradley will enter Russia with the fourth-highest number of appearances for the USMNT, with Clint Dempsey only a few games in front of him.
At 29, the Toronto FC midfielder could easily outlast Dempsey and many others to surpass Cobi Jones' 164 appearances. If he plays in the same fashion he has for the last decade, Bradley could even make a run at the 2022 World Cup squad.
Kellyn Acosta
12 of 24
If you're looking for a breakout star in the USMNT World Cup squad next year, look no further than Kellyn Acosta.
The 21-year-old has started 2017 with a vengeance, as he's netted four goals, including a stunning free-kick in the first leg of the CONCACAF Champions League semi-final against Club Pachuca.
The FC Dallas product is living up to all the hype, which is something some American prospects haven't been able to do in recent years.
Acosta still needs to earn more international experience to make his way into the conversation for a starting spot in Russia, but if he shows well at the Gold Cup and throughout the MLS regular season, he could earn a shout from Arena.
Sebastian Lletget
13 of 24
Possibly the biggest question mark of the 23 players in this projected squad is Sebastian Lletget, who suffered a foot injury on Friday that will keep him out four to six months.
The former West Ham United player saw his stock rise immensely once Arena, his former boss at LA Galaxy, was put back in charge of the USMNT. Lletget starred for the Galaxy in the middle of the park the last two seasons, with his 2016 success coming from a deeper role in midfield.
Lletget started on Friday against Honduras, and he scored the first of the six American goals in front of his friends and family at Avaya Stadium in San Jose, California. Unfortunately, the midfielder left the match soon after his first international strike with the foot injury that will keep him out for quite some time.
The 24-year-old had a chance to use 2017 as a springboard to a World Cup roster spot. Instead, he might have to fight with a few other hungry players for a position in the 23-man squad.
Alejandro Bedoya
14 of 24
World Cup experience and versatility are two factors playing in Alejandro Bedoya's favor entering the finals in Russia.
Bedoya was one of the most underappreciated members of the Klinsmann regime. He may not have scored or assisted on many goals, but he always brought a tremendous 90-minute effort to the field.
The 29-year-old could play either centrally next to Bradley or out on the wings if Arena opts to throw together a more defensive-minded midfield setup that looks to attack second.
Bedoya also plays in the No. 10 role for the Philadelphia Union, and he could play there in the worst-case scenario for the Yanks.
Darlington Nagbe
15 of 24
For years, the USMNT fanbase clamored for Darlington Nagbe to be a part of the midfield the second he became an American citizen.
Now that he's been a citizen for a year and a half, the Portland Timbers playmaker is beginning to make an impact on the Yanks, especially since Arena has no problem giving him playing time unlike Klinsmann.
Nagbe is the creative force in the middle of the park the Yanks needed for the longest time under Klinsmann. Arena has understood from the start, handing the 26-year-old an important role in the starting lineup.
Depending on the opponent and who is available for selection, Nagbe could start centrally or move out to the wing.
Fabian Johnson
16 of 24
An argument can be made that Fabian Johnson has been the most important piece to the USMNT over the last few years, and that he's the best current player in the talent pool.
Johnson, who plays on the wing for Borussia Monchengladbach, was forced into a full-back role for most of the Klinsmann era due to his positional awareness and the lack of options on the outside of defense.
With Villafana and Yedlin locked into the full-back spots in this squad, Johnson is added as a pure winger and chance creator. Of course, the 29-year-old will be asked to help out in defense when asked, but defending won't be his primary responsibility.
The only scenarios in which Johnson continues to receive consistent playing time at full-back is if Arena has no trust in Villafana at left-back, or he wants to put more playmakers on the pitch in midfield, which in that case would drop Johnson to left-back as an extra threat.
Christian Pulisic
17 of 24
Christian Pulisic put on a masterclass of a performance on Friday against Honduras. The 18-year-old looked like he played with the likes of Dempsey and Altidore for years, not months, as he racked up a goal and two assists. He also added an assist against Panama.
Friday's showing is what is expected from the Borussia Dortmund sensation game in and game out, especially on home soil against continental opposition.
Pulisic will be the focal point of everyone's game plan, which is something he will have to adjust to as he plays more on the international level.
Yes, there will be games where he gets shut down, but the standout performances should outweigh the lackluster ones.
Kekuta Manneh
18 of 24
Much like Nagbe, the fascination with Kekuta Manneh comes from his displays in MLS and the countdown to his American citizenship.
The Vancouver Whitecaps winger has the pace the Yanks could use in the final third, but it remains to be seen if he can make the jump into the international game with ease as Nagbe has.
Manneh trained with the USMNT during the annual January camp in California, and he should be one of the headliners of the Gold Cup squad this summer in order for Arena and his staff to get a better look at him in red, white and blue.
Choosing Manneh over a central playmaker like Sacha Kljestan or Benny Feilhaber seems crazy, but there won't be much need for either of them if Pulisic thrives in that role.
Jozy Altidore
19 of 24
Let's start the forward conversation with the easiest decision of them all.
Jozy Altidore is going to his third World Cup, and his story in Russia will be one of redemption after pulling up lame in the opener in Brazil against Ghana with a hamstring injury.
Unlike the last World Cup cycle, Altidore is earning consistent playing time at the club level with Toronto FC, and he is improving with Sebastian Giovinco, Bradley and other top talents around him.
Altidore's skill set is unique in the USMNT talent pool, as he is one of the most physical players available for selection. His bruising nature could cause plenty of problems in Russia if he's in top form.
Clint Dempsey
20 of 24
One of the hardest decisions Arena will have to make next year is whether to keep on with Dempsey as a contributing member of the strike force.
The fact that the 34-year-old is even playing right now is amazing since he was diagnosed with an irregular heartbeat at the end of 2016. Dempsey has come back stronger than ever, with two goals in three matches for the Seattle Sounders, a hat-trick on Friday against Honduras and a goal against Panama. If he keeps scoring at this pace, there's no way Arena can keep him off the roster.
The other factor playing in Dempsey's favor is no one beneath he and Altidore on the depth chart can stay healthy for a long amount of time. Even Bobby Wood and Jordan Morris have dealt with injuries in addition to Aron Johannsson, Terrence Boyd and Gyasi Zardes.
Dempsey is bound to break Landon Donovan's USMNT scoring record in the near future, and he'll be in a competition with Bradley to take over Jones' appearance record as well if he makes it to Russia.
Bobby Wood
21 of 24
No American forward based in Europe is having as much success as Bobby Wood.
One more strike from Wood at the club level will give him consecutive 10-goal seasons in Germany. He earned his move to Hamburg with 17 goals at Union Berlin a year ago.
Wood has been able to translate that scoring form to the international level, as he hit the back of the net on four occasions in 15 matches in 2016. If he was healthy for the Honduras match, the 24-year-old probably would've joined in on the scoring fun.
Wood's career trajectory is going nowhere but up, and he should be one of the few locks for Arena's future squads.
Jordan Morris
22 of 24
The college kid Klinsmann believed in is now one of the most ferocious scorers in MLS.
Jordan Morris showed plenty of potential when he scored at the Alamodome against Mexico on April 15, 2015. Since then, the forward has won an NCAA Championship, the MAC Hermann Trophy, MLS Rookie of the Year and the MLS Cup.
That's not a bad trophy case for a second-year professional who is only going to get better surrounded by a young core ready to take the world by storm in 2018.
For players like Morris, Pulisic and Acosta, Russia is only the first step for earning success on the international stage. That group should also have eyes on the 2022 World Cup in Qatar.
Dom Dwyer
23 of 24
Dom Dwyer has never appeared for the USMNT, but he could be one of the most important assets of the squad heading to Russia.
One of the biggest weaknesses of the 2014 World Cup squad was the lack of a true replacement for Altidore, and when the physical forward went down, the Yanks had to adjust their attacking strategy.
Dwyer, the husband of United States women's national team forward Sydney Leroux, recently became a U.S. citizen. He is also one of the most productive forwards in MLS history. The bruising English-born forward has scored 50 goals in the last three seasons for Sporting Kansas City.
The 26-year-old also enters the talent pool in the perfect year to prove his worth, as the Gold Cup is expected to feature a roster primarily made up of fringe players and those looking to impress Arena for the first time.
Missed the Cut
24 of 24
These players are just on the outside looking in of the 23-man squad. As we've learned from past World Cup cycles, anything can change between now and next summer.
Goalkeepers
David Bingham
William Yarbrough
Defenders
Matt Besler
Steve Birnbaum
Matt Hedges
Cameron Carter-Vickers
Midfielders
Sacha Kljestan
Benny Feilhaber
Perry Kitchen
Lynden Gooch
Forwards
Gyasi Zardes
Paul Arriola
.jpg?w=600 "Colts Release Kenny Moore")
