Picking USA's 2018 World Cup Squad After Latest Qualifiers
The concern about qualifying for the 2018 FIFA World Cup at the end of Jurgen Klinsmann's tenure has turned into promise and confidence during the Bruce Arena era for the United States men's national team.
The USMNT took four points from their last two CONCACAF World Cup qualifiers and put themselves firmly in position to make it to Russia in a year's time.
Head coach Arena has instilled more confidence in the group while putting trust in the next generation of players, led by potential superstar Christian Pulisic.
Plenty has changed since our last World Cup roster projection. Younger players have replaced veterans, and a few future stars developed at the FIFA U-20 World Cup in South Korea.
Using performances over the last three months, Arena's selection history and the potential impact of the under-20 stars, we compiled a new roster projection one year out from the World Cup.
Tim Howard
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Three months ago, we weren't sure how goalkeeper Tim Howard was going to recover from the injury he suffered in Columbus, Ohio, against Mexico in the Hex opener.
Any doubts about the skill set of the 38-year-old goalkeeper have gone by the wayside, though, and he's projected to be the USMNT starter in net in Russia if everything goes to plan.
Not only will the owner of 115 international appearances be ready to lead the Yanks into the World Cup, he'll also be able to mentor whomever the third goalkeeper is on the roster alongside Brad Guzan.
Brad Guzan
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As we all know by now, Guzan is a more-than-capable backup for Howard. And to be honest, he'd be the starting goalkeeper on at least a quarter of the teams that will head to Russia.
Guzan thrived behind the three-man back line at the Estadio Azteca on Sunday night, and he should get more playing time during the CONCACAF Gold Cup in July.
The 32-year-old will also gain more confidence at the club level, as he'll join Atlanta United this summer after a rough few years in the Premier League with Aston Villa and Middlesbrough.
The only way Guzan will see playing time during the World Cup, however, is if Howard goes down or experiences a tremendous drop in form, both of which seem unlikely.
Ethan Horvath
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This is where things will get interesting for Arena.
Ethan Horvath, 22, appears to be a lock for the third goalkeeping position at the moment given his recent call-ups, but he still hasn't received a major test on the international level because Howard and Guzan are in front of him.
Another thing going against the Club Brugge man is he was not called into the Gold Cup squad that starts training on June 25, but there is only one player who has the potential to eclipse Horvath on the depth chart.
Arena included Jesse Gonzalez on the Gold Cup roster, and he should cap the 22-year-old in July to tie him to the USMNT since Mexico showed interest in the FC Dallas goalkeeper, per Stuart Holden of Fox Soccer (via NBC Sports).
Gonzalez could be the netminder of the future, but until he's officially tied to the USMNT and has played a match or two at the international level, we're sticking with Horvath.
Jorge Villafana
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It's taken the USMNT years to replace the consistency of a Steve Cherundolo-like replacement at left-back, but they look to have found an answer in Jorge Villafana.
The Santos Laguna man has done something no other player has in the last few years, and that's make the left-back spot his own.
Villafana is clearly the favored man under Arena, and his only competition appears to be DaMarcus Beasley, who continues to defy Father Time and play at a high level for the USMNT at the age of 35.
A move to Liga MX from the Portland Timbers has only helped Villafana, 27, and he should be in line for a starting spot when the Hex returns in September.
Geoff Cameron
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There's not much you can say about Geoff Cameron other than he was incredible on Sunday at the Azteca.
The Stoke City star headlined the three-man back line and made several key defensive interventions against a Mexico attack led by Javier Hernandez and Carlos Vela.
Once thought of as a utility man, Cameron has established himself as the first-choice center-back alongside John Brooks and one of the most valuable assets in the USMNT talent pool.
There are plenty of younger center-backs coming through the ranks, but none of them have the skill set or experience to take the starting spot from the 31-year-old before Russia.
John Brooks
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What we just said about Cameron rings true for Brooks as well.
No one is taking his starting spot as long as he's healthy and does everything he's supposed to in the back line.
Brooks secured a big-money move to Wolfsburg from Hertha Berlin before the June qualifiers in a move that should give him extra motivation to thrive in the Bundesliga.
Brooks will play in his second World Cup at 25, and there's a possibility he could play in a third and maybe fourth if he continues to progress at center-back.
DeAndre Yedlin
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Few Americans have improved more since the last World Cup than DeAndre Yedlin.
Yedlin switched to the Premier League from the Seattle Sounders after starring at right-back in the 2014 World Cup in Brazil, and even though the move to Tottenham Hotspur didn't work out, he's carved out a crucial role at Newcastle United.
The 23-year-old has learned under the tutelage of Magpies manager Rafael Benitez and improved on the intricacies of the position, especially on the defensive end of the field.
With Villafana, Brooks, Cameron and Yedlin, the USMNT already have their starting back line for Russia, which is something we never expected under the Klinsmann regime.
Omar Gonzalez
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Omar Gonzalez is as close to a lock as possible to make the squad for Russia as the first backup at center-back.
Just like Villafana, Gonzalez has improved his game by moving to Liga MX and has thrived with consistent playing time at Club Pachuca.
The 28-year-old has plenty of familiarity with Arena from their days at Los Angeles Galaxy, which makes him a reliable option off the bench if something does happen to Brooks or Cameron.
His role for the time being is to fill in at center-back when needed and come off the bench as a fresh body in defense and be a target on set pieces if a late goal is needed.
Steve Birnbaum
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The final two defensive spots on the roster for Russia are up for grabs mainly because no one's been able to impress Arena with a starting back four already in place.
That makes July's Gold Cup even more valuable for veterans, fringe players and youngsters looking to make their mark.
Any one of the handful of center-back candidates could make a push for the World Cup roster, but we've chosen Steve Birnbaum because of his age, experience and versatility.
The 26-year-old should feature in a starting role at the Gold Cup, and he's already earned 11 appearances in a USMNT shirt. Plus the D.C. United man can shift out to the wing if necessary.
Tim Ream, Matt Besler, Matt Hedges and Matt Miazga will be in competition for the fourth center-back spot as well. Expect that race to go down to the final month of preparation for the World Cup.
DaMarcus Beasley
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The ageless wonder of the USMNT could be in line for his fifth World Cup if he continues to perform at a high level in big games.
There's a reason Arena went to Beasley for Sunday's trip to Azteca, as he carries the most experience of anyone in the talent pool.
It's hard to argue against the 35-year-old's presence on the World Cup roster at the moment because no one has made a massive imprint at full-back behind Villafana and Yedlin.
That could all change at the Gold Cup, as the likes of Greg Garza, Eric Lichaj, Justin Morrow and Matt Polster will have a chance to impress Arena with none of the first-team full-backs on the roster.
Michael Bradley
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How there are still Michael Bradley critics baffles the mind.
The 29-year-old scored a stunning goal at the Azteca on Sunday night, and he almost struck a surprise game-winner from long range that hit the post.
The Toronto FC man is the relentless engine of the USMNT, and without him, the Yanks would be lost and a jumbled mess in midfield.
Bradley's name has already been written in Sharpie for the first starting XI in Russia, and he'll only reaffirm that status as the World Cup gets closer.
Kellyn Acosta
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There is no stage too big for 21-year-old Kellyn Acosta.
The homegrown FC Dallas product thrived next to Bradley in midfield at the Azteca on Sunday in a performance that solidified his position on the first-team roster.
Acosta has replaced Jermaine Jones as Bradley's partner thanks to an incredible 2017 that began at the club level in Major League Soccer.
In addition to his superb positioning and play in midfield, Acosta is one of the most dangerous set-piece takers in the talent pool, an attribute that has helped him further gain Arena's trust.
Fabian Johnson
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After years of floating between full-back and the wing out of necessity, Fabian Johnson has finally been kept in midfield.
The Borussia Monchengladbach man can feature on either the right or left for the USMNT, which he proved while playing full-back during the Klinsmann era.
The 29-year-old is a dynamic asset on the wing who may not receive a lot of attention from opposing defenses with Pulisic and Darlington Nagbe roaming the middle of the park.
Johnson is also reliable as a defender, and his ability to provide help to Yedlin and Villafana will be a major asset against the world's best attackers in Russia.
Darlington Nagbe
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Pulisic may have received the headlines from Thursday's win over Trinidad and Tobago, but Nagbe did all the hard work in the buildup to the opening goal.
The Portland Timbers man has established himself as a workhorse in midfield, which has allowed Pulisic to play further up the field in whatever formation Arena deploys.
Everyone on the USMNT staff wants Nagbe to be more selfish on the ball, and he is beginning to embrace that mindset. As he gets better than he already is one-on-one with defenders, the 26-year-old will give the Americans two dynamic playmakers to watch in attack.
Christian Pulisic
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Pulisic has lived up to every ounce of hype.
The 18-year-old is the talent U.S. fans have waited for over generations, and he's not shy to display his leadership qualities as well.
We all know about the Borussia Dortmund man's talent on the field, but it's little things like screaming at his teammates to give every ounce of energy while leaving the pitch during a substitution in stoppage time against Mexico that show Pulisic is the complete package.
He's already established himself as a star in CONCACAF, but the 2018 World Cup should be his coming-out party on a world stage.
Alejandro Bedoya
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Experience is vital on the international stage, and Alejandro Bedoya carries plenty of it.
The 30-year-old isn't the flashiest player on the field—he never has been—but he will give 100 percent on both sides of the ball for his entire shift.
Arena needs players like Bedoya to round out his 23-man squad for Russia, and though he didn't play a major role in the June qualifiers, the Philadelphia Union man can only be seen as a positive.
Bedoya can be a reserve who comes on to solidify a lead or a spot starter who can keep the Americans level with a world-class opponent before making way for an attack-minded player.
Cristian Roldan
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Much like the final two spots in defense, the last two positions in midfield are up for grabs, especially after Sebastian Lletget went down with a long-term foot injury in March.
July will be a big month for those looking to make a mark, but they'll have to do so with Bradley, Acosta, Pulisic and Nagbe in Gold Cup camp.
Cristian Roldan may not have an international appearance to his name yet, but his progression in MLS with the Sounders has been promising.
The 22-year-old has picked up tricks of the trade playing next to one of MLS' best midfield destroyers in Osvaldo Alonso, and he'd be a valuable backup to Bradley and Acosta as a defensive enforcer in Russia.
Gyasi Zardes
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Few players will have more on the line in July than Gyasi Zardes.
After a January knee injury prevented him from starting the MLS campaign, Zardes is back on track with the Galaxy, and he's got a shot to prove himself under his former club boss at the Gold Cup.
The 25-year-old should receive a decent amount of playing time on the wing and potentially up top if need be.
It's that positional versatility that helps Zardes stand out against some of the other less experienced candidates vying for a backup midfielder role with the first team.
Jozy Altidore
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The forward position seems like the easiest to determine for Russia, as most of the first-teamers have established themselves in key roles over the last few years.
Jozy Altidore is one of the four locks at striker because of his goalscoring prowess and physical, bruising style of play.
The only knock on the Toronto FC man is that he hasn't been healthy for the majority of the major international competitions that have taken place during the prime of his career.
One could argue if Altidore hadn't been injured in Brazil, the USMNT would have had a better chance of advancing further in the knockout rounds.
Bobby Wood
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There is a competition for the No. 1 position on the forward depth chart, and Bobby Wood's performance at the Azteca only magnified it.
The Hamburger SV man was tremendous as a lone striker, as he held up the ball in attack and combined as well as he could with Pulisic moving forward.
The 24-year-old has eight goals in 32 international matches, and he gives the USMNT a replacement for Altidore in terms of style of play. The absence of that did the Americans in at the last World Cup.
Clint Dempsey
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By the time he steps foot on the field in Russia for the USMNT's World Cup opener, Clint Dempsey should be the all-time leading scorer in American history.
Dempsey is one goal off Landon Donovan's record, and with a spot on the Gold Cup roster, he should break the mark on home soil in July to take that pressure off his shoulders.
The Sounders man has played nine or more games for the USMNT in every year since 2011, and there's no sign of him slowing down after he recovered from an irregular heartbeat near the end of 2016.
It seems unlikely now, but if the 34-year-old remains healthy, he might challenge Donovan for second all-time in international appearances by an American. Dempsey has 134 caps, which is 23 fewer than the former Galaxy star. Bradley is right behind Dempsey with 133. Cobi Jones is the all-time leader with 164.
Jordan Morris
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Though we didn't see him during the June qualifiers, Jordan Morris is the fourth lock to make the World Cup roster at forward.
The 22-year-old will get plenty of reps during the Gold Cup, with Altidore and Dempsey being saved for the more competitive games in the knockout round.
The Sounders man's speed sets him apart from most of the other candidates in the talent pool, as he can come off the bench and provide an instant impact and change of pace from the bruising style of Altidore, Wood and Dempsey.
Josh Sargent
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If you think the Pulisic hype train was loud, just wait until Josh Sargent gains more steam in the eyes of American fans.
The 17-year-old forward turned heads at the U-20 World Cup, scoring four goals during the quarterfinals run by Tab Ramos' squad.
Sargent is expected to make a move overseas before the next European season, which will only help his game progress.
He is still a raw prospect with plenty to work on before he becomes a consistent member of the first team, but it wouldn't hurt Arena to take a risk on the teenager if he continues to thrive in front of goal.
Missed the Cut
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Goalkeepers
Nick Rimando
Jesse Gonzalez
Defenders
Matt Hedges
Matt Besler
Eric Lichaj
Greg Garza
Midfielders
Paul Arriola
Danny Williams
Sebastian Lletget
Forwards
Dom Dwyer
Juan Agudelo
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