Projecting the US Soccer 2022 World Cup Roster
By Jason McIntyre
Let’s start with the obvious – projecting a roster for any sport four years in advance is impossible. A fool’s errand. So many things can happen between now and 2022. But we did a US World Cup roster projection in 2010 for 2014, and we did one in 2014 for 2018 … so here’s the 2022 World Cup roster projection for US soccer. All the ages below are how old they will be in 2022. The starting XI projection is at the bottom.
Goalie: As many as six keepers could be in the mix for the US starting goalie in 2022, and I’ll start with the oldest, Bill Hamid, who will be 31 in 2022. The former DC United star is now at FC Midtjylland, a club in Denmark. I’ve written in-depth about Hamid, and if he’s going to win the starting US job in 2022, will probably will have to be bumped up a league before then. His biggest competition for the job will probably be Ethan Horvath (27), who plays professional in Belgium and is probably the favorite to be the 2022 starter.
The best young American goalie right now is Justin Garces (only 21 in 2022) who opted for an MLS Academy over UCLA. He recorded three shutouts at the 2017 FIFA U-17 World Cup.
Three outsiders: Zach Steffen (27), Jesse Gonzalez (27) and Jonathan Klinsmann (25, yes, the son of Jurgen).
Defense
It start with one of the only players who will be on the 2022 roster and played in the 2014 World Cup: DeAndre Yedlin. The Newcastle speed merchant will only be 29.
Central defense will be – health pending – led by 2014 World Cup star (well, for the US), John Brooks. His career has been pocked by injuries, but he’ll only be 29 in 2022. His partner is likely going to be longtime US U23, U20, U18 star Matt Miazga, who played for Chelsea in 2016, and has been on loan to Vitesse for two years. The 6-foot-4 defender left high school in New Jersey after just one year to train with the Red Bulls in the MLS. He starred in the 2017 Gold Cup.
The left back has been a problem for the US for years, and there’s no easy answer. Cameron Carter-Vickers (24) is right now the next best defender in the US pipeline, but he played center back for Tottenham Hotspur in 2016, and has since. If Brooks is hurt, expect Carter-Vickers to start alongside Miazga.
Even the other promising defenders are center backs (Antonee Robinson, who is at Everton and will be 24 in 2022) or right backs (Matt Olosunde, who is at Manchester United, and will be 24 in 2022)
Four other names who will get a long long over the next 3+ years: Danielo Acosta (will be 24), Keaton Parks (will be 24, plays in Portugal for Benfica), and two MLS players, Jaylin Lindsey (22) and James Sands (22).
Where are all the old guys, you ask? Well, there’s a reason the US didn’t qualify for the 2018 World Cup.
Midfield
For the first time in awhile, the midfield will be the strength of the US National team. Christian Pulisic will be 23 in 2022, and the start of the team. He already plays for Borussia Dortmund, and is a factor, with nine goals in 70 appearances. Given his age, he could be on a path to being the most successful American field player ever in Europe. Pencil Pulisic as a creating, attacking MF.
One of his running mates, perhaps at defensive midfield – for now, we’ll count Michael Bradley out, given that he’ll be 34, and the young players are teeming with potential – is Weston McKennie the prodigious budding US star.
Already at Schalke in the Bundesliga, he’ll be just 23 in 2022, and he’s on the path to starting for sure.
There are plenty of options on the wings, but the players are all very young, and a lot can happen to kids pegged for greatness at 18/19 years old. Three veterans who know that well – Paul Arriola (DC United, 27), Kellyn Acosta (FC Dallas, 27) and Julian Green (SpVgg Greuther Furth in Germany, 27). They’ll all have many chances to make the roster.
Three midfield names who could pop before the next World Cup: Tyler Adams, the best US prospect in the MLS (23); Chris Durkin (22) and Giovanni Reyna (20, yes, the son of Claudio). If the US wants to build something, they’ll get Reyna a spot on the team if he continues progressing over the next three years. One player they’d hope to have in the midfield, Jonathan Gonzalez (22) chose Mexico over the US.
The competition will be fierce, because there are other names who will enter the conversation: Emerson Hyndman (26), Lynden Gooch (26), McKinze Gaines (24), and Nick Taitague (23).
A deep sleeper: Luca De La Torre (Fulham, 24) who only made his US National team debut in June of 2018, but put together an accomplished career with the U-20 and U-17 squads.
Forward
It’s easy to get excited about goal-scoring forwards, but American soccer fans often get let down at the World Cup. Five goals in four games in 2014; five goals in four games in 2010; two goals in three games in 2006.
Good news: Young help is on the way! Two guys who should help topple those marks in 2022: Josh Sargent, who dominated the CONCACAF U-17 Championships (5 goals) in 2017 and the U-20 World Cup (3 goals) in 2017, should be a starter up front.
Tim Weah, the son of legendary AC Milan star George Weah (winner of the Ballon d’Or in 1995) netted a hat trick at the U-17 World Cup vs Paraguay is another US forward on the rise, currently playing for Paris Saint-Germain.
The bad news: Both players will only be 22-years old at the 2022 World Cup. It’s hard to envision a team starting two players that young up front. But given what both have accomplished recently, I expect both to be on the roster.
No worry, there are plenty of other options. Jozy Altidore will be 33, and assuming he remains healthy, be in the mix. Bobby Wood (30) will contend for a starting spot, as should Jordan Morris (28).
Rubio Rubin (26), an impressive player for the U17 and U20 US teams, has emerged as a strong candidate to make the 2022 roster. He’s currently playing for Tijuana in Liga MX.
Two more young forwards who could make the 2022 roster, or could get bumped to 2026 due to the glut of talent at the position: Ayo Akinola (22) of Toronto FC and Gianluca Busio (20) of Sporting Kansas City.