After a dismal showing during their 2018 World Cup qualification fixtures, the US Men’s National Team are back in the fold and have booked their flight tickets to Qatar for this year’s long awaited rendition of the 2022 World Cup that will have many US fans questioning on how far the USMNT can progress ahead of the competition’s opening game week in November.
This year’s FIFA World Cup will be unlike any other as it will now be scheduled to take place in the late fall and early winter months of November and December, which will essentially put the domestic football season on hold until the competitions conclusion.
Unlike the 2018 rendition, the USMNT have successfully qualified for the World Cup and as such will enter a challenging group featuring the likes of UK rivals England and Wales as well as Iran making up the remainder of what is sure to be a very entertaining Group B.
England are one of the favorites to win the World Cup this year after narrowly falling short in 2018 and losing the UEFA Euros final on penalties against Italy last summer, with the ‘Three Lions’ now hoping to be in pole position to win their first World Cup since 1966.
In the latest World Cup odds, England stands as the front runner to qualify with 3/10 odds on favorite, followed by Wales with 11/2 given their excellent international team’s spirit and prior experience which is likely going to come in the form of LAFC star signing Gareth Bale.
The US are ranked at 6/1 odds to earn passage into the knockout stage, leaving Iran at 11/1 odds.
Looking back on the 2014 World Cup:
It may be hard to fathom but the US’ previous World Cup appearance is now nearing a full decade since their last sixteen exit to Belgium back in the Summer of 2014 in the football crazed country of Brazil.
The States shocked a number of fans with an outstanding runners-up spot in the Group Stage that featured eventual winners Germany, the Cristiano Ronaldo led Portugal team as well as an experienced Ghana side.
After a 2-1 opening game win over Ghana, the US grabbed an exceptional draw against Portugal before slightly losing their encounter against Germany, from which they still gained passage into the knockout stages thanks to their far superior goal difference over Portugal.
The last sixteen knockout stages were a much more challenging affair as the US squared off against a very game and immensely talented Belgium team, with former Everton and Manchester United goalkeeper Tim Howard providing fans with an exceptional display between the sticks before the States narrowly lost in extra-time thanks to late winner by Romelu Lukaku.
Despite the somewhat early exit, the men’s team were praised effortlessly for their tournament’s performances, but after missing out on a place in the 2018 World Cup, the celebrations would soon be dampened.
The key names and expectations for the 2022 World Cup:
It is certainly going to be a great challenge for the USMNT to compete for a place in the last sixteen this year given the overall quality that is present in their group, yet there is great hope that their star names can perform when the lights shine brightest.
The talented winger duo of Christian Pulisic and Giovanni Reyna are the key names for the States this season given their impressive play at a high professional level and the range of quality that they can provide on the flanks.
Attacking fullbacks in DeAndre Yedlin and Antonee Robinson also have a great experience at the Premier League level and can bring a lust of pace on the overlap of Reyna and Pulisic.
In the heart of the midfield, new Leeds United signing Tyler Adams will be expected to partner with Juventus center midfielder Weston McKennie, with 22 year old Lille striker Timothy Weah likely to be given the reigns up front in a forward partnership alongside Reyna and Pulisic.
At the back, NY Red Bulls center half Aaron Long will most likely start alongside Celtic defender Cameron Carter-Vickers with new Arsenal backup goalkeeper Matt Turner the favored option in net.
While this year’s USMNT maybe lacking the star power or overall quality/experience that was present in the 2014 squad, including names such as Howard, Bradley, Dempsey, and Donovan, there is still a great young core available within the team’s roster with other US names such as Brenden Aaronson, Tim Ream, and Chris Richards all now competing in the Premier League this season.
It will be a tough challenge for the USMNT this season to progress through to the 2022 World Cup knockout stages, yet there is still great excitement amongst US fans in the hopes that the team can surprise some notable pundits and analysts with a campaign that is worth remembering for years to come.
