The U.S. Men’s National Team received an update to its busy schedule in 2021, by learning plans for World Cup Qualifying and more.
U.S. Soccer announced dates for several competitions and matches involving the USMNT, providing a glimpse of when the team will be back on the field. Gregg Berhalter’s side will partake in 14 games this calendar year, which does not include this summer’s Concacaf Gold Cup.
World Cup Qualifying will begin in September with a three-match window for the Americans, which begins with a road match on Sept. 2nd (opponent TBD). Sept. 5th will also see the USMNT hit the road for its second qualifying match before hosting Honduras on Sept. 8th at a location to be determined.
The USMNT’s qualifying schedule continues on October 7th with a home match against Jamaica before traveling on the road for qualifier on Oct. 10th (opponent TBD). A home showdown with Costa Rica closes out another busy month on Oct. 13.
November will see the USMNT host rivals Mexico on Nov. 12 before traveling to Jamaica on Nov. 16.
Qualifying rolls on in 2022 with six matches slated to occur between January 27-March 30th. Three of those opponents will be determined at a later date while Mexico, Costa Rica, and Honduras will also get another crack at the USMNT.
In addition to World Cup qualifying, the USMNT is set to play friendlies on March 25 against an unnamed opponent and March 28 against Northern Ireland in Belfast. The USMNT is also scheduled to play a friendly on May 30th ahead of the resumption of the reschedule Concacaf Nations League Final Four.
Berhalter’s side will take on Honduras on June 3 in one semifinal while Mexico and Costa Rica meets in the second. The winners will meet in the CNL Final while the losers will meet in the third-place match, both scheduled for June 6.
June 9 could also see the USMNT play another friendly ahead of the start of the Concacaf Gold Cup in July. The USMNT was paired with Canada, Martinique, and a third opponent, who will be determined through the preliminary matches prior to the tournament’s start date.
Will be interesting if you have a mid window match in say Panama, Curaçao, or TnT do you leave some players at home. Just traveling those distances is brutal. In the past there hasn’t been a roster limit for the week so maybe call in 25-27 rotate the squad.
Good thing we look to be the deepest team we’ve ever had. That’s a lot of games and we’ll need a deep bench.A ;bitg question is not just who will play, but who will be healthy and available. If all are available, from back to front, I think it will be Steffen in goal, Robinson, Brooks, Richards, Dest from left to right in the back, then some arrangement of McKennie, Pulisic, Adams, Reyna, then Morris or Weah in the middle and on the wings,and Sargent on top. In other words, nothing unconventional for me.
With 3 matches each qualifying window we’ll need a capable 2nd string as well. A lot left to be decided in that group. Fingers crossed with the Olympics and GC this Summer some of that should sort itself out. Interested to see who the surprise breakouts are from MLS this season. Who would have thought McKenzie, Dike, and Reynolds last year.
That’s why I limited my speculation to first string players. Our second string could be quite good, but so much is up in the air and a lot may depend on how well some players do and improve during this calendar year.
Morris is out until next year.
Maybe you have more updated news, but Swansea said that he was out for the remainder of their season. Initially they didn’t say anything beyond that. According to the article above, there will b e 6 World Cup qualifying games in 2022, one as late as March.
ACL recovery time is 6-8 months. Not sure if this is the same knee, or a different one, but he’s aware of the process. A lot will depend on how his rehab goes as to if he’ll miss all games in 2021. Shouldn’t rush it, but there is the possibility that he’d be able to see the field late 2021.
I don’t think the way 3G wants to play Reyna plays centrally. Robinson and Sargent I think are the two in your list that probably aren’t locked in, though I wouldn’t be surprised if they were the first choice starters. I wouldn’t be surprised to see Lletget or Musah (should he commit) as the other CM. As you said the likelihood that all of these guys are fit by September seems low.