The U.S. men’s national team enjoyed a pair of home victories in Gregg Berhalter’s return as head coach, but the October international window should provide a much-tougher test for the Americans.
Germany and Ghana will oppose the USMNT in Connecticut and Missouri respectively, giving Berhalter and his staff plenty to examine. Plenty of the European stars are expected to be included with Christian Pulisic, Weston McKennie, and Sergino Dest all candidates to play key roles during the window.
Folarin Balogun and Malik Tillman could also earn opportunities with their club stocks rising after recent performances.
Matt Turner remains the No. 1 goalkeeping option heading into camp while Ethan Horvath is on the outside with his club future looking bleak. MLS options such as Drake Callender and Sean Johnson might receive opportunities to join Turner after playing regularly at club level.
What will the squad chosen for the USMNT’s October friendlies look like?
Here is a closer look at the possibilities:
Goalkeepers
Matt Turner, Ethan Horvath, Drake Callender
Matt Turner remains the No. 1 goalkeeping option for the USMNT and that doesn’t look to be changing anytime soon.
Turner has remained a starter at club level for Nottingham Forest, a role which didn’t look guaranteed after his summer move from Arsenal. However, Turner has been one of the first names on Steve Cooper’s team sheet each week and that will continue to earn him chances as the USMNT No. 1.
Ethan Horvath’s club future looks bleak, but the veteran shot-stopper is still an option with the USMNT. He will fight with Inter Miami’s Drake Callender for the No. 2 job going forward, while Gabriel Slonina could also get a call-up nod due to consistent minutes in the Belgian Pro League.
Missed the Cut: Zack Steffen, Sean Johnson, Gabriel Slonina.
Defenders
Tim Ream, Chris Richards, John Brooks, Miles Robinson, Sergino Dest, Joe Scally, Antonee Robinson, Kristoffer Lund.
The USMNT’s ever-changing centerback corps will likely feature another shuffle for the October window.
John Brooks has enjoyed a strong start to the Bundesliga season with Hoffenheim and is more than deserving of returning to the USMNT. Brooks has helped Pellegrino Matarazzo’s squad to a positive start to the season and would be a great addition for a pair of intriguing friendlies.
Tim Ream has endured some tough moments of late for Fulham, but overall brings veteran experience to the USMNT defense. Ream and Brooks’ experience will likely mean a pair of younger options will also be included for the matches.
Chris Richards is continuing to fight his way in England this season, mainly featuring in cup competitions for Crystal Palace. Richards did impress in the September camp though and should be in line for a re-call.
Miles Robinson has fought to get back to his best for Atlanta United and the USMNT in 2023. Robinson has continued to be a stalwart in the Five Stripes backline and will be pressing others for minutes in the matches.
Although Mark McKenzie recently returned to training for Genk, his toe injury could force the Belgian club to keep him overseas. Auston Trusty’s lack of playing time with Sheffield United could also hurt his chances.
Antonee Robinson and Sergino Dest remain the USMNT’s top two fullback options and overall should be involved yet again. Robinson has remained a regular for Fulham while Dest has enjoyed consistent minutes on loan at PSV.
Joe Scally and Kristoffer Lund should join Robinson and Dest in the fullback corps this month. Scally is continuing to carve out his role for Borussia Moenchengladbach while Lund is in the promotion fight with Palermo in Italy’s Serie B.
Missed the Cut: Kevin Paredes, Bryan Reynolds, DeAndre Yedlin, Lynden Gooch, Reggie Cannon, Erik Palmer-Brown.
Midfielders
Weston McKennie, Yunus Musah, Brenden Aaronson, Luca De La Torre, Malik Tillman, Tanner Tessmann.
There are no real surprises here with several of the USMNT midfielders thriving at club level.
Yunus Musah and Weston McKennie remain the top-two options in Berhalter’s midfield, especially with Tyler Adams sidelined due to a new hamstring injury. Musah’s role is growing with AC Milan while McKennie’s versatility has seen him used as a wing back with Juventus.
However, don’t expect McKennie to leave his natural midfield role in USMNT duty.
Brenden Aaronson has struggled for production with Union Berlin, but he remains high on Berhalter’s list in midfield. Aaronson’s creativity and work rate should see him earn chances against both Germany and Ghana.
Malik Tillman has played a key role in the last two matches for PSV and ultimately needs more chances with the USMNT. Tillman’s versatility could also see him used in an advanced role on the international level, but overall I’d expect to see him included.
Luca De La Torre’s up-and-down time with Celta Vigo this season shouldn’t hurt his USMNT chances while Tanner Tessmann also remains a growing prospect with his minutes rising at Venezia.
Missed the Cut: Tyler Adams (Injured), Duane Holmes, Gianluca Busio, Johnny Cardoso, Djordje Mihailovic.
Forwards
Christian Pulisic, Gio Reyna, Ricardo Pepi, Folarin Balogun, Tim Weah, Jordan Pefok.
The USMNT attacking corps is starting to create some serious buzz heading into October camp.
Christian Pulisic has enjoyed a positive start to life with AC Milan and overall remains one of the key leaders in the USMNT squad. Pulisic can be used on the left wing, as well as in midfield if needed.
Gio Reyna’s return to fitness is a great time to reacclimatize him with Berhalter and the USMNT squad. Although Reyna is still seeking his first minutes of the new European season, it is crucial to get him back connecting with Berhalter and his teammates during an important window.
A strong window could do wonders for Reyna ahead of his return to Borussia Dortmund.
Folarin Balogun and Ricardo Pepi will still jostle for the No. 9 role after both impressed in September action. Balogun is coming off a Man of the Match performance for AS Monaco while Pepi remains a key threat off the bench for PSV and the USMNT.
I’d expect both will get one start apiece during the window.
Jordan Pefok is also a striker finding his way back into form while on loan at Borussia Moenchengladbach. Pefok has one goal and one assist for Gladbach in Bundesliga play and overall is a more physical attacking piece than both Balogun and Pepi.
A recent knock last weekend could hurt his call-up chances, but if healthy, he warrants a USMNT return.
Tim Weah’s versatility remains key in the USMNT attack. Weah has rotated heavily with Weston McKennie at Juventus, but should return to his natural winger position against both Germany and Ghana.
Brenden Aaronson could also feature on the wing if needed, as well as Malik Tillman.
Missed the Cut: Jesus Ferreira, Brandon Vazquez, Haji Wright, Jordan Morris, Paul Arriola.
What do you think of our projected roster? Who made the cut that you are hoping is included? Who did we leave out that you think deserves to be part of the October squad?
Share your thoughts below.
Collect all seven Dragon Balls to summon Shenron and get Thanos Infinity Gauntlet with all the stones in it all to summon John Brooks back to the nat team. I am here for it bring back JAB and end the petty beef 🥩 G Berhalther.
whoever plays, if the tactics are 4 3 3 pressing D all the time, same old same old, it won’t be good in my opinion
these games are a great opportunity to play differently, try other tactical ideas and see which players can do them
I’ll mention again Lennard Maloney should maybe get a look at CB. Guy starts for Heidenheim in the B1, was a Dortmund academy kid. He looks pretty sharp to me and he’s a Germerican kid who has been very open he wants to play for the USA.
Maloney has already played for the usynt set up, so he’s already a known quantity. I think he’ll have to do a little more to surpass anyone for a call up to the senior team, whether we that’s in midfield or CB
I was a defender
I haven’t kicked a soccer ball since 1993
I have a better chance of being called up than John Brooks
+1, I nearly fell off the coach.
What were you doing on the coach JR????? Bwahaha
Oh my the tears of laughter must have affected my vision. Couch…. Couch.
Are you left footed?
Really don’t see them bringing 3 CFs unless Gregg is ready to unleash a 3-5-2. There were hardly enough minutes for Pepi and Balogun last time.
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I’ll be shocked if Brooks is invited.
Agree about the 3-5-2 thing…though if Gregg is going to do that, Brooks probably will get a call. He struggles in a 4-man backline with his 1-on-1 defending but he’s arguably the best CB we have for a three-man backline.
I do remain high on Tessmann as a 6. He had a so-so first start…big deal, IMHO. I never judge a guy by his first major appearance as long as he flashes some stuff and Tessmann assuredly did…your first start is something a player just has to get through and it’s usually going to be fairly ugly.
Also, if Gregg is planning on playing Gio as a winger again it’s time to fire him on the spot…and his and Gio’s reconciliation is probably not going to go well. If Gregg’s not convinced Gio’s a 10 by now and a genuine difference-maker I do not know what to say. Especially with Tillman emerging as well it’s long-past time to start loosing our 10’s to be 10’s.
I know the competition is different but no one at Dortmund (and he’s had 4 or 5) have ever given him a consistent run out as a 10.
JR
“no one at Dortmund (and he’s had 4 or 5) have ever given him a consistent run out as a 10.”
I don’t know that BVB plays with a standard 10 per se.
Gio got a little time centrally at BVB very early on but you’re not playing there very much when Reus and Bellingham are around. I love Gio but I’d trade him for Jude in a New York second.
Reyna needs to stay with his club until he actually plays in a game. Tillman should get big minutes with Puli, Weah, Balogun, McKennie. Musah at the 6. Dest, A Rob at backs, Richards and M Rob central. Think that’s our best 10 field players at the moment. Work in Pepi, DLT, Scally, Brooks. Aaronson energy off the bench for whichever attacking player gets gassed.
Kevin Paredes is not a fullback. Don’t know why some continue with that. He absolutely should be called up as an attacker.
NT keeps listing him there even though he hasn’t played that position.
As long as he gets playing time I doubt Paredes gives a rat’s ass what they call him.