The U.S. men’s national team might not have its full squad available for its first match of 2024, but January’s friendly vs. Slovenia will still have major importance for many players.
Gregg Berhalter’s squad will welcome Slovenia to Phoenix, Arizona in what will be the opening match for both nations. While the international friendly will come during the European club season, there will be opportunities for both young and experienced players alike.
Diego Luna, Duncan McGuire, and Chris Brady are just three of several MLS players that enjoyed positive 2023 club seasons and will be seeking a strong start to the 2024 schedule. Brooks Lennon’s career-best year with Atlanta United certainly warrants him consideration for inclusion as well.
Here is a closer look at the MLS players deserving January USMNT call-ups:
Diego Luna, Real Salt Lake
Diego Luna was an offensive live-wire for Real Salt Lake in 2023 and should be among the considered candidates for January USMNT involvement.
Luna’s five MLS goals in 2023 were tied for the third-most for RSL while his three assists ranked him in the top-nine among RSL players. He started in 14 of his 23 league appearances for Pablo Mastroeni’s squad, showing strong attacking abilities out wide.
Luna enjoyed much success with the USMNT U-20’s and will now aim to carry that over into the senior squad.
Duncan McGuire, Orlando City
2023 was a memorable season for Duncan McGuire.
McGuire enjoyed a stellar rookie campaign with Orlando City, totaling 13 goals and three assists in 29 league appearances. The former MAC Hermann award winner was key in the Lions earning the Eastern Conference’s No. 2 seed ahead of the MLS Cup Playoffs, joining Facundo Torres as the only other double-digit goalscorer in the Orlando City squad.
McGuire’s physicality and aerial abilities could be an added benefit to the USMNT heading into a busy year of tournaments and competitions.
Chris Brady, Chicago Fire
Another member of the USMNT U-20 squad, Chris Brady was the youngest starting goalkeeper in MLS this season.
The 19-year-old made 30 starts for the Chicago Fire in 2023, totaling eight clean sheets and 94 saves along the way. Brady, who watching behind Gabriel Slonina in 2022, earned the starting job for the Fire and didn’t look back.
A good shot-stopper, Brady could surely enter his name in the mix for USMNT involvement, especially with the No. 2 and No. 3 roles not yet locked down.
Jack McGlynn, Philadelphia Union
The Philadelphia Union academy has produced some top-tier talent over the years and Jack McGlynn could very well become the latest to enter that list.
McGlynn, 20, just completed his third full season with the Union, setting new career-highs in several categories. He scored two goals and registered two assists in 27 league appearances last season (1,615 minutes played).
McGlynn’s intelligence and passing abilities have not only helped him become a rising MLS talent, but also is a reason why he excelled with the USMNT U-20’s over the past two years.
Brian Gutierrez, Chicago Fire
Another productive Chicago Fire player with 20-year-old Brian Gutierrez.
Gutierrez completed this third full season with the Fire, leading the team with nine assists, while also chipping in two goals. After only earning 600+ minutes of playing time from 2020-21, Gutierrez has registered over 1500+ or more minutes of playing time in each of the last two seasons.
Also an option for the Olympic roster in 2024, Gutierrez will be one to watch going forward.
Brooks Lennon, Atlanta United
Thiago Almada and Giorgios Giakoumakis garnered plenty of attention for Atlanta United in 2023 (and rightfully so..), but Brooks Lennon once again remained key in the squad.
The 26-year-old set new career-highs this past season, registering four goals and 10 assists in 33 league appearances. Lennon, a versatile full back, has been impactful during his time in Atlanta, showing off his abilities on both ends of the field at Mercedes-Benz Stadium.
Lennon has past experiences with the USMNT and certainly deserves another opportunity after a career-year.
John Tolkin, New York Red Bulls
The No. 2 left back spot with the USMNT has yet to be determined and John Tolkin could be one that fights for it in 2024.
Tolkin, 21, finished his third MLS campaign with the Red Bulls, setting new career-highs with three goals and six assists. A physical defender and skillful attacker, Tolkin is one of the key faces of the Red Bulls squad for years to come (bearing Europe doesn’t come sooner for him).
With Antonee Robinson, Kristoffer Lund, Joe Scally and others unavailable due to their European schedules, Tolkin could very well start against Slovenia, if called in.
Caleb Wiley, Atlanta United
Caleb Wiley enjoyed a fast start to the 2023 MLS season with Atlanta United and the 19-year-old will hope a USMNT call-up could be what kickstarts 2024 for him.
Wiley, a full back/winger, scored four goals and added four assists in 30 appearances for the Five Stripes. After arriving on the first team scene in 2022, Wiley remained important to Gonzalo Pineda’s squad, increasing his minutes played, goals, and assists for the club.
A dangerous attacker and creator, Wiley will also be one to watch ahead of the 2024 Olympics in Paris.
Roman Celentano, FC Cincinnati
Another goalkeeper fighting to prove himself on the international level is FC Cincinnati’s Roman Celentano.
Celentano, a former No. 2 pick of FCC in 2022, made 33 MLS starts this past season. The 23-year-old posted a 1.12 goals-against-average (GAA) while also producing 87 saves for the Supporters’ Shield winners.
Only one year after earning his first senior USMNT call-up, Celentano could be back with the national team for the start of a busy year.
Quinn Sullivan, Philadelphia Union
Another top prospect in the Philadelphia Union’s growing list of homegrown players is Quinn Sullivan.
The 19-year-old Sullivan also completed his third MLS season, scoring two goals and adding one assist in 22 appearances. Sullivan mainly featured off the bench for Jim Curtin’s squad, providing fresh legs against tiring defenders and creating chances in the final third for himself and his teammates.
Sullivan could play as a second forward, a winger, or even as an attacking midfielder, providing multiple options for how Berhalter could use him.
What did you think of our list of deserving MLS call-ups for USMNT duty? Is there anyone on this list that you are hoping gets included? Is there anyone we left off the list that you are hoping to see?
Share your thoughts below.
Most want to see:
-Luna
Not on your list:
-Bernard Kamungo 8g 5a in 24 apps for FCD (Olympic Eligible)
-Tim Tillman 4g 2a for Western Conf Champs
-Josh Cohen
-Aiden Morris
There’s some seriously impressive talent on that list and most of it is shockingly young. At least half of those guys and probably more – and I’ll include Kamungo and Aidan Morris in this – are going to be playing in Top-5 leagues at some point and Diego Luna is a genuinely unique player and frankly I’m a little shocked he isn’t in Europe already. The last half of the season, every time I watched RSL I couldn’t take my eyes off the guy, he was just that much better than anybody else on the field. I know 10’s are out of vogue in Europe at the moment but fellas…talent is talent and Luna’s an insane talent. Honestly the biggest thing handcuffing Luna was that oftentimes it seemed the guys around him weren’t always good enough to help him even when he put stuff on a plate for them. Which he seemed to be doing every couple of minutes or so; the guy is as dynamic a creator as I’ve seen in MLS maybe ever.
I was also really impressed with Morris down the stretch after being just meh on him when he was in the Gold Cup camp. I thought he looked allright with the USMNT and I saw a Europe guy but I didn’t see a star…this last half of the season under Wilfried Nancy I absolutely saw a future star. He plays on the turn as well as anybody we’ve got and he’s got a wicked shot from distance and is genuinely goal-dangerous and that’s a skillset we don’t have at the moment. I could definitely envision a possible future USMNT roster where Morris is starting alongside Musah as a co-6 in a double pivot, with Luna ahead of them in the 10.
Just asking a question here…am I the only heretic out there who thinks that Luna might well end up being the string-pulling 10 on a squad like Real Madrid or Juventus or suchlike? He basically screams “Serie A” or “La Liga” to my eyes, as technical and creative as he is and I can legitimately see him as the future centerpiece of a Champions League squad if he keeps developing…and certainly as the centerpiece of the USMNT.
Q: I’ve been following Luna for awhile. Yes, I’m a big enough of a sicko that I’d watch his USL games on ESPN+. El Paso plays on a minor league baseball field, it’s awful. I think RSL has never really known how to use him and it took both sides some time to figure it out. I think Diego is finally comfortable on the wing and you’ve seen that payoff the 2nd half of the season, even if the 10 or second striker is his better spot. I think two factors could limit him 1. His finishing isn’t clinical enough at this time to reach the heights you mentioned. Jude Bellingham the current AM for Real Madrid is about 70 days older than Luna and has 17g in half a season, Diego had 7 in MLS. 2. I think there is still some prejudice against his body type. Teams look for the long lean Tillman, Reyna, Bellingham body type and that’s not Luna. You see it with Weston too.
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Morris: Nancy and Nagbe have been so good for him. He never used to turn like that. Can we get Tyler a 6 month loan to Columbus? Aiden has grown so much this season, under Porter he was trying to play like an Adams just run around and get stuck in (side note scared Porter might hinder Buck and Esmir). I’m not sure how much farther Aiden can go though. Do I think he could play in Europe, yes. Do I think he’s an everyday player in a Top 5 league, no. Look at Diego Rossi, really good player in MLS dominate at times but pretty average in Turkey. Aiden would have to get really lucky and find the right manager in the right organization to thrive in a top league.
“I can legitimately see him as the future centerpiece of a Champions League squad if he keeps developing…and certainly as the centerpiece of the USMNT.”
quozzel,
His numbers and overall package need to be spectacular if he were to be seen as the CL player you describe.
I’m no JR but what I see right now is “merely” good and promising. If Diego were to be the string pulling 10 you describe then he needs to be at some Top 5 league club now, the sooner the better, showing them his stuff and convincing them that they are missing out on him. The next move he makes after RSL will be critical.
20 is getting to be pretty old for his abilities in that area to start manifesting themselves. It’s always possible that a player gets overlooked but if Diego is one of those guys then he needs to start upgrading his image right away. He only has so many years to make his maximum salary.
And he should be challenging Gio, Malik, and Flo for playing time.
Again, I’m not JR but I haven’t seen Luna do anything that Gio, Malik or Flo couldn’t do.
Do you think Diego is, right now, as good as Gio? If so, then he should be pushing for a spot on the Copa America squad right now.
Vacq, JR-
I’ve always had a thing for oddball players, and Luna is sort of the definition of that Ugly Duckling that’s actually a beautiful swan if you just look at him the right way, IMHO. I do think he’s a victim of that bad-body thing JR mentioned. That “Moneyball” theory that players are often overlooked for a variety of biased reasons is just so true…and Luna looks like the complete opposite of what you’d expect from a stud soccer player. But the way he advances the ball, sort of tunneling under players and bouncing north-south up the field like a pinball, or just suddenly switching gears and 1-touching it to players I have no idea how he saw…it just leaves me, anyhow, sort of shaking my head. His vision is unreal. He isn’t like anybody else and doesn’t get it done like anybody else, and that’s exactly why I think his game translates upwards…and the higher he gets, the more valuable his ability to disrupt a game and change the point of attack in unorthodox ways that leaves the opposition scrambling is going to get. He creates more Oh Shit moments for the opposition than anybody I’ve ever watched in MLS…well, aside from maybe that new guy Messi. And he does it in just a completely unique way.
His career trajectory is probably going to be a little odd. But then, so’s Luna.
Would I prefer him over Gio or Tillman? Certainly not now. But if we have this conversation again in five years time, we could well be coming up with a very, very different answer.
quozzel,
“I do think he’s a victim of that bad-body thing JR mentioned. That “Moneyball” theory that players are often overlooked for a variety of biased reasons is just so true…and Luna looks like the complete opposite of what you’d expect from a stud soccer player.”
Well….Luna is pudgy so he gets underrated by USMNT fans. He’s not big so Americans think he’s weak. He doesn’t seem particularly fast or strong and American fans think anyone who isn’t is useless. USMNT fans think our guys should look like NFL wide receivers and have the same athletic characteristics. You’re noted for saying big strikers last longer because,, well, they’re big. Y’all look at Aaronson and think he should bulk up because he’s weak and puny. He had the same body when he was going good. His problem is he can’t play soccer anymore, for some reason and his confidence is gone.
I’m old fashioned. The first thing I want to know is can you play?
Then I think about everything else next.
Yaya Toure was 6’3″, 198 lbs, a beast in soccer terms but what you really noticed about him was he could play.
Luna can play.
Luna looks exactly like I would expect from what I see as his skillset.
Great ball control, a low center of gravity which comes from his altitude deficit and his solid mass. It’s like tackling a bowling ball. Which makes it hard to take the ball off of him when goes into traffic.
Luna, far from being unique, looks like any number of highly skilled guys like him when he goes into traffic. Luna is not as good but he reminds me of Eden Hazard when Eden could actually play.
I don’t know why he has played so few games for RSL . I don’t know why he isn’t further up the professional ladder at the advanced age of 20 given his skills, but every player develops at a different rate. He’s here now and it doesn’t matter any more.
The problem is , in terms of the USMNT, he’s got guys like Gio, Malik and Flo, or for that matter Richie and Paxton. If Diego is to get capped by the senior team he has to score more. And if he, Gio and Malik continue to develop like they look to be doing, Diego is either going to have to get a lot better a lot quicker, or Gio and Malik are going to have to be hurt a lot more.
That is always possible but it’s a tough situation when your main rivals are 21 and 22 years old and are awfully good. If they stay healthy and in form, it’s going to be hard for Diego to get a cap let alone be on the 2026 roster. I hope I’m wrong about him.
If you guys think Luna is underrated, Gio and Malik and even more underrated, especially by USMNT fans.
And those two guys are Diego’s real USMNT problem not looking like Ferenc Puskas.
Good call on Bernard Kamungo. I have been really impressed with him at FC Dallas. The Gold Cup team really could have used him but funny enough Bernard really got going right after the gold cup
If you listen to podcasts, you should find Taylor Twellman’s pod on Kamungo’s story. It’s really incredible.
For those who don’t listen to podcasts, here’s a good story on Kamungo:
https://www.dmagazine.com/sports/2023/06/straight-out-of-tanzania-bernard-kamungos-once-in-a-lifetime-journey-to-fc-dallas/
Amazing that the only organized soccer the kid played before trying out and making the FCD second team was middle school and high school soccer, in Abilene TX of all places!! Never played club soccer.
Re: Morris, he’s unfortunately got a lot of competition with the national team. Other than the starters (MM and A when healthy), there’s DLT (who Berhalter seems to love). But coming up now are Tesseman, who’s having a really good year in Serie B and could be in Serie A next season; Cardoso, who just transferred to La Liga and we’ll see if he plays and how he does; and Maloney, who starts in the Budesliga. They’re not all the same players, but they generally play that 6/8 role like Morris.