The U.S. men’s national team enjoyed plenty of successful moments in 2023 and with added competitions coming in 2024, head coach Gregg Berhalter will be hoping similar success can occur in the new year.
Copa America, CONCACAF Nations League, and the Paris Olympics will all be on the USMNT’s schedule in 2024, providing ample opportunities to prepare the squad for the 2026 FIFA World Cup. Both the Copa America and the Nations League Final Four will be on American soil too, adding a home-field advantage for the USMNT in both competitions.
In addition to competitions, the continued growth in the squad will also be something to keep an eye on. Between the ever-changing No. 9 race to the continued battles for starting center back spots, we will surely see ample players called in throughout the year.
Here is a closer look at what to watch for in 2024:
Copa America on home soil
With no World Cup Qualifying cycle coming for the USMNT, the 2024 Copa America becomes that much more important for Gregg Berhalter and his squad.
Argentina, Brazil, and Colombia headline a talented CONMEBOL federation that will be making their way to the United States next summer. It will mark the Americans’ fifth-ever involvement in the competition and their first since the 2016 Copa America Centenario, which was also on home soil.
The USMNT will want to prove itself against Lionel Messi, Neymar and Co. and what better way to do it in preparation for the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
Folarin Balogun, Ricardo Pepi headline No. 9 race
The U.S. men’s national team has two thriving candidates to claim the No. 9 job in 2024, but the return of several injured players will also grow the competition for minutes.
Folarin Balogun and Ricardo Pepi enter the new year as the favorites to lead Berhalter’s line after featuring heavily in 2023. Balogun scored three goals and added two assists in eight USMNT caps since committing his future to his country of birth.
He has also shown positive moments for AS Monaco since making a permanent move from Arsenal this past summer.
Pepi netted seven goals in 10 USMNT caps last year, mainly contributing off the bench in Nations League and friendly play. Similar to Balogun, Pepi also made a switch at club level, enjoying a larger role at PSV than he did at Augsburg.
Josh Sargent and Daryl Dike are two long-term absentees that will be in the mix to get back to their best in 2024, while FC Dallas’ Jesus Ferreira and FC Cincinnati’s Brandon Vazquez are also attacking options for Berhalter to consider again.
Haji Wright enjoyed a strong first half of the EFL Championship season with Coventry City and will be pushing to get into the squad long-term.
The USMNT certainly has depth at the No. 9 position this year, but ultimately it will come down to which way Berhalter goes?
Gio Reyna’s long-term USMNT role
Gio Reyna’s future at Borussia Dortmund may be worrying, but his future with the USMNT has not looked brighter.
Reyna appeared in eight USMNT matches last year, scoring three goals and adding two assists in all competitions. He helped the Americans win the Nations League title last summer before also helping the USMNT clinch their return to the tournament semifinals.
Reyna’s return to full fitness has certainly been crucial to his production with the USMNT, but the rekindling of his relationship with Berhalter is equally as important.
The USMNT will definitely need Reyna if it wants to pick up a few trophies in 2024 and it will be interesting to see whether or not the 21-year-old makes a club move in January.
Who will be the centerback pairing?
From Tim Ream to Chris Richards to Miles Robinson, Gregg Berhalter has plenty of options at centerback in 2024, but the real question is, who will be the starters?
The USMNT has ample depth in the heart of their defense, with youth headlining the group. Richards, Robinson, Cameron Carter-Vickers, Auston Trusty and Mark McKenzie will all fight for minutes in 2024, especially after holding consistent jobs at club level.
Ream remains a veteran presence in the squad, while Hoffenheim’s John Brooks could also be in the mix this year. Nashville SC’s Walker Zimmerman will also likely be considered after featuring heavily during Berhalter’s reign as head coach.
Don’t forget about U-23 options Jalen Neal, Brandan Craig, and Jonathan Tomkinson as well.
Will anyone push Matt Turner for the No. 1 goalie job?
Matt Turner enters 2024 as the USMNT’s No. 1 goalkeeper, but will anyone push him for the starting job?
Turner made 13 starts for the USMNT last year, enjoying nine victories and posting seven clean sheets. However, his up-and-down first half of the season with Nottingham Forest is a worry heading into March’s CONCACAF Nations League schedule.
Ethan Horvath and Zack Steffen are out of action with their respective clubs and will likely need to do a lot to get back in form. Horvath and Steffen both could be on the move in January, with hopes of earning consistent playing time elsewhere.
Gabriel Slonina has continued to play regularly in Belgium and could be in the mix to be part of the squad long-term. MLS shot-stoppers Drake Callender and Roman Celentano are coming off positive 2023 campaigns, as is U-23 prospect Chris Brady.
Turner might be pushed for the No. 1 job, but it seems unlikely he will be pushed out of the role unless his form takes a major dip on the international level.
What will you be monitoring in 2024? Are there any positions you will be keeping a closer eye on? Who do you see making a major splash with the USMNT this year?
Share your thoughts below.
In my dream WC reality, Brendan Rogers manages a 4 4 2 look for us:
Forwards: Pulisic, Balogen
Left to right Mid Musah, Reyna, Adams, Mckennie
Left to right Backs: Robinson, Ream, Richards, Weah
CK Turner
P.S. Johnny and others really improving, too.
There is going to be a lot of eyes on the USSF, GGG, and the players. All 3 groups need to show progress in play and growth as a nation.
GGG – Has to show that he can coach and win against good competition in games that matter. He must get this team out of the group and secure at least 1 knock-out win. If he can’t accomplish that level than the Federation needs to replace him.
Players – The players are no longer inexperienced….it’s time they started living up to their potential. We can’t accept players acting out/being dumb….Dest’s red card(s). This tournament will highlight who can actually contribute and who our players are going to be.
USSF – They hired GGG for a 2nd term….and since his return the team has been trending in the wrong direction. If GGG fails to get out of the group than does USSF have the guts to fire Gregg and get a competent manager hired early enough that the new coach can implement their style.
Schulte has to be in that mix of GK’s.
Reyna needs a move away from Dortmund ASAP.
Jadon Sancho is headed back to Dortmund on loan. Which further pushes Reyna down that attacking depth chart.
I think Schulte, Gaga, and Brady will battle it out for the Olympic spots if they are released. Schulte is far better with his feet than Zach ever was with The Crew. I’m not at all a keeper expert so I’m not going to judge his shot stopping abilities compared to the others. He did win the MLS Next Pro Cup in 2022 and MLS Cup in 2023 so the guy wins big matches.
I’m watching to see if the USMNT can beat anyone outside of CONCACAF in an official competition (besides Iran). If not I’m watching to see if the USSF has the courage to move on. If we can’t beat Bolivia and Panama on our home turf, we’re doomed.
DC Josh and Lost in Space,
I know it’s not your job so I doubt you have detailed dossiers but can you name a Gregg replacement who is realistic ,available and who you believe could actually take these players and get the most out of them?
If there is such a person, my suspicion is they are not necessarily a big name. If they axe Gregg and then replace him with another of their placeholders like the other JK, Jason Kreis, then they aren’t any better off.
I don’t know if Crocker and his minions have the same view of Gregg that is currently quite popular on SBI. If they do, then hopefully they have been spending time checking out prospective replacements.
I wouldn’t get my hopes up.
Odds are very good that no matter how lousy they play they are going to win the Nations League. And everyone knows that.
As for Copa America, it’s a tournament. It will be tough but they should be able to muddle through Panama and Bolivia. And if they can get 4 points out of those two games they might be able to hold off Uruguay. If they advance out of the group then they will claim it a success unless the knockout game is an utter humiliation.
I don’t see Copa A as a rehearsal for 2026.
It’s more like the final exam of the 2022 Qatar team.
How that team, which should be the culmination of the Berhalter reign, performs should be the best gauge of Gregg the teambuilder. If Gregg has half a brain, he’ll be going all out to play as well as possible at Copa America because he knows if he doesn’t do that then there may not be a 2026 for Gregg.
Six years , that’s long enough to figure out what they have in terms of a manager.
But, other than the performance what really matters the most is can they dig up a better solution than the affordable Gregg?
You know they are not going to break the bank to bring in a Klopp or the equivalent. Not with this player pool who, regardless of the cockeyed optimism, are quite a ways from contender status, no matter who is running the mouse house.
That’s a waste of money.
This team lacks veteran leaders with credible credentials.
By 2026 they may have some so maybe they will have a better shot at things then.
At least, that is what the USSF will tell themselves when they extend Gregg, at which point Gregg will be known as one of the luckiest men in international soccer. And we all know it’s better to be lucky than good.
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Jesse or ‘Dolo. Unlike Gregg, they have both won something.
DC Josh,
Dolo. I think ultimately he’s going to be the best of his generation.
Jesse, for all that he’s been through comes across as inexperienced. Or maybe he’s just naive. He talks so much that you’re fooled into thinking that he actually knows what he is talking about.
Watching him at Leeds, I kept waiting for him to do something. And he never seemed to. Maybe they fired him too early but I believe that Americans still don’t really appreciate how terrifying the prospect of relegation is and how people panic at the possibility.
Jesse needs to manage a good team somewhere and build his reputation back up.
Drop Colombia and add Uruguay to headlining Copa America….