Tom's Predictions For The 2024 U.S. Copa America Roster
This summer is going to be another amazing one in terms of competition for U.S. men’s soccer. From being part of the 2024 Copa America, the 2024 Olympics, and even heading into the fall the 2024/2025 CONCACAF Nations League kicks off. With this comes opportunities to see a LARGE crop of U.S. soccer talent on display. Since the newest version of the CONCACAF Nations League is still months away with two other tournaments before it… I am not going to focus heavily on that competition in this article. But, I will take a page out of Matthew Doyle’s book and put together my predictions/hopes for the 2024 Copa America and 2024 Olympic rosters. If you want to check out Doyle’s please give him the clicks and the love here.
I think it makes the most sense to start with the full senior team and then see who is left to make/qualify for the Olympic side. The full senior team is easy… this is the best of our best. Even if the player is U-23 eligible, if they are good enough, they are here:
Goalkeepers:
Drake Callender - Inter Miami CF (MLS)
Ethan Horvath - Cardiff City (EFL Championship)
Matt Turner - Nottingham Forest (English Premier League)
Matt Turner is the U.S.’s clear number one goalkeeper. He’s playing in one of the best leagues on the planet and in most games for the USMNT, he is elite in net. Ethan Horvath is similar in the sense of trust with Gregg Berhalter and his staff. He’s been playing for Cardiff City and seems like the easy selection for the U.S.’s backup in this moment of time. Now, the real question really comes in the final goalkeeper spot. Let’s be honest, if we get to this spot… we have an issue for this Copa America. I went with Callender as he is playing well for Inter Miami, not eligible for the Olympic roster, and would benefit just being around the full senior roster more.
Next guys up: Roman Celentano, Patrick Schulte, Gaga Slonina, and Chris Brady
Leftbacks:
Antonee Robinson - Fulham FC (English Premier League)
Kristoffer Lund - Palermo (Serie B)
Antonee “Jedi” Robinson has developed into one of the few automatically written in names for this U.S. squad. He is playing strongly for a decent Fulham side and even has some links to transfers to larger clubs in the English top flight. The backup leftback option is the curious point here. According to Matthew Doyle in the article above, Palermo’s Kristoffer Lund is already cap tied for Denmark’s U23s so he can only represent the United States at the full senior level. With a strong group of Olympic eligible leftbacks behind Robinson and Lund… he seems like the easy selection here. Giving him and the other young fullbacks options to get international minutes this summer.
Next guys up: John Tolkin, Caleb Wiley, DeJuan Jones and George Bello
Rightbacks:
Bryan Reynolds - Westerlo (Belgian Pro League)
Joe Scally - Borussia Monchengladbach (German Bundesliga)
The Sergino Dest injury hurts. He is the United State’s best attacking fullback and has been having a fantastic season in the Eredivisie for PSV. Now how do you replace him? Joe Scally is clearly not the same attacking threat as Dest, but the kid has been playing a strong defensive fullback position in one of the best leagues in the world. He seems like the smartest answer to start for the injured Dest. I would also bring with me Bryan Reynolds who has been having another strong season in Belgium. Reynolds is definitely more of an offensive threat and can bring something a bit different than Joe Scally.
Next guys up: Marlon Fossey, DeAndre Yedlin and Reggie Cannon
Centerbacks:
Cameron Carter-Vickers - Celtic (Scottish Premier League)
Chris Richards - Crystal Palace (English Premier League)
Miles Robinson - FC Cincinnati (MLS)
Tim Ream - Fulham FC (English Premier League)
There are a lot of comments, opinions, and options for who the best four centerbacks are for the United States. Cameron Carter-Vickers has been maybe the most consistent defender for the U.S. since his arrival to Celtic a few seasons ago. Along with “CCV”, Tim Ream brings a level of consistency and experience. He was one of our top players at the last World Cup and is still getting a ton of minutes in the Premier League, even at the age of 36. Speaking of the Premier League, another U.S. centerback has really come into his own over the last few weeks of the English season, Chris Richards. Chris Richards has been having a fantastic second half of his season playing for Crystal Palace and I think is deserving of a top four spot for the U.S. Lastly, I had to go with a man who has shown up in mostly every game he’s played for the United States, Miles Robinson. Miles opted to stay within MLS this past winter and he has been playing at a very high level. A high enough level mixed with his previous resume that I think puts him into this Copa America group.
Next guys up: Mark McKenzie, Auston Trusty, Walker Zimmerman and Matt Miazga
Defensive Midfielders:
Johnny Cardoso - Real Betis (La Liga)
Tyler Adams - Bournemouth (English Premier League)
When healthy, there is nobody that can replace what Tyler Adams does for the United States. The issue with my last sentence? Tyler Adams is having a ton of trouble remaining healthy. The good news is that he did return to action after a long term injury and has made some appearances for Bournemouth. But if he is healthy, Tyler Adams should be on this roster and will be one of the most impactful players on it as well. Next up is a breakout star of the European game, Johnny Cardoso. Johnny made the move from Brazil to Spain in the last transfer window and has done nothing but impress in arguably the best league on the planet. Johnny is a different type of player than Tyler Adams, but nonetheless has played himself into what should be a consistent call up for Gregg Berhalter.
Next guys up: Lennard Maloney, Tanner Tessman, Aidan Morris and James Sands
Central Midfielders:
Weston McKennie - Juventus (Serie A)
Yunus Musah - AC Milan (Serie A)
Gio Reyna - Nottingham Forest (English Premier League)
Malik Tillman - PSV (Eredivisie)
Now the term “central midfielder” is an interesting one in Gregg Berhalter’s system. Who’s playing next to the defensive midfielder in the double pivot? Who’s playing more advanced in a creative role? Are some of these players considered wingers? There are questions here… But the one easy answer to the question of “Who should be called up?” is Weston McKennie. The veteran USMNT midfielder might be having the best season of his career for Juventus in the Serie A. Another easy name call-up is youngster for AC Milan, Yunus Musah. The Italian top flight has been good to the United States and really helped the development of Weston and Yunus. Those are the two guys who I’d like to see play more alongside Tyler Adams or Johnny Cardoso in a lower midfield block. The more creative and forward midfielders to me are Gio Reyna and Malik Tillman. Gio is without a doubt talented, but can he show up mentally? If he can, get this man into the roster and the starting XI. Malik Tillman is someone that I think we could see playing out wide for Gregg Berhalter, but also more central. He’s been another standout American out PSV this past season.
Next guys up: Brenden Aaronson, Luca de la Torre, Gianluca Busio, and Paxten Aaronson
Wingers:
Alejandro Zendejas - Club America (Liga MX)
Christian Pulisic - AC Milan (Serie A)
Timothy Weah - Juventus (Serie A)
Captain America, Christian Pulisic leads a group of wingers that have been playing pretty well as of late. Pulisic, similar to Weston McKennie, might have had his best season of his career. The move from Chelsea to AC Milan seems to have unlocked a new version of Christian Pulisic that American fans have been loving. Another American over in Italy, Timothy Weah, has not had the same level of total success this season… but, Weah has been playing a strong right midfielder as of late for Juventus. He is another player that when he puts on the U.S. jersey, always seems to show up. Weah could also be an option to play a right wingback if needed for Gregg with Sergino Dest out. Lastly, Alejandro Zendejas makes my roster after this amazing run he has been on down in Mexico. Zendejas is showing up in big moments for the Mexican giants and he is deserving to be in this group.
Next guys up: Diego Luna, Taylor Booth, Cade Cowell, Kevin Paredes, and Griffin Yow
Strikers:
Florian Balogun - Monaco (Ligue 1)
Haji Wright - Coventry City (EFL Championship)
Josh Sargent - Norwich City (EFL Championship)
It wasn’t too long ago that I was sitting on the MLS Aces Podcast chatting with Jason Vevang complaining that the United States had 0 striker depth… well, here we are, with maybe too many strikers to count. The top of the striker depth chart has to be Florian Balogun who hasn’t hit the same goal scoring heights he did last season in Ligue 1… but 13 goal contributions across all competitions in one of the best leagues in the world isn’t too shabby. Next up are the EFL Championship boys, Wright & Sargent. Haji Wright has really been on a tear since scoring his goal at the last World Cup. This season after a recording breaking move to Coventry City, Wright has featured at striker, winger, and become one of the best players on a team that just took Manchester United to the brink in the FA Cup semi final. The 26 year old has scored 18 goals and recorded 7 assists in his 47 games in England this season. Finally, we have Josh Sargent who has had his own stellar season for Norwich City. 15 goals and 2 assists for the 24 year old who has played the best soccer of his career following a strong World Cup showing. With Wright providing some winger depth as well, Sargent could easily offer some “back to goal” versatility at the striker spot for the U.S.
Next guys up: Ricardo Pepi, Brandon Vazquez, Jesus Ferreira, Duncan McGuire, and Jordan
I will be honest, since I first started writing this piece up until now… I didn’t expect it to be so long (Whoops!). But I feel like I hit some pretty decent points about these positional groups and put together a strong 23 man roster for the U.S. to roll into Copa America with. Now things can always change as we get closer to the competition but I put pretty good faith into this group:
GKs: Matt Turner, Ethan Horvath, Drake Callender
FBs: Antonee Robinson, Joe Scally, Kristoffer Lund, Bryan Reynolds
CBs: Chris Richards, Cameron Carter-Vickers, Tim Ream, Miles Robinson
MIDs: Tyler Adams, Weston McKennie, Gio Reyna, Yunus Musah, Johnny Cardoso, Malik Tillman
WNGs: Christian Pulisic, Timothy Weah, Alejandro Zendejas
STs: Florian Balogun, Haji Wright, Josh Sargent
I am going to make this a part 1, and break out my Olympic roster predictions into a part 2 article… stay tuned to mlsaces.com!
