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U.S. men’s national team director Gregg Berhalter has named Josh Sargent to his 27-man roster for upcoming friendlies against Colombia and Brazil, the team’s final matches before the Copa America tournament.
Striker Sargent is expected to make his first appearance in the USMNT camp since the 2022 World Cup after he was forced to withdraw from the CONCACAF Nations League finals in March due to injury.
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Sargent scored 16 goals in 26 league matches with Norwich City in the second division in England this season after a four-month absence from the field following ankle surgery last August. He appeared to re-injure his ankle last week but was optioned to next camp, which players will begin reporting to on May 28. Berhalter said Sargent has mild, persistent foot swelling that medical staff wants to get under control.
Sargent’s return adds to a crowded USMNT forward group that includes Folarin Balogun, Ricardo Pepe and Haji Wright. Berhalter said Monday that he sees Wright playing as a winger, a position that Berhalter feels currently lacks depth.
“So, that will leave us with three strikers, and when you look at all the players, they were doing well when they had the chance,” Berhalter said. “Between their club level and what they have done for the national team in the past, we think they are a talented group of strikers.”
Eighteen of the 27 players in Berhalter’s final roster played for the 2022 World Cup. All but one of the players were with the United States during their CONCACAF Nations League win last March, with the only exception being injured defender Serginho Dest, who tore a ligament. The front cruciate during training with the Dutch club PSV Eindhoven last month.
Defender Shaq Moore, who plays for Major League Soccer side Nashville, appears to be Berhalter’s answer for more depth at right-back following Dest’s injury.
“Obviously, with Serginho down, we have to figure out the right-back situation,” Berhalter said, describing Moore and Joe Scally as potential “like-for-like” options. Berhalter also said that Tim Weah could be used as a wing-back, as he has done on occasion with Juventus.
“We just wanted the ability in this training camp to have options to have flexibility. Some of it might revolve around three players on defense,” Berhalter said. “But the first goal is to see how we fill the right-back position because we know we will miss Serginho.”
Tyler Adams, Gio Reyna, Matt Turner and Tim Ream, who are all coming off seasons at the club in which they saw little playing time over the last three months, have been included in the squad, while goalkeeper Zach Steffen has been left out by Berhalter despite his involvement in the squad. 14 matches. Colorado since its return to the American League.
Berhalter will select his final Copa America squad in the days following friendlies against Colombia on June 8 in Landover, Maryland, and Brazil on June 12 in Orlando, Florida.
Berhalter faces some difficult decisions, especially with several young players also eligible for the 2024 Olympic Games, where the USMNT Under-23 team will compete later this summer. He said that the long-term goal is to prepare for the 2026 World Cup on home soil.
“We really use these games to see how we can perform individually and as a team,” Berhalter said. He added: “And when you play against teams like Brazil, Colombia and Uruguay, what you get is information, and this information will help you grow and improve as you move towards 2026.”
“This summer represents an opportunity for us to progress and grow as a team as we continue to build towards the 2026 FIFA World Cup,” Berhalter said in a statement.
“We have a group of talented players and we are excited about the opportunity to compete against some of the best teams in the world.”
The two longest active winless streaks in the USMNT are against Colombia (seven games) and Brazil (11 straight losses). The last result achieved by the United States team was against Colombia in 2005, when it won 3-0 in Fullerton, California, and then against Brazil when it won 1-0 in the semi-finals of the CONCACAF Gold Cup in Los Angeles in 1998.
Brazil or Colombia will likely be the United States’ opponent in the Copa America quarterfinals if the Americans advance from Group C.
Teams must submit their final rosters for the Copa America by June 15, three days later than initially required.
Last week, CONMEBOL confirmed that roster sizes for the tournament would be expanded to a maximum of 26 players per team.
The Copa America will be held entirely in the United States with the participation of all 10 CONMEBOL nations and six guest teams from CONCACAF.
The tournament begins on June 20, with the United States placed in Group C alongside Uruguay, Panama, and Bolivia. The final will be held on July 14 at Hard Rock Stadium in Miami.
Upcoming USMNT Roster (Caps/Goals)
Goalkeepers (3): Ethan Horvath (Cardiff City/Wall Street; 9/0), Sean Johnson (Toronto/Canada; 13/0), Matt Turner (Nottingham Forest/England; 39/0).
Defenders (9): Cameron Carter-Vickers (Celtic/SC, 16/0), Christopher Lund (Palermo/Ita, 3/0), Mark McKenzie (Genk/Belgium, 13/0), Shaq Moore (Nashville, 18/ 1), Tim Ream (Fulham/England; 56/1), Chris Richards (Crystal Palace/England; 16/1), Anthony Robinson (Fulham/England; 41/4), Myles Robinson (Cincinnati; 29/3) – Joe Scally (Borussia Mönchengladbach/Germany; 9/0)
Midfielders (8): Tyler Adams (Bournemouth/England; 38/2), Johnny Cardoso (Real Betis/Spain; 11/0), Luca de la Torre (Celta Vigo/Spain; 20/0), Weston McKennie (Juventus/ETA) ). 51/11, Younes Musa (AC Milan, ETA, 35/0), Gio Reyna (Nottingham Forest/England, 26/8), Malik Tieleman (PSV Eindhoven/NED, 10/0), Timmy Tieleman (Los Angeles). ; 1/0)
Attackers (7): Brenden Aaronson (Union Berlin/Germany; 8/40), Folarin Balogun (Monaco/France; 3/10), Riccardo Pepe (PSV Eindhoven/NED; 10/23), Christian Pulisic (Milan/Italy) . 66/28), Josh Sargent (Norwich City/England; 5/23), Tim Weah (Juventus/ETA; 37/5), Haji Wright (Coventry City/England; 9/4).
Information from The Associated Press contributed to this report.
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