The US men’s national team are gearing up for this summer’s Copa America with head coach Gregg Berhalter looking to guide the Stars and Stripes to a deep run in the prestigious tournament.
The USMNT are all set to make their fifth Copa America appearance since making their competition debut back in 1993. Just over three decades later, the US will embark on a new Copa America journey with their most talented group of players to date.
As the United States was selected as hosts for the tournament, the USMNT will have plenty of support in the opening stages of Group C competition against Panama, Bolivia and Uruguay. Key figures like Christian Pulisic and Weston McKennie will be tasked with leading their side out of their group in a bid to uproot the tournament favorites Argentina and Brazil in the knockout stage.
The Stars and Stripes last competed in the Copa America back in 2016, when the competition was also played on US soil during the centenario — or 100th anniversary — of the tournament. Under then-head coach Jurgen Klinsmann, the USMNT managed to reach the semi-finals of the 2016 edition after taking down Ecuador in the quarter-finals. However, the US would go on to suffer from their own success as they were soundly defeated 4-0 by Argentina in the semi-finals.
Here’s everything you need to know about the USMNT heading into Copa America 2024.
The USMNT didn’t qualify in typical fashion as they aren’t members of CONMEBOL, the governing body of soccer in South America. However, as the US were named as hosts for the tournament, the 3-0 home victory and subsequent 2-1 away defeat to Trinidad and Tobago in CONCACAF Nations League play were enough for the American side to punch their ticket to the competition.
The previously mentioned Pulisic and McKennie will be two of the first names on Berhalter’s team sheet ahead of their opening Group Stage match vs Bolivia, as both bring plenty of experience at the international and club level and have what it takes to get the job done.
Other key players like Gio Reyna, Folarin Balogun, Ricardo Pepi and Antonee Robinson will all have a part to play if the USMNT are to reach the semi-finals of Copa America.
Goalkeepers:
Defenders:
Midfielders:
Forwards:
USMNT projected starting lineup for Copa America 2024 ( 4-3-3 ): Turner; Scally, Richards, Ream, Robinson; Adams, McKennie, Reyna; Weah, Balogun, Pulisic.
The Stars and Stripes…
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