A young squad has been called in for the United States men’s national team match at Portugal, not surprising since the team’s World Cup hopes were dashed earlier this month.
With a 2-1 loss at Trinidad & Tobago several weeks ago, the United States was shockingly eliminated from next summer’s World Cup. The friendly in Portugal was obviously designed to give the Americans a test in Europe against one of the best soccer nations in the world.
Instead, the United States will be planning and preparing for the 2022 World Cup which means an influx of young talent for the squad, which for this match will be managed by Dave Sarachan.
Multiple sources from across United States soccer’s varied levels are telling Metro the names of some of these players on the preliminary roster. Some aren’t surprising but several are intriguing in one way or another.
Two sources said that the preliminary roster includes over 60 players with one source saying “it is mainly young players and not very many holdovers from qualifying.” From there, the group will be whittled down, presumably based on availability with the MLS playoffs ongoing as well as form and fitness.
The headliner of the group is Weston McKennie, a 19-year old regular for Schalke in the Bundesliga, who is arguably the most exciting young American included in the preliminary roster.
Also included, sources tell Metro, are the likes of Tyler Adams (New York Red Bulls), Walker Zimmerman (FC Dallas), Jonathan Gonzalez (Monterrey), Matt Hedges (FC Dallas), Timmy Parker (Vancouver Whitecaps), Matt Miazga (Chelsea), Christian Ramirez (Minnesota United), Lynden Gooch (Sunderland) and Erik Palmer-Brown (Sporting Kansas City).
