By Braden Chalker
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.
How did the USMNT qualify for 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.
Who are key players for the USMNT heading into Copa America 2024?
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.
USMNT projected 23-player squad for Copa America 2024
Goalkeepers:
- Ethan Horvath - Cardiff City
- Gabriel Slonina - Eupen
- Matt Turner - Nottingham Forest
Defenders:
- Cameron Carter-Vickers - Celtic
- DeJuan Jones - New England Revolution
- Tim Ream - Fulham
- Chris Richards - Crystal Palace
- Antonee Robinson - Fulham
- Miles Robinson - FC Cincinnati
- Joe Scally - Borussia Monchengladbach
- Auston Trusty - Sheffield United
Midfielders:
- Tyler Adams - Bournemouth
- Johnny Cardoso - Real Betis
- Weston McKennie - Juventus
- Yunus Musah - AC Milan
- Gio Reyna - Borussia Dortmund
- Malik Tillman - Bayern Munich (loaned to PSV Eindhoven)
- Luca de la Torre - Celta Vigo
Forwards:
- Folarin Balogun - AS Monaco
- Ricardo Pepi - PSV Eindhoven
- Christian Pulisic - AC Milan
- Brandon Vazquez - CF Monterrey
- Tim Weah - Juventus
USMNT projected starting lineup for Copa America 2024
USMNT projected starting lineup for Copa America 2024 ( 4-3-3 ): Turner; Scally, Richards, Ream, Robinson; Adams, McKennie, Reyna; Weah, Balogun, Pulisic.
Who will the USMNT play during Copa America 2024?
The Stars and Stripes will being Group C play on June 23 against Bolivia at AT&T Stadium before clashing with Panama on June 27 at Mercedes-Benz Stadium. Berhalter's side will round out Group Stage action against Uruguay on July 1 Arrowhead Stadium.
Should the USMNT progress to the quarter-finals out of Group C, they could take on either Brazil, Colombia, Costa Rica or Paraguay depending on their finish in Group C as well as any of the previously mentioned teams' finish in their respective Group D. Don't be shocked to see the USMNT squaring off against Colombia or Brazil in the quarter-finals on July 6, though, as those two nations will be the favorites to make it out of Group D.
USMNT Group Stage schedule:
- 23/06/2024 - USMNT vs Bolivia - 6:00 p.m. EST
- 27/06/2024 - Panama vs USMNT - 6:00 p.m. EST
- 01/07/2024 - USMNT vs Uruguay - 9:00 p.m. EST
This article was originally published on 90min.com as USMNT's road to Copa America 2024.
