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Latin Times
Sport
Héctor Ríos Morales

Copa América 2024 is the perfect opportunity for the USMNT to get some experience ahead of the 2026 World Cup

Only four of the 27 players selected by Gregg Berhalter play club soccer in Major League Soccer; 18 players that participated in the 2022 World Cup return for Copa América 2024 (Credit: Via @USMNT on X/Twitter)

SEATTLE - The United States national team will try to take what was learned during the 2022 World Cup in Qatar and put it in play during Copa América 2024, their fourth appearance at the continental tournament.

After winning another CONCACAF Nations League over Mexico, the USMNT needs to prove that they are North America's best team with a good performance at this year's Copa América.

In Gregg Berhalter's 27-man shortlist, 18 of the players were part of that 2022 World Cup squad that reached the Round of 16. Most surprisingly, only four of the players in contention to make this year's tournament play for MLS clubs while the others represent clubs in 10 different countries: England (8), Italy (5), USA (4), Netherlands (3), Germany (2), Spain (2), Belgium (1), France (1), Scotland (1), Wales (1).

United States' Copa América quick facts

Group: C

Best result: fourth place (twice); has not participated since hosting the 2016 edition

Coach: Gregg Berhalter (second stint, originally appointed in Aug. 2023); record of 43-15-12 W-L-D

Brazilian top scorer in Copa América: Eric Wynalda (3 goals)

Where is the United States playing?

The USMNT will make its debut at Copa América 2024 in the city of Arlington, Texas, against the national team of Bolivia. Four days later, the U.S. will travel to the East coast to face Panama in Atlanta and will close out the group stage with a game at Arrowhead Stadium in Kansas City, Missouri, against Uruguay.

June 23: United States vs Bolivia - AT&T Stadium, Arlington

June 27: United States vs Panama - Mercedes-Benz Stadium, Atlanta

July 1: United States vs Uruguay - Arrowhead Stadium, Kansas City

27-man list for Copa América

Manager Gregg Berhalter selected 27 players for the friendlies against Colombia and Brazil ahead of Copa América 2024. Berhalter is bringing back 18 of the players that were part of the USMNT 2022 World Cup campaign in Qatar.

The average age of the squad is 25 years and 202 days. At least one player will be cut after the friendlies. The deadline to submit the final squad ahead of Copa América 2024 is June 15.

Goalkeepers: Ethan Horvath (Cardiff City), Sean Johnson (Toronto FC), Matt Turner (Nottingham Forest).

Defenders: Cameron Carter-Vickers (Celtic) Kristoffer Lund (Palermo), Mark McKenzie (Genk), Shaq Moore (Nashville SC), Tim Ream (Fulham), Chris Richards (Crystal Palace), Antonee Robinson (Fulham), Miles Robinson (FC Cincinnati), Joe Scally (Borussia Mönchengladbach).

Midfielders: Tyler Adams (Bournemouth), Johnny Cardoso (Real Betis), Luca de la Torre (Celta Vigo), Weston McKennie (Juventus), Yunus Musah (AC Milan), Gio Reyna (Nottingham Forest), Malik Tillman (PSV Eindhoven), Timmy Tillman (LAFC).

Forwards: Brenden Aaronson (Union Berlin), Folarin Balogun (Monaco), Ricardo Pepi (PSV Eindhoven), Christian Pulisic (AC Milan), Josh Sargent (Norwich City), Tim Weah (Juventus), Haji Wright (Coventry City).

Notable absence

Sergiño Dest

The speedy fullback will miss Copa América 2024 due to an ACL injury suffered with PSV back in April. Dest was part of the 2022 World Cup squad and even played for the USMNT during their title run in this year's CONCACAF Nations League.

The 23-year-old has 33 caps for the United States national team and has scored two goals.

Player to watch

Gio Reyna

The young and tricky midfielder has been one of Berhalter's aces during his tenure as the USMNT coach. He gave Reyna his senior debut with the national team at just 17 years of age and since then has represented his country in 27 games while scoring eight goals.

He was part of the 2022 World Cup team that traveled to Qatar but saw a more secondary role coming off the bench during the tournament. A feud between Reyna's parents and Berhalter over the promising star's minutes created a rift within the U.S. camp during the tournament.

Copa América 2024 will be the perfect opportunity for Reyna and other young players to leave their mark with the national team ahead of the 2026 World Cup which the United States will host.

Reyna spent the 2023-24 season playing for Borussia Dortmund and Nottingham Forest but only started in three of the 24 games he played in.

In the last 12 months, Reyna has more goals for the USMNT (4) than at the club level (0).

Gio Reyna | 2023 USMNT Highlights

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