United States men’s national team manager Gregg Berhalter has named Josh Sargent in his 27-player roster for upcoming friendlies against Colombia and Brazil, the team’s final matches before squads are due for Copa América.
Forward Sargent is expected to make his first appearance in USMNT camp since the 2022 World Cup after he had to withdraw from the Concacaf Nations League Finals in March due to injury.
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Sargent scored 16 goals in 26 league games for Norwich City in England’s second-tier Championship this season after missing four months of action following ankle surgery last August. He appeared to hurt his ankle again last week but was still selected for the upcoming camp, which players will begin reporting to on May 28.
Sargent’s return adds to a crowded USMNT forward pool that includes Folarin Balogun, Ricardo Pepi and Haji Wright.
Eighteen of the 27 players on Berhalter’s latest roster took part in the 2022 World Cup. All but one player on the roster was with the U.S. for its Concacaf Nations League triumph in March, the lone exception being injured defender Sergiño Dest, who tore his ACL in training with Dutch club PSV Eindhoven last month.
Defender Shaq Moore, who plays for MLS’ Nashville SC, appears to be Berhalter’s answer for greater depth at right full-back following Dest’s injury.
Berhalter will select his final Copa América roster in the days after the friendly matches against Colombia on June 8 in Landover, Maryland, and Brazil on June 12 in Orlando, Florida.
Berhalter faces some tough decisions, particularly with several young players also eligible for the 2024 Olympics, where the USMNT’s under-23s will compete later this summer.
“This summer presents 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 talented group of players and are excited about the opportunity to compete against some of the best teams in the world.”
The USMNT’s two longest active winless streaks are against Colombia (seven games) and Brazil (11 straight losses). The USMNT last earned a result against Colombia in 2005 — a 3-0 victory in Fullerton, California — and against Brazil in a 1-0 win in the Concacaf Gold Cup semifinal in Los Angeles in 1998.
Brazil or Colombia is likely to be the USMNT’s opponent in the Copa América quarterfinals if the Americans advance out of Group C.
Teams are required to submit their final rosters for Copa América 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.
Copa América will be played entirely in the U.S. with all 10 CONMEBOL countries and six guest teams from Concacaf.
The tournament kicks off on June 20, with the USMNT in Group C alongside Uruguay, Panama and Bolivia. The final will take place on July 14 at Hard Rock Stadium in Miami.
Upcoming USMNT roster (Caps/Goals)
GOALKEEPERS (3): Ethan Horvath (Cardiff City/WAL; 9/0), Sean Johnson (Toronto FC/CAN; 13/0), Matt Turner (Nottingham Forest/ENG; 39/0)
DEFENDERS (9): Cameron Carter-Vickers (Celtic/SCO; 16/0), Kristoffer Lund (Palermo/ITA; 3/0), Mark McKenzie (Genk/BEL; 13/0), Shaq Moore (Nashville SC; 18/1), Tim Ream (Fulham/ENG; 56/1), Chris Richards (Crystal Palace/ENG; 16/1), Antonee Robinson (Fulham/ENG; 41/4), Miles Robinson (FC Cincinnati; 29/3), Joe Scally (Borussia Mönchengladbach/GER; 9/0)
MIDFIELDERS (8): Tyler Adams (Bournemouth/ENG; 38/2), Johnny Cardoso (Real Betis/ESP; 11/0), Luca de la Torre (Celta Vigo/ESP; 20/0), Weston McKennie (Juventus/ITA; 51/11), Yunus Musah (AC Milan; ITA; 35/0), Gio Reyna (Nottingham Forest/ENG; 26/8), Malik Tillman (PSV Eindhoven/NED; 10/0), Timmy Tillman (LAFC; 1/0)
FORWARDS (7): Brenden Aaronson (Union Berlin/GER; 40/8), Folarin Balogun (Monaco/FRA; 10/3), Ricardo Pepi (PSV Eindhoven/NED; 23/10), Christian Pulisic (AC Milan/ITA; 66/28), Josh Sargent (Norwich City/ENG; 23/5), Tim Weah (Juventus/ITA; 37/5), Haji Wright (Coventry City/ENG; 9/4)