World Cup 2022 Group B Team Guides: United States
Nobody is calling Group B of the World Cup the Group of Death. Maybe they should, as it’s the only one in which all four teams — United States, England, Iran and Wales — are ranked inside FIFA’s Top 20. Let's break it down.
Here is everything to know about the United States:
Coach: Gregg Berhalter
Highest finish: Third (1930)
2018 finish: Didn’t qualify
FOX Bet odds: +20000
Key players: Tyler Adams, Weston McKennie, Christian Pulisic
[USMNT World Cup 2022 roster: Get to know all 26 players]
What we’re excited to watch: The youngest team in the tournament gets its first true test against elite opposition, and it comes on the biggest stage there is.
What success looks like: Just getting out of a group that, based on FIFA’s ranking, is the toughest at this World Cup, while the bare minimum, would also be acceptable after not qualifying four years ago. Anything more is gravy.
Achilles' heel: Striker. For all of their talent at fullback, in midfield, and on the wings, none of the center forwards on the roster have a proven ability to score goals at the highest level.
X-Factor: Gio Reyna. Finally healthy again after missing almost a full year with leg injuries, the gifted 20-year-old (as of Nov. 13) Borussia Dortmund attacker has enough talent to be the Americans’ breakout World Cup star.
Full roster
Goalkeepers: Ethan Horvath, Matt Turner, Sean Johnson
Defenders: Joe Scally, Sergino Dest, Cameron Carter-Vickers, Aaron Long, Walker Zimmerman, Shaq Moore, DeAndre Yedlin, Tim Ream, Antonee Robinson
Midfielders: Cristian Roldan, Kellyn Acosta, Luca de la Torre, Yunus Musah, Weston McKennie, Tyler Adams, Brenden Aaronson
Forwards: Jordan Morris, Jesus Ferreira, Christian Pulisic, Josh Sargent, Giovanni Reyna, Timothy Weah, Haji Wright
Read more on the World Cup:
- Group B Team Guides: England | Iran | Wales
- USMNT World Cup roster: Get to know all 26 players
- Alexi Lalas reacts to USMNT roster reveal
- 101 most memorable World Cup moments
- 50 reasons to be excited for the World Cup
Doug McIntyre is a soccer writer for FOX Sports. Before joining FOX Sports in 2021, he was a staff writer with ESPN and Yahoo Sports and he has covered United States men’s and women’s national teams at multiple FIFA World Cups. Follow him on Twitter @ByDougMcIntyre.