18 de Junio de 2024 - 05:36 pm

Will Youth Favor Team USA at Copa America?

With an average player age of 25 years 7/12 months, the U.S. Men’s National team enters Copa America with the second youngest team in its history

Christian Pulisic de Estados Unidos, en una imagen de archivo. EFE/ Carlos Ramírez
Christian Pulisic. EFE/ Carlos Ramírez

As Team USA prepares to host Copa America, all eyes will be on this rising team, to see if it continues to elevate, ahead of the 2026 World Cup, which it will also host along with Mexico and Canada.

Coached by Gregg Berhalter, the national team was drawn in Group C with Uruguay, Bolivia and Panama.

The team comes off a strong run after winning their third consecutive CONCACAF Nations League with a 2-0 victory over Mexico in the final this past March.

However, just prior to the tournament start, the U.S. suffered a heavy 5-1 loss to Colombia and a 1-1 draw against Brazil.

Berhalter with good numbers

Despite the criticism from the lopsided loss to Colombia, Berhalter boasts a record of 43 wins in 71 games at the helm of the Team USA, making him the third winningest coach in U.S. Soccer history, tied with Bob Bradley.

He also has a 75 percent win rate, the best in the national team history among coaches with a minimum of eight games.

Foto de archivo del entrenador Gregg Berhalter, quien tiene la responsabilidad de conducir a la selección de Estados Unidos en la Copa América que comienza este 20 de junio en su país. EFE/Carlos Ramírez
Gregg Berhalter. EFE/Carlos Ramírez

As a non-member of CONMEBOL, the U.S. does not have a long history in Copa America, but this year’s edition will be the second time in its five appearances that the team has hosted.

The first appearance dates back to 1993, when Team USA was eliminated in the group stage, while in 1995 it finished fourth after losing to Colombia 4-1 in the third-place match.

In 2007, their third appearance, they were scoreless, while in 2016, at the Copa America Centenario which they hosted for the first time, they finished fourth, again losing to Colombia, this time 0-1 in the third-place match.

European development, the key of USA success

With an average age of 25 years and 230 days, Team USA will face Copa America with the second-youngest squad in its tournament history.

Only the 2007 team had a lower average age than now. Then, the squad averaged 24 years and 280 days.

The U.S. team has members that play for clubs from eleven different leagues. The English Premier League, with eight players, is the most represented; while surprisingly, MLS will have only three players: Sean Johnson (Toronto FC), Shaq Moore (Nashville SC) and Miles Robinson (FC Cincinnati).

USA’s top player Christian Pulisic who now campains during the regular club season with AC Milan, leads a team that also includes Weston McKennie (Juventus), Tim Weah (Juventus), Yunus Musah (Milan), Ricardo Pepi (PSV) and Folarin Balogun (Monaco).

Team USA has the ambition to pass the knockout phase to compete with the continent’s best-prepared teams, like Brazil and Argentina, which are the tournament favorites.

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).

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). 

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