Back in 2014 — the last time the U.S. men’s national team appeared in the World Cup — then-head coach Jurgen Klinsmann made the stunning decision to leave longtime USMNT star Landon Donovan off his roster. Fast forward eight years, and head coach Gregg Berhalter didn’t need to worry about leaving a U.S. soccer legend off his team this time around.
But that doesn’t mean that fans will walk away totally pleased with the 26-player roster that will head to Qatar.
In an announcement show on ESPN2, Berhalter discussed some of the tougher roster decisions as several mainstays in qualifying were left off the squad entirely. On top of that, a couple players who were thought to be out of the Berhalter’s vision were given the coveted World Cup call-up.
Let’s break down a few of those snubs and surprises.
Snub: Zack Steffen
Two years ago, Zack Steffen would have been seen as a virtual lock to be the USMNT’s starting goalkeeper in Qatar. He made 29 appearances with the USMNT in just a few years and spent time as Manchester City’s backup goalkeeper.
But injuries and shaky performances have forced Steffen to fall out of Berhalter’s favor, and at best, Steffen was going to be Matt Turner’s backup in Qatar. So, the exclusion doesn’t necessarily impact the team (unless Turner sustains an injury or gets sent off), but it’s still a snub based on Steffen’s large role with the team in recent years.
Surprise: Tim Ream!
Not all the surprises are bad.
Tim Ream hadn’t been called into Berhalter’s team since 2021, but it was so clear that he was among the best defenders in the USMNT’s talent pool. Ream has been in excellent form with Premier League side Fulham, has chemistry with Fulham and USMNT teammate Antonee Robinson and is the kind of player you’d want on a World Cup squad.
For all the times that Berhalter favors his system over available talent, he made the right choice with Ream.
Tim Ream vs Liverpool (Aug 6 2022)#FFC #USMNT pic.twitter.com/dZEPEuOzZr
— Justin Moran (@kickswish) August 26, 2022
Snub: Ricardo Pepi
It has been a whirlwind experience for Ricardo Pepi with both club and country. The former FC Dallas striker got off to a blistering start with the USMNT and scored three goals in qualifiers. He signed a $20 million deal with Bundesliga side FC Augsburg before falling into a massive goal drought. A loan over to FC Groningen has helped Pepi regain his form and confidence (six goals in nine competitions), so most assumed that Berhalter had seen enough to trust Pepi again. Guess again.
When you have players like Jesus Ferreira and Jordan Morris making the cut over Pepi, this definitely falls into the snub category. His recent play deserved a call.
✅ Wins the ball
✅ GoalRicardo Pepi scores his 5th goal in all competitions for FC Groningen! 🚂
[🎥: @GETSOCCERD]pic.twitter.com/ERF3IM3ME8
— USMNT Otaku 🇺🇸 (@USMNTOtaku) October 19, 2022
Surprise: Haji Wright
Haji Wright has been on a tear in the Turkish Super Lig, scoring nine goals in 12 matches. He’s also forged strong friendships with USMNT stars Christian Pulisic and Weston McKennie given their time together in the U.S. youth system.
But at the same time, Wright’s inclusion is a surprise as he’s only had three caps with the USMNT and Berhalter didn’t exactly have great things to say about his performances. Nine goals at the club level can be awfully persuasive, though.
Snub: Jordan Pefok
The calls for Pefok’s inclusion were much louder earlier in the Bundesliga season when he got off to a hot start with three goals. But the Union Berlin striker has been quiet since. And despite showing at times that he’s a Champions League-quality forward, Pefok has had trouble breaking into the squad with Berhalter.
Still, he’s a talented player who has the height and athleticism to make plays in the air. It’s a snub, for sure, but Berhalter didn’t exactly keep this one a secret.
Jordan Pefok scored the winning goal vs Manchester United on this day a year ago. 🔥 pic.twitter.com/9785X4mJCK
— USMNT 🇺🇸 (@USMNTTAKES) September 14, 2022
