USA squad for Copa America 2024: Who’s in and Who’s out, Key Players and Predicted Lineup

Team USA was the undisputed top team in North America for several years until recent times, as their stars from the past such as Landon Donovan and Clint Dempsey have retired. However, the new crop of players still has several who are highly talented.

Managerial struggles and a lack of consistent competitive games have prevented the USA from achieving their maximum potential. However, this upcoming Copa America 2024 presents the host nation with the opportunity to do something big. Under manager Gregg Berhalter, the team comprises of exciting young players along with experienced heads who have achieved great heights in the sport.

Now, on the back of a rocky last few months where they have won four and lost four games, USA will look to put their best foot forward in the Copa. On that note, let’s take a detailed look at the players coach Berhalter has chosen for the tournament.

Goalkeepers

Former Arsenal custodian Matt Turner remains the undisputed number one choice in goal, despite his lack of minutes for current club Nottingham Forest. However, he is unlikely to be usurped owing to his quality when he represents his nation.  

Backing him up as the number two will be Cardiff City’s Ethan Horvath, with Toronto FC’s Sean Johnson being backed to take the third vacant goalkeeping spot in the roster.

Defenders

In a unique turn of fortune, team USA are set to be without Sergino Dest, but have plenty of quality full-backs in their ranks who can deputize in his place. They also have quality central defenders in what looks like a well-rounded defensive unit.

Joe Scally is likeliest to replace Dest, with Timothy Weah and Shaq Moore proving to be good alternatives too. Antonee Robinson will start at left-back, with Kristoffer Lund will be the backup.

In central defence, Tim Ream and Chris Richards seem to be the automatic choices, but Cameron Carter-Vickers, Mark McKenzie and Miles Robinson will be breathing down their necks as they all compete for minutes.

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Midfielders

In midfield, Weston McKennie, Yunus Musah and Tyler Adams have been mainstays since before the 2022 World Cup in Qatar. Team USA look set to carry that combination forward and into Copa America 2024. Two exciting players in Johnny Cardoso and Luca de la Torre are the deputies for this trio.

Giovanni Reyna, Brenden Aaronson and Timmy Tillman are the other options for Gregg Berhalter in midfield.

Forwards

Team USA have a fairly stacked lineup of strikers as well, who are all fairly young and highly-talented. This will create quite a few selection headaches for Berhalter, with each player making a decent case for being the starter.

Centrally, Folarin Balogun seems to be the first-choice option, while Christian Pulisic and Weah may be deployed on the wings, unless the latter plays in a more defensive role.

Predicted Lineup for USA in Copa America 2024

As mentioned above, Matt Turner is the likeliest to start in goal considering his considerable run in the first team as the first-choice.

In front of him in defence, Tim Ream and Chris Richards will make the center-back pairing, while Joe Scally and Antonee Robinson will be the full-backs.

Tyler Adams will be deployed in his preferred number six role, while Yunus Musah and Weston McKennie will play as the two eights in front of him.

Out wide, captain Christian Pulisic will start on the left, while Timothy Weah will start on the right, with Folarin Balogun playing centrally as the lone striker. This team will mostly be deployed in the traditional 4-3-3 setup.

USA Predicted Lineup: Turner (GK); Scally, Ream, Richards, Robinson; Adams, McKennie, Musah; Pulisic (C), Weah, Balogun.

Players Missing for USA in Copa America 2024

Four key players will miss the opportunity to represent USA at Copa America 2024 this summer. While they have a relatively clean slate in terms of injuries, certain players have been left out for tactical reasons.

Sergino Dest will miss the tournament owing to an injury he suffered while representing his club PSV Eindhoven. Daryl Dike is also out for the rest of the year after suffering an Achilles injury.

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