The U.S. Men’s National team is in a state of flux. After missing out on the World Cup for the first time since 1986, the U.S. soccer landscape is set to change and the start of that came in Portugal on Tuesday as the U.S took on the Portugal’s National team. Seven players under the age of 23 featured for the USMNT in that match, with 19-year-old Weston McKennie scoring in his debut appearance for the national team.
With the U.S. out of World Cup contention until at least 2022, the team can put their focus on developing the young, budding talent that they have. Outside of the players that have already been called up, there are still multiple players waiting in the wings from the U-20 and under that are considered the future of the national team.
Players like Fulham’s Luca de la Torre, who just made his first appearance for the senior team last month, or Arsenal’s Gedion Zelalem, who has spent time with Rangers on loan, starting for them in midfield. Even younger, there’s Timothy Weah, just 17-years-old, in the Paris Saint Germain academy system and son of legendary striker George Weah. There’s also 17-year-old Andrew Carleton from Atlanta United, who has played for the MLS team in the U.S Open Cup as well as 17-year-old Josh Sargent, who was called up to U.S. side to play Portugal, but was unable to play due to injury.
Even for Orlando City, a number of players have been in the youth system and have potential to break into the senior team before the next World Cup. Tommy Redding, who will turn 21 in January, has served as captain for the U.S. U-18 team and just recently played for the U-20’s in their World Cup this past summer. Pierre Da Silva, only 19-years-old, has played with the U-17’s and U-19’s and is continuing to grow his game as a Homegrown player with the MLS side.
The future for not only the U.S., but also Orlando City is very bright and now is the time for both club and country to ride the youth wave into the future.
