Looking ahead to the 2018 World Cup: Who’s in, Who’s out for United States

In:

Goalkeeper: Brad Guzan

Guzan will be the only goalkeeper from the 2014 roster to make the 2018 World Cup, but he won’t be a spring chicken himself at 33 years old. Tim Howard named him the heir apparent after the World Cup and most expect him to take the reigns and run with it between the pipes.

Defense: Matt Besler, John Brooks, Omar Gonzalez, Fabian Johnson and DeAndre Yedlin

The 2018 defense looks like it could be very impressive. Gonzalez and Besler appear to be set in stone as the future of the central defense for the United States and will be grizzled vets by the next World Cup. Yedlin was a revelation in his role off the bench and could be a great option at right back, while Johnson handled himself pretty well too. This group should be the nucleus of the next World Cup cycle for the United States.

Midfield: Alejandro Bedoya, Michael Bradley, Mix Diskerud, Julian Green, Graham Zusi

Coming in to the World Cup I thought Bradley would be the most important player the United States had, but come the next World Cup that will wholly be true as he’s likely to be the only returning starter in the center of the pitch for the USMNT. Bedoya and Zusi did some good work at this World Cup, but could perform better. However, they are veterans and having them around during the next cycle will be important. As for Green, well…damn is that boy talented and by the time the 2018 World Cup rolls around he’s going to be in the prime of what appears to be a promising career. He has a lot of people excited about the future of the USMNT, and I’m in on that hype.

Forwards: Clint Dempsey, Aron Jóhannsson and Jozy Altidore 

The biggest reason to be optimistic going forward is that outside of Clint Dempsey the forwards on the USMNT are far from being in their prime. In fact, Jóhannsson and Altidore will be just 27 and 28 at the next World Cup and that would be Altidore’s third World Cup if it happens. Dempsey may be 32 years old the next go-round but there’s no doubting his skill and flare for the game. There’s a reason he’s captain of this squad and I don’t see him going all “Landon Donovan” on the USMNT just a year before the World Cup.

About Andrew Coppens

Andy is a contributor to The Comeback as well as Publisher of Big Ten site talking10. He also is a member of the FWAA and has been covering college sports since 2011. Andy is an avid soccer fan and runs the Celtic FC site The Celtic Bhoys. If he's not writing about sports, you can find him enjoying them in front of the TV with a good beer!

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