One of the busiest years in USMNT history fully commences on Sunday when the US Men’s National Team plays host to Trinidad & Tobago. The match will kickoff at 7pm in Exploria Stadium in Orlando, FL.

The US holds an impressive record over the Soca Warriors, with a 19-4-4 overall streak against the Trinidads. The most famous of this matchup in recent memory favored T&T, who’s 2-1 over the red, white, blue in 2017 knocked the US out of World Cup contention for the first time since 1986.

In their most recent affair, the US exacted revenge on the Caribbean country with a whopping 6-0 win in 2018. A brace from striker Gyasi Zardes headlined the emotional friendly. Now heading into 2021, they would look for a similar result with a mostly MLS side.

An Intriguing 25

Similar to December’s friendly, the entirety of the 25 man roster selected for Sunday is composed of MLS talent. With an average age of 23.9 and average cap of 10, many of these players will be looking to make an imprint on an ever so crowded pool. Additionally, 16 of the 25 players have Olympic eligibility.

GOALKEEPERS (3)

Matt Freese (Philadelphia Union; 0/0), JT Marcinkowski (San Jose Earthquakes; 0/0), Matt Turner (New England Revolution; 0/0)

Headlining the goalkeeper call ups is New England starlet Matt Turner. A former undraft rookie with only 45 minutes of college experienced, Turner rose up the ranks; first in MLS, now in the USMNT pool. A surefire candidate for the 2022 squad, Turner’s athleticism and reflexes separates himself from a crowded pack of USMNT keepers. With a coalition even touting him for GK1, it brings a chance to finally see Turner in the Red, White, and Blue.

Trailing behind the USMNT GK depth chart is Matt Freese and JT Marcinkowski. Both under 23, they remain eligible for olympic qualifying. Marcinkowski is expected to play a role in Olympic qualifying, with much more senior experience between the sticks than Freese.

DEFENDERS (9) 

Julian Araujo (LA Galaxy; 1/0), George Bello (Atlanta United FC; 0/0), Kyle Duncan (New York Red Bulls; 1/0), Aaron Herrera (Real Salt Lake; 0/0), Aaron Long (New York Red Bulls; 18/3), Mauricio Pineda (Chicago Fire FC; 0/0), Miles Robinson (Atlanta United FC; 2/0), Sam Vines (Colorado Rapids; 2/0), Walker Zimmerman (Nashville SC; 13/2)

Fullbacks

Julian Araujo, George Bello, Kyle Duncan, Aaron Herrera, Sam Vines

Two points of view need to be looked at for each position, but especially for fullbacks: Olympic Qualifying and 2022 World Cup Qualifying.

With the right side of the defense more than crowded, Aaron Herrera, Kyle Duncan, and Julian Araujo will take this camp as a tryout for the upcoming olympic qualifiers. Araujo remains in front of the Olympic depth chart at right back thanks to becoming a bright spot for a disappointing LA Galaxy side.

The left side of the defense may bring a much better chance at being in the picture for 2022, however. With Antonee Robinson the only serious lock on the left side, it opens a window for Sam Vines and George Bello to make a push into the 1st team pool. Both come with serious MLS experience and potential European upside. Vines currently leads in ability, but Bello may have more potential being two years the jr.

With fullbacks, Bryan Reynolds and Justin Blackman both leaving camp, it gives ample opportunity for all in the squad to get an extra look in the US kit.

Centerbacks

Aaron Long, Mauricio Pineda, Miles Robinson, Walker Zimmerman

Mauricio Pineda and Miles Robinson look very likely to be in the olympic qualifying picture, with an impressive January camp going a long way for a potential starting spot in the U-23 backline. Aaron Long also returns after an impressive December camp, and looks from the offset like he is very involved in Berhalter’s plans. A second clean sheet in as many matches for the national team will surely beef up that interest.

The real interest will be from one of the likely starters: Walker Zimmerman. Zimmerman was in that December camp, but did not appear in favor of former Philadelphia Union star Mark McKenzie. With McKenzie now in Europe, it opens the door for Zimmerman to impress against a weaker T&T side.

MIDFIELDERS (7)

Kellyn Acosta (Colorado Rapids; 24/2), Sebastian Lletget (LA Galaxy; 17/4), Benji Michel (Orlando City SC; 0/0), Andrés Perea (Orlando City SC; 0/0), Cristian Roldan (Seattle Sounders FC; 19/0), Tanner Tessmann (FC Dallas; 0/0), Jackson Yueill (San Jose Earthquakes; 8/0)

Defensive Midfield

Kellyn Acosta, Andres Perea

A real fascinating area of the pitch for the US in this camp, the battle for the #6 Saturday is a real tale of two players in very different points of their career.

For Kellyn Acosta, it brings another opportunity to shine after coming on a s substitute vs. El Salvador. Still somehow only 25, Acosta will look to fight his way back into the USMNT picture as a potential off the bench piece in 2022.

Then there is Andres Perea. A Floridian-Columbian, Perea has chosen the US for the time being as his country to represent. A surefire candidate for an Olympic star, Perea brings a defensive mindset and flair to a position that instantly puts him in the mix. Seeing him in the US kit will be a joy for years to come, with a potential appearance Sunday being the first of hopefully many.

Holding Midfield

Christian Roldan, Tanner Tessmann, Jackson Yueill

Christian Roldan is having a very comparative career to the aforementioned Kellyn Acosta. The 25 year old is looking like a fair candidate to backup Weston McKennie in the national team circuit.

Jackson Yueill and Tanner Tessmann both represent raw potential in the middle of the pitch. Yueill is the more refined of the two, who looks to play a very prominent role come olympic qualifying. Tessmann moved from MLS and USL, but has been on the USMNT radar for quite a while as well.

Attacking Midfield

Sebastian Lletget, Benji Michel

It’s become quite clear that Berhalter favors Lletget as a serious playmaker for the upcoming tournaments. While still having his doubters, he silenced critics with back to back influencing performances vs. El Salvador and Panama. He also started and played 87 minutes vs. Wales, signifying that Berhalter favors him greatly as a key contributer.

While at a much younger stage in his career, Benji Michel managed to match Lletget’s production in MLS over the last two seasons. A Haitian-American born in Orlando, Michel is a figurehead for success from playing at a college level. Now a key contributer for an upstart Orlando side, Michel looks to take his talents to the national stage in time for Olympic qualifying.

FORWARDS (6)

Jozy Altidore (Toronto FC/CAN; 115/42), Paul Arriola (D.C. United; 34/6), Daryl Dike (Orlando City SC; 0/0), Jesús Ferreira (FC Dallas; 1/0), Jonathan Lewis (Colorado Rapids; 6/0), Chris Mueller (Orlando City SC; 1/2)

Wingers

Paul Arriola, Jonathan Lewis, Chris Mueller

Disaster struck Paul Arriola in late February, when a diagnosed torn ACL in a preseason match sidelined him for the near entirety of 2020. In that time, he was considered in the mix of the USMNT player pool and an outsiders chance at making a run on the 2022 world cup squad. Now in 2021, it seems he has some fresh competition to worry about as well.

Fresh off an impressive December camp and even more impressive MLS campaign, Chris Mueller’s stock as more than skyrocketed since Arriola’s injury. Now the two right wingers get to battle it out in camp for what may be a deciding roster spot come next year.

Across the pitch on the left is the only natural left winger in the squad, Jonathan Lewis. A former Akron Zip, Lewis will attempt to make 2021 one where he stands out from the crowd of USMNT capable wingers. At 23, he just passes that mark forOlympic eligibility, and will be a stand out for Jason Kreis’s side come qualification time.

Strikers

Jozy Altidore, Daryl Dike, Jesus Ferreira

Mixing the old with the new. That seems to be Gregg Berhalter’s approach when selecting both Jozy Altidore and Daryl Dike in the same 25 man squad.

For Altidore, this camp brings a chance to rejuvenate a USMNT career that appeared volatile during 2018 World Cup qualification. With only two goals in MLS last season, it seems like the twilight of the New Jersey native’s career is upon him. Applying pressure in the depth chart is Daryl Dike, a Nigerian-American who’s thrown himself into the USMNT mix after a fantastic first year in MLS.

Dike’s rise in MLS has been prolific, with 8 goals in 17 appearences, including four in the last four MLS regular season matches. While still a raw talent who lacks the passing and composure of a world class striker, Dike’s strength and finishing shows that his ceiling may be higher than anyone else’s in the USMNT striker pool.

A much different T&T

Taking on the “MLSNT’s” are a familiar foe in Trinidad and Tobago. It’ll be a much different T&T side compared to the one the US last faced, with a new board and new emphasis on youth development. This is due to a freefall from a federation which could’ve meant the end of the countries national team entirely.

At the forefront of the Soca Warriors is Manager Terry Fenwick. Former England international, Fenwick will have to navigate a busy 2021 that starts off with World Cup Qualifying in March. For a country that went winnless in a nations league group with Hondurus and Martinique, it boads poorly for the Soca Warriors’s chances against the US.

That said, they remain big favorites to win their World Cup Qualifying group, and a new manager may mean a newly rejuvenated squad as they travel to Orlando.

My XI and Match Prediction

For my starting XI, I predict that Berhalter will go with experience up first, with most of the U-23’s getting their first caps when the game is already put away.

While this US team lacks the chemistry and ability of even a USMNT B-team, the yanks still dominate Trinidad and Tobago on all aspects on the pitch. Even with the asterisks that was that night in Trinidad, this one should be handled fairly quickly.

What will be enticing to watch are the debutants and the players who are U-23 eligible. The US have only qualified for the Olympics once since 2004. With a country and League now focused on youth development more than ever, making the Olympics has to be the expectation.

A dominating win against T&T will help solidify that expectation.

USA 5-0 Trinidad and Tobago

SUPPORT THE BLOG

All content produced on this website is free. Nobody will ever have to pay for it. If you find my work is good enough, you can support the website and MLSNT via Venmo or Cashapp. It helps me produce more content and further expand MLSNT!

Cashapp: $NicolasSeverini

Venmo: Sevmaster3000