The United States faces its biggest test in recent years as it hosts the 2024 Copa América next summer.
With the tournament scheduled to begin on June 20, Gregg Berhalter has selected his 27-player squad for pre-tournament friendlies against Colombia (June 8) and Brazil (June 12). He will be asked to combine up to a maximum of 26 players when it comes time for the tournament.
It was no surprise that in-form striker Haji Wright, who has scored 16 goals and assisted seven more this season for Championship side Coventry City in a promotion effort, was included in the list. What was surprising was that Berhalter hired Wright for a position change in the national team.
The 26-year-old is one of the fastest rising in this group of American players, but his best position will be up for debate come the Copa América. Not only is his influence critical to the USMNT’s performance in the competition, but his fit within the team will also have a huge effect on where other players rank.
The Jugo Mobile breaks down where Wright will play in the Copa América, how it will affect the deployment of others and where his future lies with the national team.
Haji Wright will be a factor as USMNT winger, says Berhalter
Speaking immediately after the release of the 27-man roster on May 20, Gregg Berhalter said they see Haji Wright as a winger as they plan to attack the 2024 Copa America.
“Currently, we see Haji playing more of his winger role,” Berhalter told the media, starting a larger conversation that creates a butterfly effect throughout the USMNT team.
“Specifically, it’s related to how he moves and how he can get opportunities that typically come from wider positions. Since we’re lacking some depth at that position, we think it’s a great option to move him to that position.”
Wright has primarily been a striker in his short career with the United States national team and has had a lot of success in that regard. The Los Angeles-born player has four goals in nine international matches, including one off the bench against the Netherlands in the 2022 World Cup quarter-finals, and a huge brace as a substitute against Jamaica in the recent League quarter-finals. of CONCACAF Nations.
However, Wright spent a significant amount of time as a left winger at club level last season with Coventry City, after joining from Turkish side Antalyaspor, where he was a centre-forward. With Berhalter having been tasked with figuring out how to replace the injured Sergino Dest at right back, Wright’s adaptation within the team will be a major factor in how they line up this summer.
Sky Blues fans experienced all the emotions before and after Haji Wright’s penalty ?#EmiratesFACup pic.twitter.com/GOOPDZ2D0E
— Emirates FA Cup (@EmiratesFACup) April 24, 2024
Who will play as right back for the USMNT in the Copa América?
Wright’s deployment could be a big indicator of how the United States plans to replace injured right back Dest in the Copa América.
While Berhalter has numerous options at the position, none of them are terribly ideal. You can use natural right-backs Joe Scally or Shaq Moore in the position, but both have been poor in their time in the US jersey, and although they will likely be given a chance in the pre-tournament friendlies against Colombia and Brazil. To prove they can carry the weight, Berhalter must have other options in case they both fail. Many of the other options, however, cause harmful effects on the rest of the training.
One possibility is to move right winger Tim Weah back to the defensive line, where he played for his club Juventus last season, as well as with Lille shortly before that. The problem here is that losing Weah’s pace and incision on the wing would significantly damage the attacking unit as there are very few inspiring options to replace him up front – Brenden Aaronson has largely been poor for both the club and for the country during the last calendar year. while moving Gio Reyna out means losing his exceptional play in midfield.
This is where Wright comes in. The 26-year-old could slide into the lineup, allowing the United States to move Weah to right back without losing his offensive presence.
Best moment of the season for Tim Weah (he needed it) and one of the best of his career. Juve goes to the final. pic.twitter.com/FzG7LEDc0H
– Brian Sciaretta (@BrianSciaretta) April 23, 2024
However, as with everything in this debate, there is a problem. Wright has primarily played on the left for his club, meaning you either have to play him on an unfamiliar right side or leave Wright on the left and find another spot for Christian Pulisic, the usual left winger. Pulisic can play in the number 10 position, but you still have to move Reyna. Instead, Pulisic would likely move to the right, where he primarily plays for his club, AC Milan, but that would still mean a change from the norm on the national team.
Moving a player causes problems in another position, so too many changes exacerbate the problems. Installing Wright on the wing appears to allow Weah to move back to right-back without too much trouble, giving Berhalter a solid back-up option if he decides that Scally and Moore aren’t cutting into his natural position.
Who will play as a forward for the USMNT in the Copa América?
With Wright on the wing, that likely leaves Folarin Balogun as the first No. 9 option for Berhatler and the United States.
However, Balogun has had a difficult start to his international career with the United States, with just three goals in his first 10 international matches. The 22-year-old also struggled in his first season with AS Monaco, scoring just seven goals and six assists this season, including just five goal contributions in his last 14 games after returning from injury in mid-February.
However, Josh Sargent’s return to prominence allowed Berhalter to take some liberties up front. Balogun is highly regarded within the US national team setup, but if he continues to struggle this summer, fans will be clamoring for Sargent to get a chance. At Norwich City this season, finally healthy and playing his best position in the middle of attack, Sargent scored a commendable 16 goals in 26 games, only offset by an ankle injury that cost him four months until the end of 2023.
Between Baolgun, Sargent and third choice Ricardo Pepi, there are plenty of options up front for the United States, allowing Wright the freedom to roam wide.
“I really tried to accept my role this season” ?
Josh Sargent explains how Norwich have stuck together this season to secure a play-off place ? pic.twitter.com/ucBxp89bvH
– Sky Sports Football (@SkyFootball) May 12, 2024
USMNT Squad for Copa América 2024
On May 20, United States head coach Gregg Berhalter revealed a 27-player squad to participate in pre-tournament friendlies against Colombia and Brazil.
For the Copa América itself, the squad will have to be cut by at least one, since CONMEBOL announced an expansion of the squads to a maximum of 26 players.
Below is the 27-player squad announced by US Soccer for friendlies against Colombia on June 8 and Brazil on June 12. Official rosters of 23 to 26 players must be submitted by June 15, and the tournament will begin on June 20.
Limits correct as of May 20, 2024. Age indicated at start of tournament on June 23, 2024.
| Pos. | Name | Club | Age | Tapas |
| G.K. | Ethan Horvath | Cardiff City (ENG)* | 29 | 9 |
| G.K. | Sean Johnson | Toronto FC (United States) | 35 | 13 |
| G.K. | Matt Turner | Nottingham Forest | 29 | 39 |
| DEF | Cameron Carter-Vickers | Celtic (SCO) | 26 | sixteen |
| DEF | Kristoffer Lund | Palermo (ITA) | twenty-one | 3 |
| DEF | Mark McKenzie | Genk (BEL) | 25 | 13 |
| DEF | shaq moore | Nashville SC (United States) | 27 | 18 |
| DEF | Tim Ream | Fulham | 36 | 56 |
| DEF | Chris Richards | Crystal Palace (ESP) | 23 | sixteen |
| DEF | Antonio Robinson | Fulham | 26 | 41 |
| DEF | Miles Robinson | FC Cincinnati (United States) | 26 | 29 |
| DEF | Joe Scally | Borussia Mönchengladbach (GER) | twenty-one | 9 |
| HALF | tyler adams | Bournemouth | 25 | 38 |
| HALF | Johnny Cardoso | Real Betis (SPA) | 22 | eleven |
| HALF | luca de la torre | Celta Vigo (ESP) | 25 | twenty |
| HALF | Weston McKennie | Juventus (ITA) | 25 | 51 |
| HALF | yunus musah | AC Milan (ITA) | twenty-one | 35 |
| HALF | gio reyna | Nottingham Forest (ENG)* | twenty-one | 26 |
| HALF | Malik Tillman | PSV Eindhoven (NED) | twenty-one | 10 |
| HALF | Timothy Tillman | LAFC (United States) | 25 | 1 |
| FWD | Brendan Aaronson | Berlin Union (GER) | 23 | 40 |
| FWD | Folarin Balogun | AS Monaco (FRA) | 22 | 10 |
| FWD | ricardo pepi | PSV Eindhoven (NED) | twenty-one | 23 |
| FWD | Christian Pulisic | AC Milan (ITA) | 25 | 66 |
| FWD | joseph sergeant | Norwich City | 24 | 23 |
| FWD | Tim Weah | Juventus (ITA) | 24 | 37 |
| FWD | Haji Wright | City of Coventry | 26 | 9 |
*Loaned to the listed club
