Can Pepi become USMNT’s starting No. 9 ahead of Balogun?

As the United States men’s national team undergoes something of a rebuild, green shoots are already starting to appear. In Gregg Berhalter’s second spell as head coach, the USMNT have set about unleashing their very youngest talents - prospects who may not be so well-known on the old continent just yet, but are busy getting pulses racing in the States.

After underwhelming at the 2022 World Cup, the Stars and Stripes needed fresh blood, and one youngster is giving USMNT supporters plenty of cause to be optimistic about the future: Ricardo Pepi, a striker who has been in fine scoring form for the Americans in 2023.

Free-scoring Pepi in clean sweep of US wins

Although he’s only 20, the Texan actually boasts a good deal of international experience already, having won 17 caps since becoming the USMNT’s second-youngest debutant in 2021, at the age of 18 years, nine months and 28 days. In the six games he’s played for the USMNT this calendar year, Pepi has been on the winning team every time and hasn’t failed to score.

The forward bagged four of his USMNT strikes after coming off the bench; according to Opta, that equals Eddie Johnson’s team record for the most goals by a substitute in a single year.

Pepi up against Balogun for USMNT striking berth

In a potent US attack that also includes the likes of star man Christian Pulisic, Timothy Weah, the currently injured Tyler Adams and surprise package Cade Cowell, Pepi is locked in a dogfight for the No. 9 shirt.

With Folarin Balogun established as Berhalter’s first choice as things stand, the PSV Eindhoven man is leaving everything out there in his bid to displace his competitor - but it’s no easy task. Balogun, who joined Monaco in the summer, is fresh from a stellar season on loan at Reims, his 22-goal haul enabling parent club Arsenal to bank €30m from his sale.

“It’s important that they [Pepi and Balogun] both scored,” Berhalter told reporters after the USMNT’s 4-0 friendly win over Oman on Tuesday. “And as far as we see the competition [between the two players], it’s twofold, right? It’s what they do for their clubs each and every week and what they do for us when they’re in camp.”

Germany, Ghana up next for USMNT

The USMNT are out to re-assert themselves on the world stage. As they look to move on from their disappointing campaign in Qatar, the second Berhalter era faces two major tests in the short term. In the next international break, in October, they host Germany, who have just beaten World Cup runners-up France, and Ghana.

Those two games will represent stern examinations of the USMNT’s progress as they prepare for next summer’s Copa América, a tournament in which they will have home advantage.