USMNT in Champions League 2024/25: which Americans will play in UEFA’s competition?

After a challenging summer that saw an early exit in the 2024 Copa América, the United States Men’s National Team (USMNT) is now focused on preparing for the 2026 World Cup. Having as many players as possible performing at their best is crucial for the team’s success and some of them are featuring in Europe’s showpiece tournament, the 2024/25 UEFA Champions League.

Champions League stars and stripes

Thursday, the draw for the revamped European competition will take place, making it interesting to see the fate of the most influential players from the USMNT. Key figures like Christian Pulisic, Yunus Musah, Cameron Carter-Vickers, and Gio Reyna need to perform well in Europe.

For AC Milan, the USMNT representatives are Pulisic and Musah, who, under the guidance of Paulo Fonseca, will be aiming for a successful campaign. The San Siro club is looking to reclaim European prominence and is preparing to face challenging opponents. The Rossoneri will be placed in Pot 2 for the draw, setting them up for potentially tough matchups as they seek to make a deep run in the competition.

A player who stands out significantly is Carter-Vickers, a three-time champion in Scotland’s top division, who is eager to help Celtic regain the spotlight in Europe’s most prestigious tournament. The central defender is the leader of the backline and is currently at a very intriguing point in his professional career.

Americans fighting for UCL places

At Juventus, Weston McKennie and Tim Weah are two other American stars aiming to make a strong impact. The project under Thiago Motta needs to gain momentum quickly, and both players are eager to prove that they are valuable options. McKennie has yet to see any action after the first two Serie A matches, while Weah suffered an injury after scoring against Como in a 3-0 victory.

Although Gio Reyna featured in Borussia Dortmund’s Bundesliga opener, he has struggled in the past to secure a consistent spot in the lineup at Signal Iduna Park, making his future uncertain. Folarin Balogun faces a similar challenge as he works to establish himself as a regular starter at AS Monaco. Lastly, Sergiño Dest, who recently joined PSV, is expected to be sidelined until January 2025 due to injury, making his return to the pitch a longer-term prospect.