USMNT roster reveal: Which players will miss the 2022 World Cup?

Just 11 days until the 2022 World Cup gets underway and only a matter of hours until USMNT head coach Gregg Berhalter names his 26-man roster for the tournament. You can follow live coverage of the roster reveal right here on AS USA, while if you’re looking for a way to watch the event from Brooklyn, we’ve also got you covered.

Picking a roster for a major tournament usually follows a similar pattern. There’ll be 15-20 players that anybody who’s been paying attention agrees on and a few spots here and there which are still up for grabs only a matter of days before the competition gets underway.

But right now, rather than looking at who’s in, we’re going to take a look at who’s out. The following players have already suffered World Cup heartbreak before the globe’s biggest sporting even has even begun.

Defensive issues for USMNT coach Gregg Berhalter for 2022 World Cup

Miles Robinson

It has been suspected for months that Miles Robinson wouldn’t be involved in Qatar after the Atlanta United defender ruptured an Achilles tendon in May. There had been some hope that he would make a miraculous recovery in time for the tournament but that hasn’t transpired. Robinson would have been a certain starter alongside Walker Zimmerman in central defence, which opens up a spot in Berhalter’s first eleven.

Chris Richards

One man who would have been an option to fill that spot, but ultimately won’t, is Crystal Palace’s Chris Richards. The young defender hasn’t played for his club since August because of a leg injury and confirmed via Instagram that he wouldn’t be fit in time to take a place on the roster: “Gutted that this injury has ruled me out of the world cup but i know that the boys will go crazy regardless … will be rooting for y’all the whole way. Go out and make history.”

At just 22 years old, at least Richards has time on his side and will be confident of playing at a future World Cup.

Sam Vines

Belgian club Antwerp confirmed that full-back Sam Vines had broken his tibia in training last week and has undergone surgery which will keep him out for the next three to four months. With Antonee Robinson a certain starter at left-back, Vines was in contention to go as back-up, who will now almost certainly be Borussia Mönchengladbach’s Joe Scally.

Sergiño Dest and Weston McKennie injured ahead of 2022 World Cup

Berhalter will also have been sweating over the fitness of several of his other stars in recent weeks, with Sergiño Dest perhaps giving the most cause for concern. Dest was due to be involved in Milan’s 2-1 victory over Spezia on Saturday but ended up missing a third straight game with ‘adductor fatigue’. While it doesn’t sound particularly serious, Berhalter will be concerned that his undisputed starting right-back may not be in peak physical condition by the time the first game against Wales comes around on 21 November.

Key midfield man Weston McKennie is currently missing from the Juventus side with a quad injury, with his return-to-action date pencilled in for 14 November. A whole week before the USMT kick off their campaign but far from ideal.

Fellow midfielder Luca de le Torre is a little further behind in his recovery from a hamstring issue so Berhalter may have to decide whether to opt for another player, perhaps Cristian Roldán or Drordje Milhailovic, as cover in that area of the field.

There does, at least, look to be some good news elsewhere.

While it’s a worry that Berhalter doesn’t seem to have 100% decided on who will start in goal, Matt Turner could be given the nod after returning from a three-match injury absence to take up his usual place on the bench for Arsenal at the weekend. The ex-New England Revolution could start in today’s (Wednesday’s) Carabao Cup clash with Brighton, which would confirm his return to full fitness.

Wide men Timothy Weah and Gio Reyna appear to have fully recovered from recent injuries, while Norwich City forward Josh Sergeant, who is in contention for a striking spot, returned to action after a calf injury on Saturday, playing the full 90 minutes of his team’s victory away to Rothernham United.

USMNT World Cup schedule

The USMNT start their World Cup Group B campaign against Wales on Monday, 21 November. They will then face England on Friday, 25 November before finishing the group stage against Iran on Tuesday, 29 November.