US men’s national coach Gregg Berhalter’s stated goal when he took office in 2019 was to change the way the world thinks about American men’s football.
After missing the 2018 World Cup, there was plenty of damage to repair. The qualifying campaign and entry into the 2022 World Cup was a first step, but after finishing third in CONCACAF there is still a lot to do.
However, this US team will get some pretty big stages to reach that goal.
The United States learned on Friday that they will face England, Iran and a yet-to-be-determined opponent – Scotland, Wales or Ukraine – at the World Cup in Qatar in November. USA are drawn into Group B and play on the opening day of the World Cup on November 21st.
The game against England in the group stage on Black Friday 25th November is sure to draw a lot of attention around the world. It will also present a unique opportunity at home: a chance to face off against a talented English team that many American fans will be familiar with due to the popularity of the English Premier League. The match-up offers a 90-minute comparison between the two sides that could quickly change the conversation surrounding the USMNT.
“Qualifying for the World Cup was a task that we had to accomplish and we ticked that box… but we want to change once again how everyone views us as a player and as a nation and ultimately win the respect of fans around the world. not to mention our own fans,” US midfielder Tyler Adams told reporters after the draw. “So it’s going to be important that we have the attitude now in this tournament that we’re going to do really well. We’re not just here to show up; We want to have an impact on ourselves and our team, of course, but ultimately on how football is viewed by fans in the United States