USMNT CONCACAF Nations League Roster: How Many of Lionel Messi’s Inter Miami Teammates Chosen for Quest Toward Third Title?

A CONCACAF Nations League three-peat is in the pipeline for Gregg Berhalter’s USMNT side. In a move to amp up the pursuit of their third title, the USMNT recently announced a 23-player roster. These 23 men will report for action on March 18 in Texas. Thereafter, they take on Jamaica in the semi-final on March 21, in the AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas. Tyler Adams, who captained the US team in the 2022 World Cup, has returned to the squad after a prolonged injury-imposed break. Who else besides Adams has made the cut? Is there any of Lionel Messi‘s Inter Miami pals in the US roster? Let’s find out.

If they win the semi-final against Jamaica, the USMNT will face the winner of the Panama-Mexico semi-final. Interestingly, the American team has retained 21 players who have had prior CNL experience. Of the 21, seven players will be featuring in their third straight CNL title chase.

USMNT roster with a minute Inter Miami presence

Alongside Tyler Adams, Josh Sargent too has returned to the US squad after recovering from a series of recurring injuries. AC Milan superstar Christian Pulisic will join Sargent in the frontline for the CNL. Pulisic is the most-capped player on the roster with 64 appearances. He has also competed for the US in their triumphant Nations Leagues in 2021 and 2023. Inter Miami goalkeeper and Lionel Messi’s teammate Drake Callender will get a chance to debut for the American side in the forthcoming CNL. Here is the detailed roster chosen by coach Gregg Berhalter.

In a rather forgetful update for Inter Miami, Drake Callender is the only player from their camp to have made the cut! Anyhow, it is not a huge surprise. The vast majority of Miami’s American core is also eligible to represent a different country. The Herons’ reserve goalkeeper, CJ Dos Santos, is a testament to that. He has Portuguese roots and can play for the European side if a chance comes. Besides, American youngsters from Inter Miami like Noah Allen are yet to leave the U-20 team for a senior career. While Miami only has Callender on the roster, certain European sides have multiple players in the US squad. Let’s check them while we dive deep into certain facts about the 23-man roster.

USMNT CNL squad: Interesting facts

Seven players, including Sergiño Dest, Weston McKennie, Yunus Musah, Christian Pulisic, Gio Reyna, Antonee Robinson, and Tim Weah, have defended the US’ crest in their triumphant CONCACAF Nations Leagues in 2021 and 2023. Besides, Berhalter’s squad features five sets of club teammates who arrive from European leagues. The sets include Yunus Musah and Pulisic from AC Milan, Weston McKennie and Tim Weah from Juventus, Tim Ream and Antonee Robinson from Fulham, Gio Reyna and Matt Turner from Nottingham Forest, and Sergiño Dest, Ricardo Pepi and Malik Tillman from PSV Eindhoven.

READ MORE: Is Christian Pulisic U.S.A’s Most Successful Player of All-Time? Full List of the USMNT Player of the Year Award Winners

However, Dest would miss the USMNT’s semi-final against Jamaica, as he received a red card in the CNL tie against Trinidad and Tobago. Besides, all 21 players except Kristoffer Lund and Miami’s Drake Callender have played together for the USMNT in last year’s CNL triumph. The Nations League final will be held on March 25 in the same venue as the USMNT’s semi-final against Jamaica.

Do you think these 23 men and Berhalter will deliver a CNL three-peat for America? Tell us in the comments.

READ MORE: Photo: Leaked USMNT Nike Home & Away Kits for Copa America 2024