Wales kick off their 2022 World Cup campaign against the USA at the Al Rayyan Stadium on Monday.
64 long years have elapsed, but now that time as come for Wales to appear on the world’s biggest stage once again.
Their first opponents are the USA, but what should we know about the American team? Should we fear them? Should we be confident?
Competition Pedigree
The USA have appeared in every World Cup since Italia ’90, apart from the last World Cup in Russia in 2018, where they were pipped to the post by Panama, in a dark day for US football.
In the run since 1990, the furthest the Stars and Stripes have gotten is the quarter finals stage in the 2002 World Cup, where they were knocked out by eventual finalists Germany.
In 2026, America, alongside Canada and Mexico, are hosting the World Cup, in a landmark moment for football in North America.
I sat down with the journalist Meg Feringa to discuss all things USA and started with how important this tournament was ahead of them hosting the tournament in 2026.
‘There’s so much hype around 2026, everyone is so excited. The fact we didn’t qualify for the last tournament but hosting the next one has an irony to it’
‘In 1990, America qualified for their first World Cup in many years, but we were hosting in 1994. It would have looked silly not qualifying for Italia ‘90. We didn’t qualify out the group in 1990, but we made great strides in the group with results and performances’
‘So, this tournament is a great steppingstone but also imperative ahead of 2026.’
World Cup qualification
So how well did the US do in their qualification campaign?
America take part in CONCACAF qualification where they play the likes of Canada and Mexico, along with a variety of Caribbean nations.
The US finished third in the group, and narrowly avoided having to play an inter-confederation playoff.
While they were some bright sparks, including taking four points out of six against Mexico, there were some questionable results, including losses away to Panama and Costa Rica, and draws away to El Salvador and Jamaica, teams on paper Wales are better than.
Embed from Getty ImagesManager
That brings us on to the coach, Gregg Berhalter. Berhalter had an 18-year playing career and played for the likes of Crystal Palace, 1860 Munich and LA Galaxy.
Before taking the role as head coach of the USMNT, he was in charge of MLS side Columbus Crew.
He took on the role in 2018 after the team were unsuccessful in qualifying for that year’s World Cup, and it’s fair to say that a lot of American fans aren’t convinced by the manager, and this will be his first real test.
‘There are people already calling for his head’, Feringa stated, ‘but he’s been saved a lot by other people. Ricardo Pepi particularly who isn’t in the squad has scored some crucial goals for him’
‘If he doesn’t qualify from the group he’s done. When there’s a fan culture that strong, the calls for his sacking will be louder than ever.’
It certainly feels that this could be Berhalter’s last dance.
Embed from Getty ImagesPlayers to Watch
While questions loom over the manager, there’s no doubting that this is a team with a lot of potential.
The man who has been given the nickname Captain America is Christian Pulisic. Since moving to Stamford Bridge from Dortmund in 2019, the forward has shone in parts, but has been hampered by injury and being out of favour by various managers.
He has been the star man for the side in recent years and became their youngest captain ever at the age of just 20.
He is one of many players from the Premier League who’s part of the squad. The others are Antonee Robinson and Tim Ream, both of whom play for Fulham, and the Leeds duo Tyler Adams and Brenden Aaronson.
Outside of the Premier League, Weston McKennie is a rising star in the American game. Having come through the youth systems at Dallas and Schalke, McKennie is now a mainstay in the Juventus midfield.
While he is listed as a midfielder, McKennie has also played centre-back, right-back and as a striker, making him one of the most versatile players in the American side.
Feringa points out that, while this is a talented group of players, this tournament may have come slightly too early for them.
‘There’s a lot of hope and potential. It’s a young group, a golden generation. Only one of the young players has played in the World Cup before, but players like Pulisic and McKennie can grow’
‘But by 2026 they’ll be at their potential.’
Expectation
In terms of expectation for the tournament as a whole, Feringa was very straightforward in her analysis.
‘To get out the group, there’s no reason why we shouldn’t. The first game is so important. On paper, it’s a really good squad. The defence looks a bit weak. And they haven’t really played in the system.’
However, looking at Wales as their first game, she also made the point that, perhaps, the Americans are fighting a bigger battle.
‘If you look at Wales in 2016, it was more than a squad. The US prides itself on the individuals rather than the collective, in big tournaments the collective always wins. It goes against the very notion of Americanism’
‘If you look at it deeply, it’s a battle with Americanism.’
Wales kick off their World Cup campaign against the USA on Monday night, with the match beginning at 7pm.
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