The World Cup is just days away and in both the UK and the USA all eyes are on Group B, with Wales, England and the USA all facing off against each other for a spot in the last 16.
But how much do Wales fans really know about their opponents from the other side of the pond?
Despite this year’s World Cup being the USA men’s team’s 11th World Cup, football is not a sport that most people – particularly over in Europe – associate with the USA.
In fact, the USA has never before boasted a brighter pool of talent than right now, with representatives of the Stars and Stripes currently playing across Europe’s top leagues and the Champions League.
Betting.com has shared the names of ten American soccer heroes currently playing in Europe that Wales fans should be aware of before the two nations clash in Qatar.
- Christian Pulisic – Chelsea
Anyone who knows football, both in Europe and in the USA, knows the name Christian Pulisic. The 24-year-old has been the face of American soccer for several years and has already made 54 appearances and scored 21 goals at international level.
Both Wales and England, who face off against the USA in Group B, will be very familiar with Pulisic’s abilities given that he has played in the Premier League with Chelsea since 2019.
- Weston McKennie – Juventus
A rock at centre midfield for the USMNT (United States men’s national team), Weston McKennie can truly be considered a world-class footballer.
A regular starter for Italy’s Juventus since 2020, McKennie is more than familiar with facing off against Europe’s best in both Serie A and the Champions League, so he will certainly not be phased by the occasion of playing at the World Cup.
McKennie’s presence in the USA team adds some flavour to the nation’s clash with Wales at the World Cup, given that he will be going head-to-head with his former Juventus midfield partner and Wales legend, Aaron Ramsey.
- Tyler Adams – Leeds United
Joining McKennie in centre midfield is Tyler Adams, who after dominating Germany’s Bundesliga and the Champions League with RB Leipzig, recently made the switch to Leeds United in the Premier League.
At Leeds, Adams has joined up with his old Leipzig coach and American citizen Jesse Marsch, who is quietly growing a mini-American revolution in the Premier League.
- Brenden Aaronson – Leeds United
Also linking up with Adams and Marsch at Leeds United in the Premier League is attacking midfielder, Brendan Aaronson.
The 21-year-old from New Jersey has already made 24 appearances for the US, scoring six goals. Aaronson has taken to the Premier League with ease so far in his debut season, scoring one goal and claiming two assists for Leeds.
- Sergiño Dest – AC Milan (on loan from Barcelona)
Wing-back, Dest broke into Barcelona’s world-famous team when he was still a teenager after transferring from Dutch giants, Ajax Amsterdam.
Dest’s European adventure has continued this season with a loan move to AC Milan in Italy, where he continues to get regular game time in the Champions League and Serie A. Dest is sure to pose a huge threat to any team facing up against the USA at the World Cup.
- Cameron Carter-Vickers – Celtic
After being on the periphery of Tottenham Hotspur’s team his whole career, after taking seven loan moves, Cameron Carter-Vickers’ soccer career has finally hit its stride with Celtic in Scotland.
Now a regular starter in the Champions League for the reigning Scottish champions, Carter-Vickers will be looking to cement his place at the heart of Gregg Berhalter’s defence during the World Cup.
- Timothy Weah – Lille
Few footballers, let alone USMNT players have quite as interesting a history as Timothy Weah. As the son of former Ballon d’Or winner and current president of the nation of Liberia, George Weah, Timothy Weah was always destined for the very top.
After breaking through the ranks in France with Paris St Germain, Weah switched to French rivals, Lille, whom he helped to become the surprise Ligue 1 champions in 2021. Since then, Weah has enjoyed regular football at the highest levels – in the Europa League and Champions League.
- Tim Ream – Fulham
35-year-old defender Tim Ream is a very familiar name in the UK, having played between the Premier League and Championship since 2012, with spells at Bolton Wanderers and Fulham – where he continues to ply his trade.
Ream fell out of favour with Gregg Berhalter’s team in recent years, but a recent resurgence in form in the Premier League proved impossible to ignore, and Ream could well start as the USMNT face off against Wales at the World Cup.
- Antonee Robinson – Fulham
Also playing frequently in the Premier League with Fulham is wing-back Antonee Robinson. Like Ream, Robinson had previously played for Bolton Wanderers before joining Fulham.
Often referred to as ‘Jedi’, Robinson has been a regular feature for the USMNT since making his international debut in 2018 and has made 29 appearances to date.
- Josh Sargent – Norwich City
22-year-old striker Sargent made his switch to the Premier League with Norwich City last season, but sadly his two goals for the club were not enough to save the team from relegation.
However, Sargent who started his European football career in Germany with Werder Bremen has been in finer form for Norwich this season, scoring 9 goals to help the Canaries rise to fifth place in the Championship.
Source: https://betting.com/gb/world-cup
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