USA World Cup squad snubs: Zack Steffen among USMNT star players left out by Gregg Berhalter

Kyle Bonn

USA World Cup squad snubs: Zack Steffen among USMNT star players left out by Gregg Berhalter image

After missing out on participation at the 2018 tournament, the United States will make its return to the FIFA World Cup as Gregg Berhalter leads his team to the 2022 event in Qatar.

Christian Pulisic headlines the squad, while rising stars like Tyler Adams, Brenden Aaronson, and Weston McKennie also appear on the roster. The team selected by Berhalter is the youngest at the World Cup by a significant margin, with the team eyeing a build towards hosting the 2026 World Cup.

Still, there were tough decisions for Berhalter to make as he narrowed the squad down to the required 26 players. Close calls at goalkeeper, center-back, midfielder, and striker all ended up with some players finding themselves on the outside looking in.

Here is a rundown of the most prominent players who were not included on the final 26-man squad for the United States at the 2022 FIFA World Cup.

MORE: A full breakdown of the USMNT 26-man roster for the 2022 FIFA World Cup

Zack Steffen (GK, Middlesbrough)

In a shocking turn of events, former starting goalkeeper Zack Steffen was left off the World Cup roster, with Ethan Horvath taking his place and Matt Turner all but confirmed as the starter in Qatar.

Steffen couldn't get game time behind regular starter Ederson at Man City, so Pep Guardiola sent him on loan to Championship side Middlesbrough where he became the starter right away. A knee injury in late August threatened to cost him playing time, but when he proved healthy he won his job back straight away.

Still, it hasn't been smooth sailing. In the 11 matches back from injury, Steffan has kept four clean sheets, with just four wins in that time. His recent stints with the U.S. national team have been spotty as well, with a few catastrophic mistakes standing out amongst the weeds.

No matter how you slice it, though, this is a bold decision from Gregg Berhalter. At 27 years old, Steffen has 29 international caps, including six games in 2022 World Cup qualifying. His experience will be sorely missed amongst a squad begging for veteran leadership.

Ricardo Pepi (FW, Groningen)

Gregg Berhalter has been partial to Ricardo Pepi throughout his time with the U.S. National Team, even throughout his struggles with FC Augsburg. So when he started banging in goals again for Dutch side Groningen, it seemed inevitable that Pepi would end up on the plane to Qatar.

Not so fast. Out of nowhere, Haji Wright snatched the spot with his great goalscoring form for Turkish side Antalyaspor. That left Berhalter with a decision to make, and he chose Josh Sargent, leaving Ricardo Pepi on the outside looking in.

Pepi is still just 21 years old, and has a great head on his shoulders, having previously discussed his adventures with maintaining his mental health. For now, he will have to wait for his chance at a FIFA World Cup.

Paul Arriola (RW, FC Dallas)

Judging by Gregg Berhalter’s recent roster selections, it seemed nearly a lock that Arriola would be a part of the World Cup squad. In fact, Arriola’s presence on the roster seemed so consistent, that fans used the FC Dallas winger as an example of Berhalter’s supposed MLS favoritism.

Somehow, that did not extend to the World Cup. Arriola’s goalscoring faded as the MLS season chugged along, but he remained a creative force in the attack, generating three goal contributions in the final three matches of the season. Instead, Berhalter opted to include young Malik Tillman as an attacking option behind the regular wide players Christian Pulisic, Tim Weah, Brenden Aaronson, and Gio Reyna.

Jordan Pefok (FW, Union Berlin)

A stunning start to the Bundesliga season for Jordan Pefok helped Union Berlin shockingly to the top of the Bundesliga table. Pefok scored three goals and two assists in the first six league games of the year, an even better accomplishment in a defensively-minded squad.

Unfortunately, his form fell completely off the table. Pefok began to not only fail to collect goalscoring chances, but his presence on the pitch disappeared entirely. He began to be repeatedly subbed early in the second half with precious few touches on the ball and even fewer looks on goal. With his excellent form evaporated, Pefok’s chance to make the World Cup squad disappeared as well, jumped on the depth chart by both Ricardo Pepi and Josh Sargent.

Erik Palmer-Brown (CB, Troyes)

With injuries to Miles Robinson and Chris Richards, Gregg Berhalter had to dig deep down the depth chart to look for center-back options. Aaron Long appeared a lock to make the roster in the wake of Robinson’s injury back in May, but performed poorly in MLS play, and he seemed to be teetering on the edge of selection altogether.

Long made the roster anyways, but others were still required. Tim Ream enjoyed a career revival at Fulham this season, but comments by Gregg Berhalter in September seemed to make it clear that the 32-year-old was not in the picture. With options waning, it appeared Palmer-Brown’s chances were rising. He was performing well at Troyes, even part of a narrow 4-3 loss to Champions League contenders PSG that featured four sensational goals that even the world’s best defenders could do little about.

Fast forward to early November and Palmer-Brown was surprisingly on the outside looking in. Ream was selected, a major surprise given Berhalter’s insistence that he did not fit the USMNT’s tactical approach, while Long was also included despite his significant dip in form. There was simply no room for the 24-year-old Troyes man.

Sebastian Lletget (MF, FC Dallas)

After ending his longtime stint with the Seattle Sounders and joining FC Dallas this past summer, Sebastian Lletget was ready to break back into the U.S. National Team, without an appearance since October of 2021.

That never happened. The 30-year-old wasn't called in to a single U.S. match in 2022, and that resulted in his absence from the World Cup roster. It's a shame for Lletget, who played well with FC Dallas this year and earned a new long-term contract which he signed on Halloween. Still, he'll have to watch the tournament from his couch.

Lletget could still be an option to replace Luca de la Torre on the roster, if the initially selected midfielder can't prove fit enough for the tournament, but otherwise he's on the outside looking in.

Djordje Mihailovic (MF, CF Montreal)

The Jacksonville, Florida native appeared to earn his latest chance with the national team as June rolled around, having impressed immensely as one of the best midfielders through the first half of the MLS season. Unfortunately, a poorly-timed ankle injury robbed him of the chance.

Mihailovic was sidelined after coming up injured in U.S. camp, and the injury forced him to miss a month of game time. He wasn't the same after returning, and while he was still a top player on a playoff club, he just didn't have the same production and never got another opportunity to impress.

USA squad for FIFA World Cup 2022

Gregg Berhalter named his final 26-man squad on Wednesday, November 9, five days ahead of the FIFA-imposed deadline of November 14.

Here's the final list:

Position Player Club Age Caps 2022 World Cup
Qualifiers
GK Ethan Horvath Luton Town (ENG) 27 8 0
GK Sean Johnson NYCFC (USA) 33 10 0
GK Matt Turner Arsenal (ENG) 28 18 7
DEF Tim Ream Fulham (ENG) 35 46 1
DEF Cameron Carter-Vickers Celtic (SCO) 24 10 0
DEF Sergino Dest AC Milan (ITA) 21 17 6
DEF Aaron Long NY Red Bulls (USA) 30 29 2
DEF Shaq Moore Nashville SC (USA) 26 15 4
DEF Antonee Robinson Fulham (ENG) 25 28 13
DEF Joe Scally Gladbach (GER) 19 2 0
DEF DeAndre Yedlin Inter Miami (USA) 29 74 9
DEF Walker Zimmerman Nashville SC (USA) 29 31 10
MID Kellyn Acosta LAFC (USA) 27 52 13
MID Tyler Adams Leeds United (ENG) 23 19 13
MID Weston McKennie Juventus (ITA) 24 34 7
MID Yunus Musah Valencia (SPA) 19 18 10
MID Cristian Roldan Seattle Sonders (USA) 27 32 5
MID Brenden Aaronson Leeds United (ENG) 21 21 11
MID Luca de la Torre Celta Vigo (SPA) 24 12 4
FWD Gio Reyna Borussia Dortmund (GER) 19 11 3
FWD Jesus Ferreira FC Dallas (USA) 21 12 6
FWD Jordan Morris Seattle Sounders (USA) 27 47 6
FWD Haji Wright Antalyaspor (TUR) 24 3 0
FWD Christian Pulisic Chelsea (ENG) 24 50 10
FWD Josh Sargent Norwich City (ENG) 22 19 3
FWD Timothy Weah LOSC Lille (FRA) 22 24 9

Kyle Bonn

Kyle Bonn Photo

Kyle Bonn, is a Syracuse University broadcast journalism graduate with over a decade of experience covering soccer globally. Kyle specializes in soccer tactics and betting, with a degree in data analytics. Kyle also does TV broadcasts for Wake Forest soccer, and has had previous stops with NBC Soccer and IMG College. When not covering the game, he has long enjoyed loyalty to the New York Giants, Yankees, and Fulham. Kyle enjoys playing racquetball and video games when not watching or covering sports.