DEANDRE YEDLIN

The United States men are returning to the World Cup after the anguish of missing the 2018 tournament, clinching a berth for this year’s championship in Qatar despite a 2-0 loss to Costa Rica on the final night of qualifying.

Costa Rica US Wcup Soccer View of the National stadium at sunset ahead of a qualifying soccer match for the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 between Costa Rica and United States, in San Jose, Costa Rica, Tuesday, March 29, 2022. (AP Photo/Moises Castillo) (Moises Castillo)SAN JOSE, Costa Rica — (AP) — Ricardo Pepi, Kellyn Acosta, Tim Weah and DeAndre Yedlin returned to the starting lineup as U.S. coach Gregg Berhalter made four changes for Wednesday night’s final World Cup qualifier at Costa Rica. With the U.S. in position to clinch a World Cup return as long as the Americans did not lose by six goals or more, Berhalter replaced Jesús Ferreira with Pepi and Luca de La Torre with Acosta. Pulisic, Yedlin and Acosta were the only holdovers from the 2-1 loss at Trinidad and Tobago on Oct. 10, 2017 that ended the Americans' streak of seven straight World Cup appearances. Costa Rica was fourth with 22.

Ricardo Pepi, Kellyn Acosta, Tim Weah and DeAndre Yedlin returned to the starting lineup as U.S. coach Gregg Berhalter made four changes for the Americans' final World Cup qualifier at Costa Rica.

“The guys have told us, that have been here and through this path before, that we thought we qualified last World Cup," midfielder Tyler Adams said Wednesday. Because the Americans have a plus-13 goal difference and Costa Rica is at plus-three, the U.S. could be denied only by a defeat of at least six goals. “The media has classified us as the golden generation and the generation that’s going to qualify for the next World Cup,” 22-year-old winger Tim Weah said. "We’re coming here to be aggressive in the game and to win the soccer game. and Berhalter planned to contact those not in Costa Rica to congratulate them.

American soccer’s harrowing memory of the loss in Trinidad 4 1/2 years ago remains omnipresent, if no longer raw.

Christian Pulisic struggled in January, was played out of position by Chelsea and even was benched for a World Cup qualifier against Honduras.

ORLANDO, Fla. — (AP) — Forward Jesús Ferreira, winger Paul Arriola, midfielder Luca de la Torre and right back Shaq Moore entered the United States' starting lineup for Sunday night's World Cup qualifier against Panama as coach Gregg Berhalter made four changes. Moore, summoned from Spain on short notice, replaced DeAndre Yedlin and Arriola took over from Tim Weah. Yedlin and Arriola served one-game suspensions after getting their second yellow cards of qualifying during Thursday night's 0-0 draw at Mexico. De la Torre replaced Kellyn Acosta and Ferreira entered in place of Ricardo Pepi, with Berhalter looking for goals from crosses. Adams, Miles Robinson, Steffen and Jordan Pefok entered with yellow cards and with another yellow would be suspended for Wednesday’s finale at Costa Rica.

Christian Pulisic had the best U.S. chances but was twice denied by goalkeeper Guillermo Ochoa. Zack Steffen got the start over Ethan Hovath and came away with his second shutout against Mexico in qualifying. The draw, the third straight in qualifying for the U.S. in the thin air of 7,200-foot elevation Azteca, was costly. The U.S. maintained second place in North and Central America and the Caribbean with 22 points, four behind Canada, and ahead of Mexico on goal difference. Yedlin received his second yellow for an unecessary slide tackle in midfield in the 26th minute, leaving the U.S. short at right back for Sunday.

The United States escaped a half-full Estadio Azteca with a gritty 0-0 draw against Mexico and moved into position to all but clinch a World Cup berth with a victory at home against Panama this weekend.

The U.S. could clinch a return to soccer’s World Cup with two games to spare if it wins in Mexico City, Panama loses at home to last-place Honduras and Costa Rica fails to win at home against first-place Canada.

Gio Reyna, Jordan Pefok and Ethan Horvath are back for the United States’ final World Cup qualifiers but Sergiño Dest appears likely to miss the three games.

NEW YORK — (AP) — Jordan Morris, Tim Weah, Sergiño Dest and Gyasi Zardes returned from injuries to make the U.S. roster ahead of the next three World Cup qualifiers, while Gio Reyna, Gianluca Busio and Aaron Long missed out. Twenty-three players were on the roster for November’s home win over Mexico and road draw at Jamaica. Weah recovered from a quadriceps injury to enter in the 68th minute for Lille on Tuesday in his first action since Dec. 1. Defender DeAndre Yedlin played his first match for Galatasaray since Dec. 18 on Wednesday. Germany), Christian Pulisic (Chelsea, England), Tim Weah (Lille, France), Gyasi Zardes (Columbus)___More AP soccer: https://apnews.com/hub/soccer and https://twitter.com/AP_SportsCopyright 2022 The Associated Press.

Jordan Morris, Tim Weah, Sergiño Dest and Gyasi Zardes returned from injuries to make the U.S. roster ahead of the next three World Cup qualifiers.

The newest player on the U.S. men's national soccer team feels like he fits right in.

As much as American soccer players want wins, they crave respect.

CINCINNATI — (AP) — Miles Robinson and Walker Zimmerman were paired in central defense in front of goalkeeper Zack Steffen for the United States’ World Cup qualifier against Mexico on Friday night. U.S. coach Gregg Berhalter changed just two starters from last month’s 2-1 win over Costa Rica, inserting DeAndre Yedlin at right back for injured Sergiño Dest and Zimmerman for Chris Richards. The American front six remained unchanged, with Tyler Adams in defensive midfield, Weston McKennie and Yunus Musah in advanced midfield, Tim Weah and Brenden Aaronson on the wings and Ricardo Pepi up front. Eight U.S. starters are 24 and younger, all but Steffen, Yedlin and Zimmerman. Miles Robinson was the only holdover from the CONCACAF Gold Cup final at Las Vegas on Aug. 1, when he scored in the 117th minute for a 1-0 victory.

Getting through the first six games of World Cup qualifying has taken a village for the United States.

Antonee Robinson and Ricardo Pepi scored their first international goals after a halftime change in formation, Brenden Aaronson and Sebastian Lletget added late goals and the United States revived its World Cup qualifying campaign with a 4-1 win over Honduras.

Players walked off the field dejected and nervous American fans are in an uproar.

The remade U.S. soccer team quickly got itself into trouble in World Cup qualifying, wasting Brenden Aaronson’s second-half goal when Cyle Larin scored to lift Canada into a 1-1 draw.

Bumpy field, outdated stadiums.

El Salvador US Wcup Soccer An El Salvador fan cheers prior a qualifying soccer match against United States for the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 at Cuscatlan stadium in San Salvador, El Salvador, Thursday, Sept. 2, 2021. (AP Photo/Moises Castillo) (Moises Castillo)SAN SALVADOR, El Salvador — (AP) — Nine U.S. starters were set to make their World Cup qualifying debuts against El Salvador on Thursday night, matching the most since 1996. Yedlin was the only player left over from the starting lineup in the October 2017 loss at Trinidad and Tobago that ended the Americans' streak of seven World Cup appearances. 64 El Salvador is seeking its first World Cup appearance since 1982. ___More AP soccer: https://apnews.com/hub/soccer and https://twitter.com/AP_SportsCopyright 2021 The Associated Press.

Nine U.S. starters were set to make their World Cup qualifying debuts against El Salvador, matching the most since 1996.

A new-look U.S. soccer team opens World Cup qualifying in El Salvador on Thursday night, four years after a loss at Trinidad and Tobago ended a streak of seven straight appearances for the Americans in soccer's showcase.

Germany Soccer Bundesliga Mainz's Moussa Niakhate, left, vies for the ball with Dortmund's Giovanni Reyna during the German Bundesliga soccer match between FSV Mainz 05 and Borussia Dortmund in Mainz, Germany, Sunday, May 16, 2021. (AP Photo/Michael Probst,Pool) (Michael Probst)American soccer players will be piling up air miles -- all in preparation for unprecedented travel. U.S. coach Gregg Berhalter designed the schedule to prepare players for the grueling compacted World Cup qualifying schedule that starts in September, which has three matches crammed into FIFA match windows designed for two. That will be followed by a home game on Sept. 5, probably against Canada, and a road match on Sept. 8 at Honduras. Aaronson won the Austrian Bundesliga and Austrian Cup, Steffen became the first American to win a Premier League medal and also won the League Cup.

American soccer players are piling up air miles -- all in preparation for unprecedented travel.

DeAndre Yedlin and Matt Besler on favorite World Cup memories U.S. soccer players Matt Besler and DeAndre Yedlin share some of the best personal moments they experienced during the World Cup in Brazil.

Heartbreak and Pride: Matt Besler and DeAndre Yedlin reflect on World Cup In this web extra interview, U.S. soccer players Matt Besler and DeAndre Yedlin look back on their experience at the World Cup in Brazil.

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Matt Besler and DeAndre Yedlin on the future of Major League Soccer After an incredible run in the World Cup, U.S. soccer players Matt Besler and DeAndre Yedlin weigh in on the future of American soccer.