TIM REAM

Tim Ream, Team USA's elder statesman at age 35, knows that while most of his 20-something teammates can aspire to future World Cups, he probably can't.

The USMNT came up short in Qatar but with a home-soil World Cup looming and more experience, players believe: "The past can only fuel success in the future."

DOHA, Qatar — (AP) — American soccer success in the World Cup remains a dream. The U.S. team looked better in this year's World Cup, but the results were the same as in 2010 and 2014. “We didn’t qualify for the last World Cup and here we are in the round of 16. Defenders Miles Robinson (25) and Chris Richards (22) missed the World Cup because of injuries. ___AP World Cup coverage: https://apnews.com/hub/world-cup and https://twitter.com/AP_SportsCopyright 2022 The Associated Press.

American soccer success on the world stage remains a dream.

Some had run more than 21 miles over three World Cup games. But it also showed once again why this USMNT is a legitimate semifinal threat at the 2022 World Cup: Because, over 300 minutes of soccer here, they’ve been nearly impenetrable. They've kept multiple clean sheets at a World Cup for the first time since the inaugural tournament in 1930. “We've defended so well throughout the entire World Cup so far,” midfielder Brenden Aaronson said. The “grandpa of the group,” as Adams dubbed Ream, “didn't expect to be here, involved in a World Cup,” he admitted.

The USMNT handled pressure well in its game against Iran. Doug McIntyre believes it can do the same against the Netherlands.

Gregg Berhalter has the tall task of putting together the United States' best XI vs. Iran. Will there be any surprises?

The USMNT is looking at its matchup with Iran as nothing more than an early start to the knockout stage, writes Laken Litman.

Team USA needs all three points to advance, but Iran is at its most dangerous on the counterattack. Does that bode poorly for the Americans?

AL KHOR, Qatar — The fierce collective loathing of Gregg Berhalter among American soccer fans is a phenomenon whose roots aren’t difficult to trace. The extent of it has always been difficult to gauge, but as the 2022 World Cup neared, it threatened to go mainstream. But it isn’t part of the narrative trailing this USMNT after two group games in Qatar. He made some bold but logical calls that put his team in position to stun a World Cup favorite. “We wanted to make it compact, we wanted to work from a compact block in the beginning of the game,” Berhalter said.

“USA WINS 1-1,” the tabloid bellowed in 2010, and inside that U.S. locker room, although players certainly didn’t proclaim victory, confidence soared. “Because we didn't win,” he said, plainly and bluntly. The USMNT didn’t just belong on the same field as England, which they’d already proved in 2010. They didn’t feel like an underdog, like the 2010 team so clearly was. I think it was a really tough opponent.”“Tonight didn't surprise me one bit,” he later continued, hailing the USMNT.

The USA played a hard-fought first half before letting Wales back into it in the second half. Here's what the Americans did well.

With a few key players still not 100%, Gregg Berhalter might have to make tough calls with his starting lineup vs. Wales. Here's who our soccer experts think will be in the first XI.

The first World Cup in the Middle East finally began Sunday night with a flashy opening ceremony and a loss by host Qatar against Ecuador.

DOHA, Qatar — (AP) — Gio Reyna, Joe Scally and Yusuf Musah were 11 years old the last time the United States took the field in a World Cup match. Only DeAndre Yedlin, a 29-year-old defender, remains from the American team eliminated by Belgium in the second round eight years ago. A total of 118 players were tried over 68 matches in a World Cup cycle interrupted by a pandemic, including 91 after Gregg Berhalter was hired as coach in December 2018. But now to be here as a part of this team actually at the World Cup, it’s special. And, yeah, I don’t want to take a moment of this for granted.”___AP World Cup coverage: https://apnews.com/hub/world-cup and https://twitter.com/AP_SportsCopyright 2022 The Associated Press.

Gio Reyna, Joe Scally and Yusuf Musah were 11 years old the last time the United States took the field in a World Cup match.

Only one player on Gregg Berhalter's 26-man roster has World Cup experience. But the Americans make up for what they lack in overall experience.

Tim Ream is back with the United States men's national team after not being called up for over a year.

Then just over a dozen were dealt the devastation of missing the cut, Ricardo Pepi and Zack Steffen among them. Tim Ream, Haji Wright, Joe Scally and Sean Johnson made it. Norwich's Josh Sargent and Antalyspor's Wright beat out Pepi, the 19-year-old whose three goals in qualifying were second behind Christian Pulisic's five. "He’s playing in the best league in the world and he's playing at a very high level,” Berhalter said. Berhalter, the first former U.S. player to coach the Americans at a World Cup, reminded those who fell short of how he was left off the roster in 2006.

As the United States released its final roster ahead of Qatar on Wednesday, the decision not to bring Zack Steffen is perhaps the most surprising of all.

NEW YORK — (AP) — Tim Ream, Haji Wright, Joe Scally and Sean Johnson made the United States’ World Cup roster, while Zack Steffen, Paul Arriola, Jordan Pefok and Ricardo Pepi were among those cut. Yedlin, Christian Pulisic, Kellyn Acosta and Ream are remaining players from the infamous loss at Trinidad that prevented the Americans from reaching the 2018 tournament. Ream captains Fulham in England’s Premier League and has gone a full 90 minutes in 14 of 15 matches this season. Carter-Vickers, Johnson, goalkeeper Ethan Horvath, Scally and Wright did not appear in any of the 14 qualifiers. Jesús Ferreira, Josh Sargent and Wright are the three forwards, a position that provided just four of the Americans’ 21 goals in qualifying.

The U.S. World Cup roster had some surprises: Ricardo Pepi was left off along with Zack Steffen, Paul Arriola and Jordan Pefok.

Christian PulisicClub: Chelsea (England)Positions: Left wing, right wing, attacking midfieldThe kid dubbed "Captain America" has been a trailblazer for Americans in Europe. Now they're the core of a World Cup squad — and, in a way, the veterans, despite being just 23-24 years old. But throughout World Cup qualifying, every time Berhalter called upon him, he performed. DeAndre YedlinClub: Inter Miami (MLS)Positions: Right back, right wing backThe only player on the roster with World Cup experience, Yedlin was a fearless youngster back in 2014. Jordan MorrisClub: Seattle Sounders (MLS)Positions: Right wing, left wingMorris made his USMNT debut in 2014 while still in college at Stanford.

Josh Sargent is back on the U.S. roster for the first time in a year, picked at forward along with Ricardo Pepi and Jesús Ferreira for the Americans’ final two World Cup warmup matches.

The World Cup roster will be unveiled on Nov. 9. Full USMNT roster for September campBerhalter called in 26 players in total. He is the undisputed starting left back, and his World Cup status is not in question. He spearheaded a comeback in Honduras and a win over Jamaica to steady a wobbling World Cup qualifying campaign. He recently moved to Groningen in the Netherlands on loan, seemingly in an attempt to revive his World Cup hopes.

Bayern Munich midfielder Malik Tillman is switching affiliation from Germany to the United States and is among 27 players invited to the Americans’ next-to-last training camp ahead of the World Cup.

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.

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

Christian Pulisic and Gio Reyna are missing from the U.S. lineup because of injuries but Weston McKennie will start in a World Cup qualifier against Jamaica after missing two games for violating team COVID protocols.

The British government is keeping Panama on its red list, which means the United States may have to play without star Christian Pulisic and several other players for its World Cup qualifier at the Central American nation on Oct. 10.

El Salvador US Wcup Soccer United States' Sergino Dest grimaces in pain during a qualifying soccer match against El Salvador 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) — Among 15 players at RB Leipzig who headed last week to national teams, Tyler Adams tried to explain to teammates what it's like playing in CONCACAF, which allows subpar fields in outdated stadiums that elite leagues don't tolerate. While the U.S. outshot El Salvador 12-7, the Americans rarely came close to scoring. But overall, I think we lacked that connection that’s really going to get us over the top. “Hang on a second, you train at Chelsea and you train at Juventus, how can a game in El Salvador be difficult?

Bumpy field, outdated stadiums.

The United States showed promise but no ability to finish in its pandemic-delayed World Cup qualifying opener, drawing 0-0 at El Salvador in the type of Central American stadium that repeatedly has stymied the Americans.

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.

(Laurence Griffiths/Pool via AP)CHICAGO – Defender Bryan Reynolds received his first call-up to the U.S. national team after the 19-year-old made his debut for Roma last weekend. Chituru Odunze, an 18-year-old goalkeeper with Leicester, also could debut in exhibitions against Jamaica on March 25 at Wiener Neustadt, Austria, or three days later at Northern Ireland. Forward Matthew Hoppe, who has scored five goals for Schalke this season, was not called in for a possible debut. Germany), Luca de la Torre (Heracles, Netherlands), Sebastian Lletget (LA Galaxy), Yunus Musah (Valencia, Spain), Owen Otasowie (Wolverhampton, England). Forwards: Daryl Dike (Barnsley, England), Nicholas Gioacchini (Caen, France), Christian Pulisic (Chelsea, England), Gio Reyna (Borussia Dortmund, Germany), Josh Sargent (Werder Bremen, Germany), Tim Weah (Lille, France).

Nicholas Gioacchini and Sebastian Soto each scored their first two international goals in a 6-2 exhibition rout of Panama on Monday night at Wiener Neustadt, Austria, the second of two matches for the Americans that followed a 10-month pandemic break. Gio Reyna got his first goal three days after his 18th birthday, the third-youngest player to score in modern era. Sebastian Lletget also got a goal in a physical, open match against a CONCACAF rival that reached the 2018 World Cup over the Americans. By the time qualifying comes we'll be ready to compete.”José Fajardo scored his first two goals for Panama. The U.S. has used 90 players since the October 2017 defeat at Trinidad and Tobago that eliminated the Americans from the 2018 World Cup, including 52 debuting.