WESTON MCKENNIE

(AP Photo/Alastair Grant) (Alastair Grant)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. Brooks, a 29-year-old defender who was on the 2014 World Cup roster, has not been picked by U.S. coach Gregg Berhalter since qualifiers last September. The Americans plan a pair of friendlies in Europe in September, then will open the World Cup in Qatar on Nov. 21 against Wales, Scotland or Ukraine. Tillman, 19, was born in Germany to a father in the U.S military and a German mother. Wright played for the U.S. at the 2015 Under-17 World Cup alongside Christian Pulisic and Tyler Adams and attended a national team training camp in May 2019 that included young players.

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.

The United States will play either Ukraine, Wales or Scotland in its World Cup opener, then meet England and Iran in its return to the tournament.

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

Nearly five years after the United States men’s national soccer team famously blew a spot in the 2018 World Cup by losing to a vastly inferior Trinidad and Tobago squad in October of 2017 in the final game of qualifying, the moment of redemption has finally arrived for the Americans.

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.

(AP Photo/Alberto Saiz) (Alberto Saiz)American midfielder Weston McKennie has two broken bones in his left foot and will miss the United States' final three World Cup qualifiers next month. McKennie got hurt while playing for Juventus in a Champions League second-round, first-leg match at Spain's Villarreal on Tuesday night. Pervis Estupiñán made a two-leg, sweeping sliding tackle in the 80th minute, and McKennie fell to the field in pain. Juventus said Wednesday that an exam revealed a compound fracture of the second and third metatarsal bones. Because of injuries, McKennie, Christian Pulisic and Tyler Adams started together just once before this month, in an exhibition against Ecuador in March 2019.

American midfielder Weston McKennie has two broken bones in his left foot and will miss the United States’ final three World Cup qualifiers next month.

“Once you get in that game mode, you just are out there competing, and that’s all that really matters,” Zimmerman said. The Americans beat El Salvador 1-0 on Thursday, when it was 29 in Ohio. Berhalter defended the USSF decision to play here, pointing to the thermal head coverings the Americans provided to Honduras before the match. The second goal was set up by Kellyn Acosta, who started in the defensive midfield for the first time since the October loss at Panama. Pulisic scored about three minutes after entering.

That was McKennie’s ninth international goal, his second in World Cup qualifying, and it would prove to be enough. The ball glanced off Zimmerman’s left leg, and he kicked it in with his right from 5 yards for his third international goal. Pulisic scored about three minutes after entering. He scored from near the penalty spot with his second touch of the game — his 18th international goal. Notes: Costa Rica won 1-0 at Jamaica as Joel Campbell scored his 22nd international goal in the 62nd minute.

The U.S. beat winless Honduras 3-0 in a World Cup qualifying match.

Christian Pulisic was benched as U.S. coach Gregg Berhalter changed seven starters for a World Cup qualifier against Honduras in chilly St. Paul, where the temperature at kickoff was 3 degrees (minus-16 Celsius) with a minus-14 windchill.

WCup US Canada Soccer Canada's Ike Ugbo, right, and United States' Weston McKennie (8) battle for the ball during the second half of a World Cup soccer qualifier in Hamilton, Ontario, Sunday, Jan. 30, 2022. The bring-it-on attitude will be put to a stiff test Wednesday night in Minnesota, where the U.S. will stage a critical match against already-eliminated Honduras. Every player on the team, McKennie said, has plenty of experience in cold and rain and the negative effect those conditions have on the feel of the ball. “We’ve played in two cold places previously before this game so I think we’re kind of used to it now,” McKennie said. The top three teams advance to the World Cup, which the U.S. missed out on in 2018.

The U.S. team has embraced the cold during this special winter session of World Cup qualifying play.

(AP Photo/Julio Cortez) (Julio Cortez)COLUMBUS, Ohio — (AP) — Midfielders and defenders are providing the goals the United States needs to reach the World Cup — by a wide margin. Three of the Americans’ 13 goals in the first nine qualifiers have come from outside defenders, with left back Antonee Robinson scoring his second in Thursday night’s arduous 1-0 win over El Salvador. Right back Sergiño Dest had the tying goal in the 2-1 victory over Costa Rica last week on the same Lower.com field. They are a big part of how we play, especially when we’re dropping our midfielders lower.”With qualifying at nearly the two-thirds point going into Sunday’s match at Canada, seven goals have been produced by midfielders. Canada leads North and Central America and the Caribbean with 19 points, followed by the U.S. (18), Mexico (17), Panama (14) and Costa Rica (12), with Jamaica (seven), El Salvador (six) and Honduras (three) lagging.

Midfielders and defenders are the players providing the goals the United States needs to reach the World Cup.

WCup El Salvador US Soccer United States' Antonee Robinson (5) celebrates his goal with Weston McKennie (8) and Chris Richards (15) during the second half of a FIFA World Cup qualifying soccer match against El Salvador, Thursday, Jan. 27, 2022, in Columbus, Ohio. El Salvador is left with six and has virtually no chance to reach this year’s tournament in Qatar. The U.S. Soccer Federation scheduled the match in a cold climate to minimize travel and put the chill on El Salvador, which went to a sporting goods store to purchase additional winter gear. The Americans’ 15th straight home win over El Salvador since 1989 didn’t come easily. They outshot El Salvador 8-3 in the first half but put none on target.

Jamaica U.S. WCup Soccer United States' players warm up during a training session ahead of the World Cup 2022 qualifying soccer match against Jamaica in Kingston, Monday, Nov. 15, 2021. (AP Photo/Fernando Llano) (Fernando Llano)KINGSTON, Jamaica — (AP) — Defender Chris Richards and midfielder Gianluca Busio entered the U.S. lineup for Tuesday night’s match at Jamaica as the Americans started their second-youngest lineup ever in a World Cup qualifier. The pair replaced defender Miles Robinson, suspended for a red card, and midfielder Weston McKennie, suspended for yellow card accumulation. Right back Javain Brown, central defender Liam Moore and midfielder Lamar Walker also entered the lineup. Holdovers included goalkeeper Andre Blake, central defender Damion Lowe, left back Kemar Lawrence, midfielders Je-Vaughn Watson and Damion Lowe, and wingers Bobby Decordova-Reid and Leon Bailey.

Defender Chris Richards and midfielder Gianluca Busio entered the U.S. lineup for a match at Jamaica as the Americans started their second-youngest lineup ever in a World Cup qualifier.

Zack Steffen is in quite an unusual position: The No. 2 goalkeeper with Manchester City is No. 1 with the United States. New England's Matt Turner started the first five U.S. qualifiers, and Steffen took over for the 2-1 win over Costa Rica last month.

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

WCup Mexico US Soccer United States' Weston McKennie celebrates his goal with Tyler Adams, left, and Christian Pulisic during the second half of a FIFA World Cup qualifying soccer match against Mexico, Friday, Nov. 12, 2021, in Cincinnati. (AP Photo/Julio Cortez) (Julio Cortez)CINCINNATI — (AP) — Christian Pulisic sent a message — with his head and his undershirt. Pulisic scored on his very first touch in the 74th minute, Weston McKennie added a goal in the 85th and the Americans beat Mexico 2-0 Friday night in a World Cup qualifier — the "Dos a Cero" scoreline that became traditional early in the 21st century. The U.S. won four straight home qualifiers against Mexico by 2-0, all at Columbus, Ohio, before falling 2-1 in November 2016 at Crew Stadium. That started the skid that led to the Americans missing the 2018 World Cup.

Christian Pulisic scored on a glancing header with his first touch of the game in the 74th minute and Weston McKennie added a goal in the 85th to lift the United States over Mexico 2-0 in a World Cup qualifier.

AUSTIN, Texas — (AP) — Walker Zimmerman, Yunus Musah and Paul Arriola were given their first starts of this World Cup qualifying cycle and Weston McKennie returned from a two-match banishment when the United States played Jamaica on Thursday night. Forward Ricardo Pepi was the only other holdover from the starting lineup in the 4-1 win at Honduras on Sept. 8. Midfielder Brenden Aaronson and left back Antonee Robinson also were in the starting lineup against the Reggae Boyz after entering at the start of the second half in Honduras. They were joined in the starting lineup by right back Sergiño Dest, who missed the match at Honduras because of a sprained ankle. Zimmerman and Musah made their World Cup qualifying debuts, raising the U.S. total to 18 in four matches.

The Reggae Boyz have one point as they seek to return to soccer’s showcase for the first time since 1998. “After three games I don’t think it’s panic mode for anyone in the table,” U.S. coach Gregg Berhalter said Wednesday. Jamaica learned Tuesday that Antonio, the Premier League's August player of the month for West Ham, failed to travel. Reggae Boyz coach Theodore Whitmore wouldn’t confirm or refute a report Antonio was angry he couldn’t bring along a physiotherapist. “Weston is going to start the game tomorrow.

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.

Panicking American soccer fans were soothed when the U.S. rallied from a halftime deficit to win 4-1 at Honduras in World Cup qualifying.

US Soccer Weston McKennie warms up during soccer practice for the U.S. Men's National Team Tuesday, Aug. 31, 2021, in Nashville, Tenn. (AP Photo/Mark Humphrey) (Mark Humphrey)SAN PEDRO SULA, Honduras — (AP) — Weston McKennie could be welcomed back to the U.S. national team in the future, coach Gregg Berhalter said after banishing him from a pair of World Cup qualifiers for violating team COVID-19 protocols. McKennie, among the top American players, started last week's 0-0 draw at El Salvador. “Me and Weston had long conversations and he’s a guy that I care for deeply," Berhalter said. And I’m sure when he’s performing well, he'll be back in the team.”Goalkeeper Matt Turner said McKennie addressed the team as a group. A 23-year-old from Fort Lewis, Washington, McKennie missed Juventus’ derby against Torino in April after violating COVID-19 protocols in Italy.

Weston McKennie could be welcomed back to the U.S. national team in the future, coach Gregg Berhalter said after banishing him from a pair of World Cup qualifiers for violating team COVID-19 protocols.

This is the here and now for the U.S. soccer team, which has just two points after its first two World Cup qualifiers, three injured regulars and a team leader sent home for violating COVID-19 protocols. A 1-1 draw at home against Canada, which last reached soccer's showcase in 1986, caused concern and ratched pressure. The U.S. hasn't won a qualifier since 2013 in Central America, where it has one win and three draws in its last eight matches. Midfielder Weston McKennie, a member of the team's six-man leadership council was told to return to Italy by Berhalter after violating team COVID-19 protocols. McKennie, among the top American players, was kept off Sunday's game-day roster by Berhalter for the rules violation.

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.

Midfielder Weston McKennie did not dress for Sunday night's World Cup qualifier against Canada after violating team COVID-19 rules. McKennie, who plays for Juventus, had started Thursday night's opening 0-0 draw at El Salvador and is among the top American players. “Unfortunately, I am suspended for tonight's match due to a violation of team COVID-19 protocols,” McKennie said in a statement he posted on Instagram.

Bumpy field, outdated stadiums.

El Salvador US Wcup Soccer El Salvador's Alex Larin, left, and United States' Gio Reyna, fight for the ball during a qualifying soccer match 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) — The United States showed promise but no ability to finish in its pandemic-delayed World Cup qualifying opener, drawing 0-0 at El Salvador on Thursday night in the type of Central American stadium that repeatedly has stymied the Americans. El Salvador was led by coach Hugo Pérez, who had 73 appearances for the U.S. from 1984-94 and scored in a 1-0 qualifying win over El Salvador in 1989. Also on El Salvador is Álex Roldan, a brother and Seattle Sounders teammate of U.S. midfielder Cristian Roldan. Sitting in the stands, their mother wore an El Salvador jersey and their father a U.S.A. shirt.

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.

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.

Forward Jozy Altidore and goalkeeper Brad Guzan are on a preliminary 59-man United States roster with a mostly junior varsity appearance for next month’s CONCACAF Gold Cup, the championship of North and Central America and the Caribbean.

Christian Pulisic converted a penalty kick in the 114th minute, backup goalkeeper Ethan Horvath stopped Andrés Guardado’s penalty kick in the 124th minute and the United States overcame an early defensive blunder to beat Mexico 3-2 in a final of the first CONCACAF Nations League that turned on three video reviews.

CONCACAF US Honduras Soccer United States' Christian Pulisic (10) moves the ball as Honduras' Kevin Álvarez defends during the first half of a CONCACAF Nations League soccer semifinal Thursday, June 3, 2021, in Denver. (AP Photo/Jack Dempsey) (Jack Dempsey)DENVER — (AP) — Jordan Siebatcheu scored his first international goal in the 89th minute, and the United States beat Honduras 1-0 on Thursday night to reach the final of the first CONCACAF Nations League. John Brooks lofted a pass to Weston McKennie, who cushioned a one-hop headed pass ahead of Siebatcheu’s pass. Siebatcheu was born in Washington, D.C., grew up in France and was eligible to play for both those nations and Cameroon. The U.S. will play the championship match of the inaugural CONCACAF Nations League on Sunday, the last time the full American player pool will gather before their pandemic-delayed World Cup qualifying opener on Sept. 2.

Jordan Siebatcheu scored his first international goal in the 89th minute, and the United States beat Honduras 1-0 to reach the final of the first CONCACAF Nations League.

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

(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).

United States' Giovanni Reyna instructs his teammates during the international friendly soccer match between Wales and USA at Liberty stadium in Swansea, Wales, Thursday, Nov. 12, 2020. (AP Photo/Kirsty Wigglesworth)Gio Reyna walked onto the field for his U.S. national team debut, just like mom Danielle in 1993, just like dad Claudio in 1994. Reyna played 78 minutes Thursday night and was among six debuts for the Americans in a 0-0 tie against Wales in an exhibition at Swansea. And overall, a 17-year-old debuting and he didn’t look like that.”Claudio Reyna made 112 international appearances from 1994 to 2006, playing in three World Cups. Reyna was in a mobile and dynamic midfield, combining with 21-year-old Tyler Adams of Leipzig and 22-year-old Weston McKennie of Juventus.

Gio Reyna made his U.S. national soccer team debut against Wales at Swansea on Thursday night on the day before his 18th birthday, joining his father and mother as the first three-member family in American history to make international soccer appearances. Reyna and Musah became just the 12th and 13th players to make an appearance before turning 18. Claudio Reyna was a U.S. captain and played in three World Cups. He was 20 years, 5 months, 26 days when he made the first of 112 national team appearances as a 61st-minute substitute in an exhibition against Norway at Tempe, Arizona, on Jan. 15, 1994. Adams makes his first appearance since March 21, 2019, against Ecuador, and Robinson makes his first since June 5, 2019, against Jamaica.

The Latest on the effects of the coronavirus outbreak on sports around the world:___A women’s world middleweight title fight in England has been called off after a trainer tested positive for the coronavirus. The 29-year-old Marshall was scheduled to fight Hannah Rankin on Saturday in Peterborough for the vacant WBO world middleweight title. ___Juventus midfielder Weston McKennie has tested positive for the coronavirus. ___The Canadian round of figure skating’s Grand Prix has been canceled because of the coronavirus pandemic. The five-round Grand Prix season is due to begin with Skate America in Las Vegas from Oct. 23-25 without spectators.

TURIN Weston McKennie opened his first news conference as a Juventus player on Monday with a bit of cultural flair, speaking in Italian. McKennie, who is black, has been outspoken about racism and led the protests in Germany after the death of George Floyd in Minneapolis. The Italian league has struggled with racism in the past and McKennie hopes he can continue to do his part. The idea of coming to play here, in a club with a great history, immediately thrilled me, McKennie said. In the United States, shops sell the jerseys.

All rights reserved)TURIN Its official: Midfielder Weston McKennie has become the first American player at Juventus. The deal requires Juventus to purchase McKennies full rights at the end of the season for 18.5 million euros ($22 million), although the fee could reach 25.5 million euros ($30 million) with bonuses. McKennie can play any of the midfield positions, which makes him a flexible option for new Juventus coach Andrea Pirlo. McKennie started playing soccer while spending part of his childhood in Germany. At Juventus, McKennie will team with international stars like Cristiano Ronaldo, Gianluigi Buffon and Giorgio Chiellini.

NEW YORK The United States will open qualifying for the 2022 World Cup on the road next June, possibly back in Trinidad and Tobago where it was eliminated from reaching the 2018 tournament. The Americans will close their 14-match round in March 2022 at Costa Rica, where they have lost seven straight qualifiers. The Americans are among five nations with direct berths in the final round of qualifying known as the octagonal joined by Mexico, Costa Rica, Honduras and Jamaica. CONCACAF had used the hexagonal for the final round of qualifying for the World Cups of 1998 through 2018. Canada headed six teams seeded into first-round groups that play a single round robin, with two games each in October and November.

BERLIN Union Berlin striker Anthony Ujah has encouraged his fellow soccer players to be more proactive in the fight against racism. Everybody in the world of soccer knows who Thomas Mller is. I dont know how to explain, but sports has the power to bring people together, Mller said in a video that also showed other Bundesliga players gestures last weekend. Others, including American players Weston McKennie, Zack Steffen and Tyler Adams also expressed solidarity with social media posts and/or on-field statements. If I manage to get just five or 10 people to change their way of thinking about me, then Ive fulfilled my role, Ujah wrote.

NEW YORK NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell says there remains an urgent need for action following the death of George Floyd in Minneapolis and the protests around the country that have followed. As current events dramatically underscore, there remains much more to do as a country and as a league, Goodell said in his statement Saturday. There remains an urgent need for action. I understand the outrage because it seems the list continues to grow: Ahmaud Arbery, Breonna Taylor, George Floyd. Will he be treated like George Floyd or Ahmaud Abrey?

(AP Photo/Martin Meissner, Pool)BERLIN Four young soccer players in Germanys Bundesliga addressed the death of George Floyd in the United States with protests against police brutality and calls for justice over the weekend. Sancho scored his first hat trick in Borussia Dortmunds 6-1 win at Paderborn with no fans present, but removed his jersey after his first goal to reveal a T-shirt with the handwritten message Justice for George Floyd on the front. On Saturday, McKennie wore an armband with the handwritten message Justice for George around his left arm. We as Schalke 04 are supporting our players position 100%, the clubs sporting director Jochen Schneider told the Bild tabloid. The violent death of American citizen George Floyd has shocked people all over the world.

Bremen's Leonardo Bittencourt celebrates after scoring during the German Bundesliga soccer match between FC Schalke 04 and Werder Bremen in Gelsenkirchen, Germany, Saturday, May 30, 2020. Because of the coronavirus outbreak all soccer matches of the German Bundesliga take place without spectators. With five games remaining, Bayern moved into a 10-point lead over Borussia Dortmund, which plays at Paderborn on Sunday. Only Bayern's players and staff were there to cheer the kind of dominant win which would normally put Bayern fans in a party mood. Hertha beat Augsburg 2-0 to make it 10 points from four games since the Bundesliga resumed in empty stadiums this month.