USMNT

John Brooks was one of several surprise inclusions on the 60-man United States men’s national team preliminary roster for the Concacaf Nations League. There could be a chance for a John Brooks USMNT reunion.

The Concacaf Nations League resumes in June with the United States vs. Mexico and Canada vs. Panama as the semifinals. The tournament requires teams to release preliminary rosters with up to 60 players and those were unveiled on Friday.

NEW YORK — New York/New Jersey stepped up their bid to host the final of the 2026 World Cup by promising a spectacle on par with "eight Super Bowls" at a launch event on Thursday for the tournament which will be co-hosted by the United States, Mexico and Canada.

FIFA president Gianni Infantino gave no indication as to which of the host cities across the three countries would stage the finale when the venues were announced last year.

The United States men’s national team made a massive announcement on Monday that 21-year-old Stade Reims striker Folarin Balogun will make a one-time nationality switch to represent the U.S. instead of England.

FIFA approved the switch meaning Balogun could be playing for the Stars and Stripes as soon as the Concacaf Nations League semifinal vs. Mexico in June. Balogun has been electric in France’s Ligue 1 this season with 19 goals in 34 games (fifth best in the league).

The United States men’s national is set to face bitter rival Mexico in a month’s time in the Concacaf Nations League semifinal at Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas, Nevada. With a litany of injuries to the team we felt that a potential USMNT starting XI vs Mexico was necessary.

Mexico and the U.S. faced off in a snooze fest with their B-teams in the Continental Clásico in April, but on June 15 the star players should be back on the field.

Chelsea goalkeeper Gabriel Slonina headlines the USMNT squad playing in the U-20 World Cup in Argentina later this month. 

Mexican-American Jonathan Gomez and forwards Kevin Paredes and Cade Cowell are also on the list announced Wednesday by coach Mikey Varas. 

Sadly, Paxten Aaronson, who won the Concacaf U-20 Championship’s Golden Boot and Golden Ball awards last summer, will not feature in the tournament after German club Eintracht Frankfurt decided not to release him.

The National Soccer Hall of Fame inducted its 2023 class and a belated member of the 2022 class with U.S. team members Landon Donovan and Hope Solo among the inclusions Saturday in Frisco, Texas.

The full list of athletes and contributors honored included Donovan, Solo, DaMarcus Beasley, Lauren Cheney Holiday, Kate Sobrero Markgraf, Jill Ellis and Slavisa "Steve" Zungul.