Generations: 2022 World Cup Edition
How are the generations contributing to this roster, and how does that compare to the top nations
The 2022 US World Cup squad is out, let’s see how the Generations stack up.
USMNT
35-37yo (X-RAY) - 1 - Tim Ream
32-34yo (YANKEE) - 1 - Sean Johnson
29-31yo (ZULU) - 3 - Aaron Long, Walker Zimmerman, DeAndre Yedlin
26-28yo (ALFA-2) - 6 - Matt Turner, Jordan Morris, Cristian Roldan, Ethan Horvath, Kellyn Acosta, Shaq Moore
23-25yo (BRAVO-2) - 7 - Antonee Robinson, Cameron Carter-Vickers, Haji Wright, Luca de la Torre, Weston McKennie, Christian Pulisic, Tyler Adams
20-22yo (CHARLIE-2) - 8 - Josh Sargent, Tim Weah, Brenden Aaronson, Sergino Dest, Jesus Ferreira, Gio Reyna, Yunus Musah, Joe Scally
Before we compare that to the real contenders to see how a competitive squad “should” be distributed, let’s look at where these guys play. Setting Ream aside, the YANKEEs and ZULUs are all MLS lifers, with Yedlin having eight seasons in Europe between MLS stints. The ALFA-2s include a few more MLS lifers, but also Horvath who started his career in Europe, Turner who has just made the leap to Premier League backup, Morris who’s loan to Europe was killed my a major knee injury, and Moore who battled in lower European divisions before coming back to MLS this summer. The BRAVO-2s and CHARLIE-2s only have one current MLS player (Ferreira), two guys who came up through NY Red Bulls before jumping in the Red Bull pipeline (Adams & Aaronson), and one guy who just practiced in MLS until he turned 18 (Scally). Of the 15, 12 play for a team in the Big Five leagues and/or in the Champions League, with Wright playing in Turkey, Ferreira in MLS, and Sargent in the English Championship.
Brazil
38-40yo (WHISKEY) - 2 - Dani Alves, Thiago Silva
35-37yo (X-RAY) - 1 - Weverton
32-34yo (YANKEE) - 1 - Everton Ribiero
29-31yo (ZULU) - 9 - Alex Sandro, Danilo, Neymar, Casemiro, Alisson, Alex Telles, Fred, Ederson, Fabinho
26-28yo (ALFA-2) - 2 - Marquinhos, Ralphinha
23-25yo (BRAVO-2) - 7 - Bremer, Gabriel Jesus, Richarlison, Pedro, Lucas Paqueta, Bruno Guimaraes, Eder Militaro
20-22yo (CHARLIE-2) - 4 - Antony, Vinicius Junior, Rodrygo, Gabriel Martinelli
France
35-37yo (X-RAY) - 4 - Steve Mandanda, Olivier Giroud, Hugo Lloris, Karim Benzema
32-34yo (YANKEE) - 0
29-31yo (ZULU) - 4 - Antoine Griezmann, Alphonse Areola, Jordan Varetout, Raphael Varane
26-28yo (ALFA-2) - 4 - Adrien Rabiot, Lucas Hernandez, Benjamin Pavard, Kingsley Coman
23-25yo (BRAVO-2) - 11 - Ousmane Dembele, Marcus Thuram, Theo Hernandez, Christopher Nkunku, Axel Disasi, Dayot Upamecano, Jules Kounde, Kylian Mbappe, Youssouf Fofana, Matteo Guendouzi, Ibrahima Konate
20-22yo (CHARLIE-2) - 3 - Aurelien Tchouameni, William Saliba, Eduardo Camavinga
Argentina
35-37yo (X-RAY) - 2 - Franco Armani, Lionel Messi
32-34yo (YANKEE) - 3 - Nicolas Otamendi, Angel Di Maria, Alejando Gomez
29-31yo (ZULU) - 6 - German Pezzella, Marcos Acuna, Geronimo Rulli, Nicolas Tagliafico, Emiliano Martinez, Paulo Dybala
26-28yo (ALFA-2) - 4 - Guido Rodriguez, Rodrigo De Paul, Leandro Paredes, Joaquin Correa
23-25yo (BRAVO-2) - 9 - Gonzalo Montiel, Lautaro Martinez, Juan Foyth, Lisandro Martinez, Naheul Molina, Nicolas Gonzalez, Cristian Romero, Exequiel Palacios, Alexis Mac Allister
20-22yo (CHARLIE-2) - 2 - Julian Alvarez, Enzo Fernandez
England
35-37yo (X-RAY) - 0
32-34yo (YANKEE) - 3 - Kyle Walker, Jordan Henderson, Kieran Trippier
29-31yo (ZULU) - 5 - Callum Wilson, Nick Pope, Conor Coady, Harry Maguire, Harry Kane
26-28yo (ALFA-2) - 8 - Eric Dier, Jordan Pickford, John Stones, Raheem Sterling, Luke Shaw, Jack Grealish, Kalvin Phillips, James Maddison
23-25yo (BRAVO-2) - 6 - Ben White, Marcus Rashford, Aaron Ramsdale, Trent Alexander-Arnold, Mason Mount, Declan Rice
20-22yo (CHARLIE-2) - 3 - Conor Gallagher, Phil Foden, Bukayo Saka
17-19yo (DELTA-2) - 1 - Jude Bellingham
Spain
35-37yo (X-RAY) - 0
32-34yo (YANKEE) - 3 - Sergio Busquets, Jordi Alba, Cesar Azpilicueta
29-31yo (ZULU) - 4 - Koke, Dani Carvajal, Pablo Sarabia, Alvaro Morata
26-28yo (ALFA-2) - 6 - Aymeri Laporte, Marcos Llorente, Jose Gaya, David Raya, Marco Asensio, Rodri
23-25yo (BRAVO-2) - 5 - Carlos Soler, Pau Torres, Unai Simon, Robert Sanchez, Dani Olmo
20-22yo (CHARLIE-2) - 7 - Hugo Guillamon, Ferran Torres, Eric Garcia, Nico Williams, Yeremy Pino, Ansu Fati, Pedri
17-19yo (DELTA-2) - 1 - Gavi
Germany
35-37yo (X-RAY) - 1 - Manuel Neuer
32-34yo (YANKEE) - 3 - Thomas Muller, Kevin Trapp, Ilkay Gundogan
29-31yo (ZULU) - 6 - Marc-Andre ter Stegen, Mario Gotze, Jonas Hofmann, Niclas Fullkrug, Christian Gunter, Antonio Rudiger
26-28yo (ALFA-2) - 9 - Matthias Ginter, Leon Goretzka, Joshua Kimmich, Serge Gnabry, Niklas Sule, Leroy Sane, Julian Brandt, Lukas Klostermann, Thilo Kehrer
23-25yo (BRAVO-2) - 3 - David Raum, Kai Havertz, Nico Schlotterbeck
20-22yo (CHARLIE-2) - 2 - Armel Bella-Kotchap, Karim Adeyemi
17-19yo (DELTA-2) - 2 - Jamal Musiala, Youssoufa Moukoko
The squads from the six major contenders average around four guys over 32, six guys 29-31, six guys, seven guys 23-25, and three guys 20-22. Four total teens are going.
Looking back at the US squad, from the start we’re short a couple of guys from that oldest cohort. Imagine if Michael Bradley and Jozy Altidore had managed to maintain their level, or if Darlington Nagbe had been committed to the national team. The ZULUs are short three guys, which would have been bolstered by John Brooks not falling out of favor, along with someone like Terrence Boyd, Juan Agudelo, or even Gyasi Zardes forcing themselves into the picture. The ALFA-2s have the “right” number of players on the roster, but imagine if Julian Green or Matt Miazga had been able to stick in a Big Five league, or even if Jordan Morris hadn’t injured his knee at Swansea.
Moving beyond age and into the leagues World Cup players call home, there’s another obvious difference. Brazil has three guys playing in their domestic league and one playing in Mexico (all but one of those at least 33 yo), Argentina’s 36yo keeper never left their domestic league, and they have two more guys at Benfica in Portugal. The other 149 players on those top six squads all play in the Big Five leagues.
I’m all-in on this team, and I’m excited to watch them compete next week. I think they’re going to surprise some people. But 2022 is a building block. 2026 will be the first time in the history of the World Cup that we have a chance to actually compete with the top teams in terms of overall squad talent. There are eleven guys on this squad who, barring major injuries or drops in form, are currently playing in a Big Five league and will have every opportunity to make the 2026 squad as veteran leaders. Enjoy the next several weeks of amazing soccer, and then it’s time to start looking for twenty more guys to make that next leap over the next three years so we can make sure that soccer comes, and stays, home.