CNN
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‘Tis the season for wall charts and fans gathering around to pick their starting teams for the 2022 Qatar World Cup.
And with countries announcing their squads for international football’s premier competition, the debate has ramped up to the maximum.
On Wednesday, the US Men’s National Team (USMNT) announced their 26-player squad which will travel to Qatar to compete in the World Cup, with head coach Gregg Berhalter choosing a young and inexperienced group.
Berhalter’s choices didn’t come without controversy though. The biggest surprise was the decision to not pick Manchester City goalkeeper Zack Steffen.
The 27-year-old, who is on loan at second-tier English club Middlesborough this season, rotated with Arsenal goalkeeper Matt Turner for the starting position, but has been omitted from the final squad.
“In some of the cases, it’s more about what we have than what we don’t have,” Berhalter said during a press conference after the announcement. “With the three goalkeepers listed on the roster, we feel great, we feel really good about it.
“We saw a lot of progress with Matt Turner in this last six months, we know Ethan Horvath has been competing at a good level at Luton in the Championship, and Sean Johnson has been a mainstay in this group since day one.”
The other main surprise was the selection of Haji Wright over Ricardo Pepi. Wright, who is second leading scorer in the Turkish top-flight, was chosen ahead of Pepi, who had become a favorite of Berhalter in recent games.
“In the case of Ricardo, that was a really difficult conversation that I had to have with him,” Berhalter said.
“It’s always difficult when a guy helps you get to the World Cup, he scores three goals in World Cup qualifying and isn’t going to be a part of the program. Again, it’s more about who we did add that we felt good about.”
All but one of the 26 will be making their World Cup debut at this year’s tournament and, according to the USMNT, it will be the youngest team to qualify for the World Cup.
According to the team, the USMNT’s starting 11 through its 14 qualifiers had an average age of 23.82, almost two years younger than the next closest team.
The USMNT’s first game is on November 21 against Wales.
Here’s a full list of the squads for the 2022 Qatar World Cup:
Ecuador
Manager: Gustavo Alfaro
The final squad has not been announced yet.
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Netherlands
Manager: Louis van Gaal
The final squad has not been announced yet.
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Qatar
Manager: Félix Sánchez
The final squad has not been announced yet.
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Senegal
Manager: Aliou Cissé
The final squad has not been announced yet.
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England
Manager: Gareth Southgate
Goalkeepers: Jordan Pickford, Nick Pope, Aaron Ramsdale
Defenders: Trent Alexander-Arnold, Conor Coady, Eric Dier, Harry Maguire, Luke Shaw, John Stones, Kieran Trippier, Kyle Walker, Ben White
Midfielders: Jude Bellingham, Conor Gallagher, Jordan Henderson, Mason Mount, Kalvin Phillips, Declan Rice
Forwards: Phil Foden, Jack Grealish, Harry Kane, James Maddison, Marcus Rashford, Bukayo Saka, Raheem Sterling, Callum Wilson
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Iran
Manager: Carlos Queiroz
The final squad has not been announced yet.
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United States
Manager: Gregg Berhalter
Goalkeepers: Ethan Horvath, Sean Johnson, Matt Turner
Defenders: Cameron Carter-Vickers, Sergiño Dest, Aaron Long, Shaq Moore, Tim Ream, Antonee Robinson, Joe Scally, DeAndre Yedlin, Walker Zimmerman
Midfielders: Brenden Aaronson, Kellyn Acosta, Tyler Adams, Luca de la Torre, Weston McKennie, Yunus Musah, Cristian Roldan
Forwards: Jesús Ferreira, Jordan Morris, Christian Pulisic, Gio Reyna, Josh Sargent, Tim Weah, Haji Wright
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Wales
Manager: Rob Page
Goalkeepers: Wayne Hennessey, Danny Ward, Adam Davies
Defenders: Ben Davies, Ben Cabango, Tom Lockyer, Joe Rodon, Chris Mepham, Ethan Ampadu, Chris Gunter, Neco Williams, Connor Roberts
Midfielders: Sorba Thomas, Joe Allen, Matt Smith, Dylan Levitt, Harry Wilson, Joe Morrell, Jonny Williams, Aaron Ramsey, Rubin Colwill
Forwards: Gareth Bale, Kieffer Moore, Mark Harris, Brennan Johnson, Dan James
Argentina
Manager: Lionel Scaloni
The final squad has not been announced yet.
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Mexico
Manager: Gerardo Martino
The final squad has not been announced yet.
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Poland
Manager: Czesław Michniewicz
Goalkeepers: Wojciech Szczęsny, Łukasz Skorupski, Bartłomiej Drągowski
Defenders: Kamil Glik, Bartosz Bereszyński, Jan Bednarek, Artur Jędrzejczyk, Matty Cash, Nicola Zalewski, Robert Gumny, Jakub Kiwior, Mateusz Wieteska
Midfielders: Grzegorz Krychowiak, Kamil Grosicki, Piotr Zieliński, Przemysław Frankowski, Sebastian Szymański, Damian Szymański, Szymon Żurkowski, Krystian Bielik, Jakub Kamiński, Michał Skóraś
Forwards: Robert Lewandowski, Arkadiusz Milik, Krzysztof Piątek, Karol Świderski
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Saudi Arabia
Manager: Hervé Renard
The final squad has not been announced yet.
Australia
Manager: Graham Arnold
Goalkeepers: Andrew Redmayne, Mathew Ryan, Danny Vukovic
Defenders: Nathaniel Atkinson, Aziz Behich, Milos Degenek, Thomas Deng, Fran Karacic, Joel King, Kye Rowles, Harry Souttar, Bailey Wright
Midfielders: Keanu Baccus, Cameron Devlin, Ajdin Hrustic, Jackson Irvine, Riley McGree, Aaron Mooy
Forwards: Martin Boyle, Jason Cummings, Mitch Duke, Craig Goodwin, Garang Kuol, Mathew Leckie, Awer Mabil, Jamie Maclaren
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Denmark
Manager: Kasper Hjulmand
Goalkeepers: Kasper Schmeichel, Oliver Christensen
Defenders: Simon Kjær, Joachim Andersen, Joakim Mæhle, Andreas Christensen, Rasmus Nissen Kristensen, Jens Stryger Larsen, Victor Nelsson, Daniel Wass.
Midfielders: Thomas Delaney, Mathias Jensen, Christian Eriksen, Pierre-Emile Højbjerg
Forwards: Andreas Skov Olsen, Jesper Lindstrøm, Andreas Cornelius, Martin Braithwaite, Kasper Dolberg, Mikkel Damsgaard, Jonas Wind
21 slots in the 26-man squad have been announced, with the final five places yet to be named.
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France
Manager: Didier Deschamps
Goalkeepers: Alphonse Areola, Hugo Lloris, Steve Mandanda
Defenders: Lucas Hernández, Théo Hernandez, Presnel Kimpembe, Ibrahima Konaté, Jules Koundé, Benjamin Pavard, William Saliba, Dayot Upamecano, Raphaël Varane
Midfielders: Eduardo Camavinga, Youssouf Fofana, Mattéo Guendouzi, Adrien Rabiot, Aurélien Tchouaméni, Jordan Veretout
Forwards: Karim Benzema, Kingsley Coman, Ousmane Dembélé, Olivier Giroud, Antoine Griezmann, Kylian Mbappé, Christopher Nkunku
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Tunisia
Manager: Jalel Kadri
The final squad has not been announced yet.
Costa Rica
Manager: Luis Fernando Suárez
Goalkeepers: Keylor Navas, Esteban Alvarado, Patrick Sequeira
Defenders: Francisco Calvo, Bryan Oviedo, Daniel Chacón, Óscar Duarte, Kendall Watson, Rónald Matarrita, Keysher Fuller, Juan Pablo Vargas, Carlos Martínez
Midfielders: Celso Borges, Bryan Ruiz, Yeltsin Tejeda, Gerson Torres, Jewison Bennette, Youstin Salas, Roan Wilson, Brandon Aguilera, Douglas López, Anthony Hernández, Álvaro Zamora
Forwards: Joel Campbell, Johan Venegas, Anthony Contreras
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Germany
Manager: Hansi Flick
Goalkeepers: Manuel Neuer, Marc-Andre ter Stegen, Kevin Trapp
Defenders: Matthias Ginter, Antonio Rüdiger, Niklas Süle, Nico Schlotterbeck, Thilo Kehrer, David Raum, Lukas Klostermann, Armel Bella-Kotchap, Christian Günter
Midfielders: İlkay Gündoğan, Jonas Hofmann, Leon Goretzka, Serge Gnabry, Leroy Sané, Jamal Musiala, Joshua Kimmich, Thomas Müller, Julian Brandt, Mario Götze
Strikers: Kai Havertz, Youssoufa Moukoko, Niclas Füllkrug, Karim Adeyemi
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Japan
Manager: Hajime Moriyasu
Goalkeepers: Eiji Kawashima, Shuichi Gonda, Daniel Schmidt
Defenders: Yuto Nagatomo, Maya Yoshida, Hiroki Sakai, Shogo Taniguchi, Ko Itakura, Takehiro Tomiyasu, Hiroki Ito, Miki Yamane
Midfielders: Gaku Shibasaki, Wataru Endo, Junya Ito, Takumi Minamino, Hidemasa Morita, Daichi Kamada, Yuki Soma, Kaoru Mitoma, Ao Tanaka, Takefusa Kubo
Forwards: Takuma Asano, Shuto Machino, Daizen Maeda, Ritsu Doan, Ayase Ueda
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Spain
Manager: Luis Enrique
The final squad has not been announced yet.
Belgium
Manager: Roberto Martínez
Goalkeepers: Koen Casteels, Thibaut Courtois, Simon Mignolet
Defenders: Toby Alderweireld, Zeno Debast, Wout Faes, Arthur Theate, Jan Vertonghen, Timothy Castagne, Thomas Meunier
Midfielders: Yannick Carrasco, Thorgan Hazard, Kevin De Bruyne, Leander Dendoncker, Amadou Onana, Youri Tielemans, Hans Vanaken, Axel Witsel
Forwards: Michy Batshuayi, Charles De Ketelaere, Jérémy Doku, Eden Hazard, Romelu Lukaku, Dries Mertens, Loïs Openda, Leandro Trossard
READ: The Belgian Blueprint – How a small nation became a European superpower
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Canada
Manager: John Herdman
The final squad has not been announced yet.
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Croatia
Manager: Zlatko Dalić
Goalkeepers: Dominik Livaković, Ivica Ivusić, Ivo Grbić
Defenders: Domagoj Vida, Dejan Lovren, Borna Barisić, Josip Juranović, Josko Gvardiol, Borna Sosa, Josip Stanisić, Martin Erlić, Josip Sutalo
Midfielders: Luka Modrić, Mateo Kovacić, Marcelo Brozović, Mario Pasalić, Nikola Vlasić, Lovro Majer, Kristijan Jakić, Luka Sucić
Forwards: Ivan Perisić, Andrej Kramarić, Bruno Petković, Mislav Orsić, Ante Budimir, Marko Livaja
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Morocco
Manager: Walid Regragui
Goalkeepers: Yassine Bounou, Munir Mohamedi, Ahmed Reda Tagnaouti
Defenders: Achraf Hakimi, Noussair Mazraoui, Roman Saïss, Nayef Aguerd, Badr Benoun, Jawad El Yamiq, Achraf Dari, Yahia Attiyat-Allal
Midfielders: Sofyan Amrabat, Azzedine Ounahi, Selim Amallah, Yahya Jabrane, Abdelhamid Sabiri, Bilel El Khanouss
Forwards: Hakim Ziyech, Youssef En-Nesyri, Abderrazak Hamdallah, Amine Harit, Ilias Chair, Abde Ezzalzouli, Sofiane Boufal, Zakaria Aboukhlal, Walid Cheddira
Brazil
Manager: Tite
Goalkeepers: Alisson, Ederson, Weverton
Defenders: Alex Sandro, Alex Telles, Dani Alves, Danilo, Bremer, Éder Militão, Marquinhos, Thiago Silva
Midfielders: Bruno Guimarães, Casemiro, Éverton Ribeiro, Fabinho, Fred, Lucas Paquetá
Forwards: Antony, Gabriel Jesus, Gabriel Martinelli, Neymar Jr., Pedro, Raphinha, Richarlison, Rodrygo, Vinícius Jr.
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Cameroon
Manager: Rigobert Song
Goalkeepers: Simon Ngapandouetnbu, Devis Epassy, Andre Onana
Defenders: Nicolas Nkoulou, Enzo Ebosse, Nouhou Tolo, Olivier Mbaizo, Collins Fai, Jean-Charles Castelletto, Christopher Wooh
Midfielders: Gael Ondoa, Samuel Oum Gouet, Pierre Kunde, Martin Hongla, Andre-Frank Zambo Anguissa, Olivier Ntcham
Forwards: Georges-Kevin Nkoudou, Vincent Aboubakar, Bryan Mbeumo, Jean-Pierre Nsame, Karl Toko Ekambi, Moumi Ngamaleu, Eric Maxim Choupo-Moting, Christian Bassogog, Souaibou Marou, Jerome Ngom
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Serbia
Manager: Dragan Stojković
The final squad has not been announced yet.
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Switzerland
Manager: Murat Yakin
Goalkeepers: Gregor Kobel, Philipp Köhn, Jonas Omlin, Yann Sommer
Defenders: Manuel Akanji, Eray Comert, Nico Elvedi, Ricardo Rodriguez, Fabian Schär, Silvan Widmer
Midfielders: Michel Aebischer, Edimilson Fernandes, Fabian Frei, Remo Freuler, Ardon Jashari, Noah Okafor, Fabian Rieder, Xherdan Shaqiri, Djibril Sow, Renato Steffen, Granit Xhaka, Denis Zakaria
Forwards: Breel Embolo, Christian Fassnacht, Haris Seferovic, Reuben Vargas
Ghana
Manager: Otto Addo
The final squad has not been announced yet.
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Portugal
Manager: Fernando Santos
Goalkeepers: Diogo Costa, José Sá, Rui Patrício
Defenders: Diogo Dalot, João Cancelo, Danilo Pereira, Pepe, Rúben Dias, António Silva, Nuno Mendes, Raphael Guerreiro
Midfielders: João Palhinha, Rúben Neves, Bernardo Silva, Bruno Fernandes, João Mário, Matheus Nunes, Otávio Monteiro, Vitinha, William Carvalho
Forwards: André Silva, Cristiano Ronaldo, Gonçalo Ramos, João Félix, Rafael Leão, Ricardo Horta
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South Korea
Manager: Paulo Bento
The final squad has not been announced yet.
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Uruguay
Manager: Diego Alonso
The final squad has not been announced yet.
