In my one of my most recent posts, I discussed the USMNT’s goalkeeper problem as they prepare for the World Cup in November. In brief, there are a lot of options, but not one of them is ideal–for now.
However, this isn’t the USMNT’s only problem. The other problem lies at the other end of the field: forward. As it stands, the USMNT does not have a Jozy Altidore, Clint Dempsey or Landon Donovan-type forward who consistently scores goals. In fact, the situation is almost the complete opposite; plenty of players but not one person consistently scoring. While there are some good options, no one stands out like any of those three names.
Let’s take a look and see where the USMNT stands, starting with the strongest contenders and going down.
Jesus Ferreira
Based on the most recent USMNT roster and the past two games, Jesus Ferreira seems to be Gregg Berhalter’s preferred option at this position. Ferreira isn’t a typical center forward. Rather, he’s more of a false nine–a forward who consistently moves towards the midfield to help with distribution rather than staying up front. By moving deeper into the midfield, the false nine can disrupt the defense and send the wingers further forward. If the false nine is successful, he can then run back upfield towards his more natural position.
In any case, Ferreira is just 21 years old, playing for FC Dallas in MLS. After inking a new deal over the most recent offseason, he has responded with nine goals and four assists on 14 matches–tied for the league lead in goals with fellow American Jeremy Ebobisse. For the USMNT, he already has three goals in just 11 appearances.
However, as many fans noticed in the USMNT’s most recent game against Uruguay, Ferreira is not the best finisher. He is able to find and create chances but he is not always able to finish them–something a team obviously looks for in their striker. Chances are chances but goals are goals. While he has been performing on the club level, he hasn’t been able to transfer that to the international level. Despite that, at least for the time being, he seems to be Berhalter’s go-to guy.
Josh Sargent
At one point, Josh Sargent was regarded as The Next Big Thing; he was one of the USMNT’s top prospects–not only in general but also at the forward position. He parlayed his potential into a move to Werder Bremen, a well-known team in the German Bundesliga. In 2018, with Bremen’s second team, he had seven goals in 12 appearances.
Since then, however, things have not gone smoothly for the young American. With Bremen’s senior team, he had just 15 goals in 83 appearances over the course of three years. In fact, over the course of the 2020-2021 Bundesliga season, he had more yellow cards than goals scored. He ended that season with five goals, two assists and seven yellow cards.
Bremen were relegated to 2. Bundesliga after that season, and instead of staying and proving himself in the lower league, he decided to jump ship and head to the Premier League with the newly-promoted Norwich City. It was an $11 million deal for the then 21-year-old striker–one that he couldn’t resist even if Norwich City are constantly being promoted and relegated.
In his first season with Norwich, Sargent scored just four goals in 29 appearances with two of those coming in the Premier League. Even though one of those is highlight-reel worthy, it was not the production that many fans had hoped for. To make matters worse, 1) he has played as a winger for Norwich, not as a center forward and 2) Norwich have been relegated once again after finishing last. While a move down to the Championship may help him out, it remains to be seen if he can regain some consistent form. He’ll have a little bit of time to score some goals before the World Cup but who knows? He has not scored a goal for the USMNT since 2019.
Ricardo Pepi
It seems like just a few months ago that fans were singing Ricardo Pepi’s praise and many people (myself included) had him as THE heir apparent to all of the great U.S. strikers before him.
My word, how quickly his stock has fallen over the past couple of months.
Pepi, 19, erupted onto the scene after a great 2021 MLS season that saw him score 13 goals in 31 appearances for FC Dallas and win MLS Rookie of the Year. His stock rose so quickly that European teams (and the USMNT) started monitoring his progress. Ultimately, Pepi decided to make a move to FC Augsburg in the Bundesliga for $20 million, as the team looked to avoid relegation. Even though they succeeded in staying up, it came at Pepi’s cost; in 11 appearances since the start of this year, he scored zero goals and provided zero assists.
For the USMNT, prior to his move to Germany, he was lighting up the scoresheet. In six World Cup Qualifying games, he had three goals and three assists, including a brace against Jamaica. Since his move to Germany, however, his international form has struggled as well, leading Berhalter to exclude him from this summer roster.
Pepi is still just 19 years old, so he has plenty of time to regain his form both for club and country. But for right now, with the World Cup coming later this year, he might not be the primary option. Staying in the Bundesliga will be helpful for him but he will have to work hard and clear any mental hurdles he might be facing.
Daryl Dike
With Daryl Dike having been out with an injury since the beginning of this year, it is easy to forget about him on the USMNT depth chart. However, I wouldn’t count him out completely. At just 22 years old, he is yet another young player who could end up making waves.
Dike started with Orlando City SC in MLS, scoring eight goals in 22 appearances over the course of a year. From there he went on loan to Barnsley, a team in the English Championship. Over half of a season (22 games), he scored nine goals and almost helped them to the Premier League.
He took that experience back to Orlando City when he returned on loan. In half of a season back at his old club, he scored 11 goals in 19 appearances–much higher than before he left. This strong streak culminated into another European move–this time on a permanent deal. West Bromwich Albion of the Championship signed Dike to a four-and-a-half year deal for $9.5 million. However, after just two games with them, he suffered a hamstring injury that has kept him out.
He does have some national team experience with three goals in eight appearances. Despite this, he’s been out for so long that his stock has fallen. If all goes well, he might have some time to prove himself before Qatar. However, I have a feeling it might be too late at that point or that he won’t have enough time. Again, anything can happen but for this year his chance may have passed.
Tim Weah
This is a little bit of a wild-card pick. Tim Weah, the 22-year-old who plays with Lille in France’s Ligue 1, is primarily used as a right winger for both club and country. However, he does have experience as a center forward.
The reason why I have him here is because the USMNT has a plethora of talented forwards and wingers. When the World Cup comes along, if all of these players are healthy, Berhalter may not have a choice but to play Weah up top if he wants all of them in the same lineup. To clarify, I’m talking about Weah, Christian Pulisic, Gio Reyna and Brenden Aaronson.
In this scenario, Pulisic is best on the wing so you would put him on the left side. Aaronson and Reyna could go on the other wing or in the midfield so you could interchange them. That leaves Weah, who has had experience as a center forward. On top of that, Weah can score goals. He had three goals and four assists this past season with Lille and he has three goals in 24 appearances so far with the U.S.–including most recently against Morocco. The downside is that he does not score that often. That could certainly be different he played as a center forward more often but I think the USMNT needs someone who can consistently put balls in the back of the net. Still, it’s not entirely out of the equation.
Alternative Options
Haji Wright: I think I can speak on behalf of a lot of USMNT fans when I say that until recently, I had forgotten about Wright. I remember when he was on Schalke 04 with fellow American Weston McKennie but since then? I had not heard of him. However, after an impressive finish to the most recent Süper Lig season with Antalyaspor (including a stretch of seven straight games with a goal), Berhalter decided to call him up for the current international window. Pulisic gifted him a penalty in the first game against Morocco but he did not score against Uruguay. Hopefully, he can use the next two Nations League games to build some more momentum and increase his chances of getting called up in November.
Gyasi Zardes: U.S. fans love to bash him on Twitter but Zardes has experience that the USMNT could use when the World Cup arrives. He has 14 goals in 68 appearances for the U.S., including some in last year’s Gold Cup campaign. However, he did not score at all during World Cup Qualifying and, despite having just been traded from Columbus Crew SC to the Colorado Rapids, he is in a little bit of a rough patch (two goals in 13 matches so far). Even though anything can change in an instant, Zardes might be finished with the U.S.
Jordan Pefok: Pefok is the perfect example of a player whose club form doesn’t translate to the national team. He plays for BSC Young Boys in Switzerland’s Super League, the top league in the country. With 22 goals this past season, he was the league’s top scorer. However, he was unable to score in three World Cup Qualifying appearances, including 83 minutes against Canada. In fact, in nine appearances for the USMNT, he only has one goal. Granted, this is a small sample size but I think if Berhalter believed in Pefok then he would have called him up for this window.
Who Makes the Cut?
Unless something miraculous happens between now and November, I think it’s Ferreira’s job to lose. One of the benefits to him playing in MLS is that he’ll have the rest of the summer to play, whereas any of the players in Europe won’t start their seasons until around August. This will give Ferreira more time to hopefully improve his finishing and fine-tune other aspects of his game.
Behind him, I think Weah is the best option. He has played as a forward before during his career and, as I said before, I think playing him would allow the U.S. to put their best team on the field. Additionally, with only so many roster spots for the World Cup, versatility is key. Having players that can play multiple positions could lead to other players being called up for the tournament.
As for Pepi, Sargent and Dike? Their time will come. With this year’s World Cup coming up so quickly, I don’t think they will have enough time to play their way onto the roster. Despite this, they are all young. They will have their chance to play for the U.S. and prove their worth. For now, they should focus on getting healthy and, in Pepi’s case, getting acclimated to a new team in a new league.
Hopefully, once the World Cup comes to the U.S. (as well as Canada and Mexico) in 2026, all three of these players will be ready to dominate and help the USMNT defend their turf. Until then, it’s a waiting game.
Four Score Soccer 