USMNT training in Georgia this week and next week in preparation for the FIFA World Cup
The USMNT has released its final roster of 26 players, including nine American Black players, ahead of the FIFA World Cup, and will play two matches in North Carolina and Illinois before heading to training camp. The post USMNT training in Georgia this week and next week in preparation for the FIFA World Cup appeared first on The Atlanta Voice.
Black News 
FAYETTEVILLE, GA. – The United States Men’s National Team (USMNT) will play a pair of matches in North Carolina and Illinois before they head off to training camp for the upcoming FIFA World Cup. Head coach Mauricio Pochettino and the final roster of 26 players were at the Arthur M. Blank U.S. Soccer National Training Center, preparing for matches against Senegal at Bank of America Stadium in Charlotte on Sunday and Germany at Soldier Field in Chicago on Saturday, June 6, and taking questions from local and national media.
This year’s roster includes more Black American-born players than any other before. The red, white, and blue draped over the backs of the American players is an honest representation of this country. The USMNT, win or lose, will be a complete reflection of this country.
Midfielders Tyler Adams (Upstate New York) and Weston McKennie (Texas), forwards Haji Wright (California), and Tim Weah (Upstate New York) join defenders Alex Freeman (Florida), Mark McKenzie (Delaware), Chris Richards (Alabama), and former Atlanta United star Miles Robinson (Massachusetts) on this year’s roster.
Freeman, 21, is one of the youngest players on the roster, but has qualified for the World Cup roster by playing well in the Major League Soccer with Orlando City SC and currently with Spanish club Villareal CF.
On Wednesday, during the first day of training in Georgia, the final roster was greeted by staffers as they made their way off the team bus. For all of the players, this was the first time they were getting a look inside the training center.
Before training, Pochettino made his way over to the press assembled on the sideline to welcome them. This year’s roster has Black players who are from other countries, and the level of success of Pochettino, his staff, and US Soccer will have a lot to do with how those players perform this summer.
Defender Antonee Robinson (England), forward Folarin Balogun (England) (New York City and midfielder Malik Tillman (Germany), were all born in Europe but also represent the cultural change taking place in American national team soccer.
At noon, the team made their way onto the training pitch and went through drills before the media was escorted off the field.
The team will be at the National Training Center on Thursday, Friday, and Saturday, before they leave for Charlotte. They are scheduled to return to the training center from Tuesday through Thursday before leaving for Chicago.
The United States, in Group D, will open the World Cup against Paraguay in Los Angeles on June 12. That match will be followed by matches against Australia on June 19 in Seattle and Turkey on June 25 back in Los Angeles.
The post USMNT training in Georgia this week and next week in preparation for the FIFA World Cup appeared first on The Atlanta Voice.
