Maintaining player health and securing regular club minutes are essential for the U.S. men's national team ahead of the next World Cup. Recent positive signs include returns to starting lineups for Antonee Robinson, Folarin Balogun and Ricardo Pepi, strengthening depth and readiness. Gio Reyna's transfer to Borussia Mönchengladbach offers a chance for increased playing time while remaining in Germany and reuniting with Joe Scally. ESPN will monitor player form and fitness throughout the season under the USMNT's Countdown to the World Cup initiative, tracking developments up to the final roster announcement on June 11.
Last weekend, the U.S. could fully celebrate the fact that this is trending in the right direction. Fulham defender Antonee Robinson, AS Monaco striker Folarin Balogun and PSV Eindhoven forward Ricardo Pepi all made returns to the starting lineup for their respective clubs. Finding steady playing time is another key factor, so the sight of Gio Reyna moving to Borussia Mönchengladbach was also most welcome.
Throughout the season, ESPN will be monitoring the progress of the U.S. player pool, delivering insights into those whose form or fitness has made them particularly intriguing. We call it the USMNT's Countdown to the World Cup. ESPN will count down to June 11 every week so that way, when the U.S. team is announced for this highly anticipated World Cup on home soil, no names on that 26-man roster will come as a surprise.
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