USMNT: Top 3 central midfielders for 2022 World Cup qualifying

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GENK, BELGIUM – NOVEMBER 20: Tyler Adams of the United States of America gestures during Italy v USA International Friendly at Luminus Arena in Genk on November 20, 2018 in Genk, Belgium. (Photo by TF-Images/Getty Images) /

Gregg Berhalter is building a new era of the USMNT. But who are his best options at central midfield ahead of the looming 2022 World Cup qualifiers? Here are the top three candidates at the position at present.

The U.S. Men’s National Team will, at some point in the future, look to avenge the humiliation of missing out on the 2018 World Cup in their bid to earn a spot at the 2022 World Cup in Qatar. The qualifiers were set to commence later this year. That may not be pushed back, but Gregg Berhalter will still be making plans regarding the team he will select throughout the process. So, who might his best options be in central midfield?

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Here are the top three central midfielders for the 2022 World Cup qualifiers at present.

On Saturday, we will list the top three attacking midfielders so these will be more defensively minded players.

CARSON, CA – FEBRUARY 1: Jackson Yueill #6 of the United States during the international friendly match between the United States and Costa Rica at the Dignity Health Sports Park on February 1, 2020 in Carson, California. The United States won the match 1-0. (Photo by Shaun Clark/Getty Images) /

3. Jackson Yueill

The San Jose Earthquakes electric and suffocating man-to-man high-press scheme is tremendously taxing on its players. This is especially true in central midfield, with Matias Almeyda’s trio having to cover large spaces of the pitch for a full 90 minutes. It is physically and tactically exhausting. And yet, Jackson Yueill has flourished.

Yueill starts in a deeper position, but he has the freedom to push forwards. When playing for the USMNT, he is more confined to a defensive role, which might not suit his all-action style as much. Nevertheless, his performance against Uruguay last September proved that he has the nuance and awareness to conduct play in a more reserved and controlled manner.

Yueill turned 23 last month, is now a full-time regular in a senior team, and has a bright future ahead of him. He is an excellent passer, and he could well be the successor to Michael Bradley’s crown as the deep-lying distributor for the USMNT, but he possesses more athleticism than the Toronto FC man. That edges his ceiling just that little bit higher, and that is something that Berhalter should explore.

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