USMNT: DeAndre Yedlin questioning international career justified

Due to racial injustice in the United States, DeAndre Yedlin questions whether he will play for the USMNT. He is justified to show such doubt.

The United States is undergoing change. The racial injustice that exists in the world is being challenged, and Americans are leading the fight, especially black athletes and celebrities with large followings and reach. Like a lot of others, U.S. Men’s National Team right-back DeAndre Yedlin is using his platform to make people more aware of the issues that exist in the U.S.

Protests are happening across the country and around the world after the murder of George Floyd. A lot of people are fed up with the lack of action or discipline that has taken place over the years. Yedlin, too, has appeared to reach his breaking point. Speaking with Sky Sports, the Newcastle defender questioned whether he will continue to play for the USMNT amid the current crisis:

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"“It’s something I’ve thought a lot about during this quarantine. My grandfather, my grandmother especially, I have a whole family of activists, they’ve always told me to stand up for what I believe in. There’s no amount of money that can make me shut up about something I think is wrong. It’s one of those waiting games to see if a change does happen. But if things go as they stand it’s hard for me as an African American male to represent a country that does things like this where all people aren’t equal.”"

It’s hard to disagree with Yedlin not wanting to play on the international level. When you are playing for your country, you are supposed to feel a sense of pride, patriotism, that you are representing your country in front of the world. But that is hard when you don’t even feel safe in your home country.

Yedlin talked about a text he received from his grandfather. His grandfather was glad he was overseas because he felt he was safer. It is these personal stories that help paint the full picture of the considerations players and athletes like Yedlin are currently taking. And when put in this context, it is difficult to blame Yedlin for feeling this way.

From a purely footballing perspective, Yedlin would be a huge loss for the USMNT. He is a veteran of the team, a solid defender who is strong on the ball and can also come up and join the attack. His speed makes him a dangerous weapon at both ends of the pitch.

Not a lot of American players find success overseas and especially in England. Yedlin has almost 100 appearances in the Premier League. That experience pays off when trying to succeed at the international level.

Then there is also the effect of having a guy like Yedlin in the locker room. He has 62 caps and knows the highs and lows of representing the U.S. If Gregg Berhalter’s side wants to go far, having a player of Yedlin’s experience, nous, and know-how is invaluable, especially considering the youthful nature of the current squad.

Hopefully, then, society changes and Yedlin will no longer feel that he is safer overseas. Hopefully, Yedlin will once again play for the United States and feel pride wearing the uniform, but whatever decision he ends up making, he will have a lot of support from the soccer community and people around the world.