What will the Stars and Stripes of the US Men’s National Team (USMNT) be up against when they take the pitch at the 2022 World Cup in Qatar next week? Let’s take a look with our Group B preview:
2022 World Cup Group B preview
England
- FIFA Rank: 5th
- Qualification: UEFA Group I winners
- Previous World Cup appearances: 15
- Best finish: Champions (1966)
- Odds to win group: -280
- Odds to make knockout stage: -1200
- Odds to win World Cup: +850
England has the horses to blow the doors of almost any team on the planet given its sheer amount of attacking options. However, major concerns exist toward the back line — particularly at the center back spot. It’s why manager Gareth Southgate exudes a more pragmatic strategy, which does take the fun at times away from the Three Lions.
X-Factor: Harry Maguire, John Stones It’d be sensible to reserve this spot for the abundance of attacking stars England has: Harry Kane, Raheem Sterling, Phil Foden, Jack Grealish, Mason Mount, Bukayo Saka — the list goes on. But the Manchester United defender Harry Maguire and his Manchester City counterpart John Stones has to find a new level to their game to help anchor an England backline that could only trot out three in a potential 3-4-3 formation.
England World Cup Roster
| Position | Player | Club |
|---|---|---|
| Goalkeeper | Jordan Pickford | Everton |
| Goalkeeper | Nick Pope | Newcastle United |
| Goalkeeper | Aaron Ramsdale | Arsenal |
| Defender | Trent Alexander-Arnold | Liverpool |
| Defender | Conor Coady | Everton |
| Defender | Eric Dier | Tottenham |
| Defender | Harry Maguire | Manchester United |
| Defender | Luke Shaw | Manchester United |
| Defender | John Stones | Manchester City |
| Defender | Kieran Trippier | Newcastle United |
| Defender | Kyle Walker | Manchester City |
| Defender | Ben White | Arsenal |
| Midfielder | Jude Bellingham | Borussia Dortmund |
| Midfielder | Conor Gallagher | Chelsea |
| Midfielder | Jordan Henderson | Liverpool |
| Midfielder | Mason Mount | Chelsea |
| Midfielder | Kalvin Phillips | Manchester City |
| Midfielder | Declan Rice | West Ham United |
| Forward | James Maddison | Leicester City |
| Forward | Callum Wilson | Newcastle United |
| Forward | Phil Foden | Manchester City |
| Forward | Jack Grealish | Manchester City |
| Forward | Harry Kane | Tottenham |
| Forward | Marcus Rashford | Manchester United |
| Forward | Bukayo Saka | Arsenal |
| Forward | Raheem Sterling | Chelsea |
Iran
- FIFA Rank: 20th
- Qualification: AFC Group A winner
- Previous World Cup appearances: 5
- Best finish: Group Stage (’78, ’98, ’06, ’14, ’18)
- Odds to win group: +1600
- Odds to make knockout stage: +350
- Odds to win World Cup: +50000
Especially in this group of heavy hitters, Iran’s system of defense first will be their only hope in Qatar to break the streak of group-stage exits. The re-introduction of manager Carlos Queiroz, formerly of Real Madrid, will provide a boost to the team’s hopes.
X-Factor: Mehdi Taremi Taremi will carry most of the pressure of Iran’s attacking hopes — and rightfully so. The striker has been a mainstay for the famous Portuguese club, FC Porto, and has had three straight seasons of 20 or more goals. He’ll be flanked by long-time wingers in Alireza Jahanbakhsh and Sardar Azmoun to provide plenty of familiarity for Team Melli.
Iran World Cup Roster
| Position | Player | Club |
|---|---|---|
| Goalkeeper | Alireza Beiranvand | Persepolis |
| Goalkeeper | Hossein Hosseini | Esteghlal |
| Goalkeeper | Amir Abedzadeh | Ponferradina |
| Goalkeeper | Payam Niazmand | Sepahan |
| Defender | Ehsan Hajsafi | AEK Athens |
| Defender | Morteza pouraliganji | Persepolis |
| Defender | Ramin Rezaeian | Sepahan |
| Defender | Milad Mohammadi | AEK Athens |
| Defender | Shojae Khalilzadeh | Al-Ahli |
| Defender | Hossein Kanaanizadegan | Al-Ahli |
| Defender | Sadegh Moharrami | Dinamo Zagreb |
| Defender | Majid Hosseini | Kayserispor |
| Defender | Rouzbeh Cheshmi | Esteghlal |
| Defender | Abolfazi Jalali | Esteghlal |
| Midfielder | Vahid Amiri | Persepolis |
| Midfielder | Saeid Ezatolahi | Vejle |
| Midfielder | Mehdi Torabi | Persepolis |
| Midfielder | Saman Ghoddos | Brentford |
| Midfielder | Ali Gholizadeh | Charleroi |
| Midfielder | Ahmad Nourollahi | Shabab Al Ahli |
| Midfielder | Ali Karimi | Kayserispor |
| Forward | Alireza Jahanbakhsh | Feyenoord |
| Forward | Mehdi Taremi | FC Porto |
| Forward | Karim Ansarifard | Omonia |
| Forward | Sardar Azmoun | Bayer Leverkusen |
United States
- FIFA Rank: 16th
- Qualification: 3rd place in CONCACAF qualifiers
- Previous World Cup appearances: 10
- Best finish: Semifinals (1930)
- Odds to win group: +500
- Odds to make knockout stage: -105
- Odds to win World Cup: +13000
The USMNT is back at the World Cup after its shocking hiatus in 2018. Gregg Berhalter has brought a youthful, exuberant side with him to Qatar in what hopes to be the dawning of a new age in American soccer. There’s an abundance of talent out on the wings in both the midfield and defense to help institute a pressing style of play. It will be fast, potentially fun, and could make a bit of noise out of Group B.
X-Factor: Christian Pulisic It’s always going to come down to Pulisic, who was the poster child of USMNT’s youthful revolution four years ago. The Chelsea star will be the main attacking threat on the outside of the forward line, but he’s expected to receive plenty of support behind him on the same side from the likes of Valencia’s Yunus Musah and Fulham’s Antonee Robinson.
United States World Cup Roster
| Position | Player | Club |
|---|---|---|
| Goalkeeper | Sean Johnson | NYCFC |
| Goalkeeper | Ethan Horvath | Luton Town |
| Goalkeeper | Matt Turner | Arsenal |
| Defender | Cameron Carter-Vickers | Celtic |
| Defender | Sergińo Dest | AC Milan |
| Defender | Aaron Long | NY Red Bulls |
| Defender | Shaq Moore | Nashville SC |
| Defender | Tim Ream | Fulham |
| Defender | Antonee Robinson | Fulham |
| Defender | Joe Scally | Borussia Mönchengladbach |
| Defender | DeAndre Yedlin | Inter Milan |
| Defender | Walker Zimmerman | Nashville SC |
| Midfielder | Brenden Aaronson | Leeds United |
| Midfielder | Kellyn Acosta | LAFC |
| Midfielder | Tyler Adams | Leeds United |
| Midfielder | Luca De La Torre | Celta Vigo |
| Midfielder | Weston McKennie | Juventus |
| Midfielder | Yunus Musah | Valencia |
| Midfielder | Cristian Roldan | Seattle Sounders |
| Forward | Jesús Ferreira | FC Dallas |
| Forward | Jordan Morris | Seattle Sounders |
| Forward | Christian Pulisic | Chelsea |
| Forward | Gio Reyna | Borussia Dortmund |
| Forward | Josh Sargent | Norwich City |
| Forward | Tim Weah | Lille |
| Forward | Haji Wright | Antalyaspor |
Wales
- FIFA Rank: 19th
- Qualification: Defeated Ukraine in UEFA play-off
- Previous World Cup appearances: 1
- Best finish: Quarterfinals (1958)
- Odds to win group: +500
- Odds to make knockout stage: +100
- Odds to win World Cup: +20000
Wales is another team that is going to rely on the counter-attack given their lack of attacking depth. But a passionate side with an incredible work rate will be a tough out for the likes of England and USMNT, especially considering the former is a traditional, ancient rival of the Dragons.
X-Factor: Gareth Bale The most famous and successful Welsh soccer player ever, Bale is facing the mortality of a playing career that is now at LAFC — though there has always been rumors of him signing with the MLS side just to keep his fitness for the World Cup. The 33-year-old once starred at Tottenham before experiencing a rollercoaster of a stint at Real Madrid, but there is no denying Bale’s brilliance.
Wales World Cup Roster
| Position | Player | Club |
|---|---|---|
| Goalkeeper | Wayne Hennessey | Nottingham Forest |
| Goalkeeper | Danny Ward | Leicester City |
| Goalkeeper | Adam Davies | Stoke |
| Defender | Ben Davies | Tottenham |
| Defender | Joe Rodon | Rennes |
| Defender | Ben Cabango | Swansea City |
| Defender | Chris Mepham | Bournemouth |
| Defender | Chris Gunter | AFC Wimbledon |
| Defender | Connor Roberts | Burnley |
| Defender | Neco Williams | Nottingham Forest |
| Defender | Ethan Ampadu | Spezia |
| Defender | Tom Lockyer | Luton Town |
| Midfielder | Aaron Ramsey | Nice |
| Midfielder | Joe Allen | Swansea City |
| Midfielder | Harry Wilson | Fulham |
| Midfielder | Joe Morrell | Portsmouth |
| Midfielder | Matthew Smith | MK Dons |
| Midfielder | Dylan Levitt | Dundee United |
| Midfielder | Sorba Thomas | Huddersfield |
| Midfielder | Rubin Colwill | Cardiff City |
| Midfielder | Jonny Williams | Swindon Town |
| Forward | Gareth Bale | LAFC |
| Forward | Mark Harris | Cardiff City |
| Forward | Kieffer Moore | Bournemouth |
| Forward | Daniel James | Fulham |
| Forward | Brennan Johnson | Nottingham Forest |
*Odds courtesy of DraftKings
2022 World Cup Group B schedule
| Date | Match | Time | TV |
| Monday, Nov. 21 | England v. Iran | 8 AM | FS1 |
| Monday, Nov. 21 | United States v. Wales | 2 PM | FOX |
| Friday, Nov. 25 | Wales vs. Iran | 5 AM | FS1 |
| Friday, Nov. 25 | England vs. United States | 2 PM | FOX |
| Tuesday, Nov. 29 | Wales vs. England | 2 PM | FS1 |
| Tuesday, Nov. 29 | Iran vs. United States | 2 PM | FOX |
For more on the 2022 FIFA World Cup, visit AMNY.com
