United States National Football

The United States men's national team has just under two months until its first game at the 2022 FIFA World Cup.

Manager Gregg Berhalter still has a handful of vital decisions to make when it comes to his roster for the finals in Qatar, which start on Nov. 20.

Most importantly, he needs to find a striker he trusts to find the back of the net.

Berhalter will use Friday's friendly against Japan to further evaluate Josh Sargent, Jesus Ferreira and Ricardo Pepi. The first two come into the USMNT's European camp in good form, and Pepi has hit the ground running since joining FC Groningen on loan from FC Augsburg.

Most of the focus Friday will be centered on the play of the forwards, but other positions are still up for grabs as well.

Berhalter must finalize who will start in goal and which depth players will join the squad in Qatar. He will use Friday's match against Japan and Tuesday's clash with Saudi Arabia to get answers to those questions.

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USMNT vs. Japan Info

Date: Friday, September 23

Start Time: 8:25 a.m. ET

TV: ESPN2

Live Stream: ESPN.com and ESPN app

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Top Storylines to Watch

Which Player Takes Hold of Starting Striker Spot?

Sargent, Ferreira and Pepi were the three strikers called into the September camp.

There was plenty of deliberation as to whether Jordan Pefok should be a part of that group as well. The 26-year-old is off to a great start at Union Berlin with three goals and three assists that have helped his team to the top of the Bundesliga.

Instead, Berhalter opted to go with three forwards who have been used in his system for most of the last two years.

Ferreira has scored 18 goals with FC Dallas in Major League Soccer and has five for the USMNT this year, though four of them came against Grenada in the CONCACAF Nations League.

Sargent has five international goals, but he has not found the back of the net at this level since 2019. The hope here is that his form at Norwich City turns into a strong camp.

The 22-year-old has scored six goals in 10 league games for the English Championship side.

Pepi made an ill-advised transfer from FC Dallas to Augsburg at the height of his hype nine months ago after scoring three goals in CONCACAF World Cup qualifying.

The 19-year-old failed to make an impact at Augsburg, but he did produce a goal and an assist for Groningen in the Netherlands following a loan move.

Ferreira and Sargent are in strong form and Pepi regained some confidence before the international break, but all three are imperfect options at the international level.

Berhalter seems committed to taking those three players to Qatar, so at least one of them needs to step up and turn in a solid showing against Japan to instill more belief in the forward group.

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Berhalter Filling Out Roster Depth at Certain Positions

A case could be made that at least half of the USMNT World Cup roster is already set.

Christian Pulisic, Brenden Aaronson, Tyler Adams and Weston McKennie are locks in midfield. Sergino Dest and Walker Zimmerman are going in defense. Matt Turner and Zack Steffen appear to be on the plane at goalkeeper.

Add in the three forwards called in for the September friendlies and a healthy Gio Reyna, and you don't have many more roster spots up for grabs in the coming weeks.

Friday's friendly against Japan should serve as a chance for fringe World Cup players to prove their case to Berhalter and his coaching staff before they lock in on a 23-man squad.

There are opportunities at center back with Miles Robinson still out because of a long-term injury, John Brooks not in the picture and Cameron Carter-Vickers not in this camp.

Mark McKenzie, Aaron Long and Erik Palmer-Brown are the candidates to start next to Zimmerman. Whichever one of those players earns the nod could put himself ahead of others for a ticket to Qatar.

Berhalter should also have a close focus on the midfielders. Luca de la Torre, Johnny Cardoso and Malik Tillman are among those fighting for roster spots.

The USMNT manager has to balance the chemistry of his first-choice team and the selection of fringe players for Friday's match. We could see Adams, McKennie, Pulisic and Aaronson on the field for 60 minutes or so before the reserves get their chance to shine.

The match in Dusseldorf, Germany, should be a good test for the USMNT players, no matter what their status is for Qatar.

Japan is preparing for its seventh consecutive World Cup. The Samurai Blue reached the round of 16 in two of the last three World Cups.

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Prediction

USMNT 1, Japan 1

The USMNT will get a good test out of Japan after spending most of the year taking on CONCACAF opposition in various competitions.

The Americans beat Morocco by three goals and played to a scoreless draw against Uruguay in two friendlies in June that were outside of the CONCACAF tournament window.

Ferreira, Sargent and Pepi need to stand out, but their recent international track record suggests goals may be hard to come by.

The best chances could come from Pulisic, Aaronson and McKennie. The former could use a confidence-building performance after being on the bench so much at Chelsea early in the English Premier League season.

Japan should create some chances against an American back line that has been susceptible to mistakes this year.

The final score may not matter to Berhalter as long as he can get the proper evaluations on some players with question marks ahead of the World Cup.

Christian Pulisic and Weston McKennie are among those on the United States men's national soccer team roster for a pair of friendlies prior to the World Cup.

The USMNT announced the entire 26-player group Wednesday.

𝐒𝐞𝐩𝐭𝐞𝐦𝐛𝐞𝐫 𝐒𝐪𝐮𝐚𝐝... 𝘼𝙎𝙎𝙀𝙈𝘽𝙇𝙀 🇺🇸

Gregg Berhalter calls 26 players for upcoming matches versus Japan and Saudi Arabia » https://t.co/dAbRUfceXA#USMNT x @BioSteelSports pic.twitter.com/OybYQvBKiu

— U.S. Soccer Men's National Team (@USMNT) September 14, 2022

The upcoming friendlies will be against Japan and Saudi Arabia this month.

Adjust your schedules accordingly. 📆 pic.twitter.com/GOrgZwoR42

— U.S. Soccer Men's National Team (@USMNT) September 14, 2022

The United States' 2022 World Cup appearance will start in Qatar on Nov. 21 against Wales in Group B play. They will also take on England and Iran.

By virtue of finishing third in the eight-team CONCACAF qualifying table, the United States is making its first appearance in the men's World Cup since 2014 after failing to make the 2018 competition. The U.S. has made the knockout round in three of their last four appearances, including a quarterfinals berth in 2002.

The 23-year-old Pulisic will take part in his first World Cup. He's starred for the national team with 21 goals in 51 appearances. The Chelsea winger/midfielder has scored 19 goals in 80 Premier League appearances for the Blues.

The 24-year-old McKennie will also be making his World Cup debut. The Juventus midfielder has scored nine goals for the U.S., including two during this year's qualifying round.

Christian Pulisic is expected to remain at Chelsea through the summer transfer window, according to ESPN's James Olley.

Olley reported the Blues "are reluctant to sanction" an exit for the United States men's national team star.

On Aug. 19, Olley reported Pulisic was due to meet with Chelsea representatives "and will push to leave the club if his prospects of regular first-team football look bleak."

Because Chelsea operated with a short-term mindset so often under former owner Roman Abramovich, playing time was a concern almost from the moment Pulisic arrived at Stamford Bridge ahead of the 2019-20 season. He signed with the club in January 2019, with the transfer not becoming official until the following summer.

The 23-year-old started 19 Premier League games and watched during the summer of 2020 as Chelsea signed Kai Havertz, Timo Werner and Hakim Ziyech to provide even more competition for starting spots in the attack.

Despite Werner and Romelu Lukaku leaving during this window, it doesn't appear Pulisic's situation has changed much. He has logged a total of 76 minutes across four appearances.

The Guardian's Jacob Steinberg referenced the lack of depth in Chelsea's forward line but reported on Aug. 9 that Tuchel "does not trust Pulisic."

Getting on the pitch is critical for a player's development, and the timing of this year's World Cup—the tournament opens Nov. 20—makes it even more important to get up to match fitness early in the season.

Because he's one of the United States' brightest talents, Pulisic's place in the national team shouldn't be in jeopardy if he remains a somewhat peripheral figure. But he could be out of form when the USMNT opens the group stage against Wales.

Olley reported the club told Pulisic during their recent meeting he "would be used primarily as an impact player, but with every chance, he could break into the first team." From a USMNT standpoint, that's not totally encouraging.

But with Pulisic going nowhere, it's up to him play well when given the opportunity and leave Tuchel with no choice but to start him more frequently.

Christian Pulisic will reportedly remain with Chelsea for the 2022-23 season despite recent transfer rumors, according to Paul Tenerio of The Athletic.

"Pulisic is understood to be disappointed in the decision," Tenerio added.

Manchester United and Newcastle United were both linked with Pulisic ahead of Thursday's transfer deadline, while clubs in Italy and Spain were also interested in a potential loan move for the United States national team star.

Chelsea have reportedly "refused permission" to seek a move, however, and will instead keep the midfielder on the roster.

The 23-year-old has played just 76 minutes across four matches this season, earning zero starts.

Pulisic only started 13 of his 22 Premier League appearances in 2021-22, finishing with six goals and two assists. In three-plus seasons at Chelsea, he has 19 goals and eight assists in 78 league appearances. He also has five Champions League goals with the squad, helping win the European title in 2021.

Despite the positive moments since joining the team in 2019, the Pennsylvania native's inconsistent playing time was enough to seek a new home, especially with the World Cup fast approaching.

Chelsea didn't want to lose a key depth player with forwards Romelu Lukaku and Timo Werner among those leaving this summer. Hakim Ziyech has also been the subject of transfer talks this week.

The attack has already been a question mark to start this season with just five goals in four matches. New addition Raheem Sterling has lived up to expectations, but Mason Mount and Kai Havertz have combined for zero goals and zero assists in four starts.

The Blues have been seeking reinforcements, with ESPN listing Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang and Wilfried Zaha among their transfer targets.

Even without those potential additions, the squad will have Pulisic available after refusing a transfer.

Manchester United seemingly moved on by signing Ajax winger Anthony, while Newcastle United added Alexander Isak from Real Sociedad.

Manchester United have reportedly asked about acquiring Christian Pulisic on a loan from Chelsea, according to James Olley of ESPN FC.

Andy Mitten of The Athletic also reported the potential move, noting the forward is "frustrated with his lack of starts" and would "prefer" a move to Manchester United.

There could still be competition for the American with Newcastle United, Juventus and Atlético Madrid all also linked with Pulisic.

The 23-year-old has been up-and-down with Chelsea since arriving on a £58million ($70m) transfer from Borussia Dortmund. He scored nine league goals during his first year with the team in 2019-20 before helping the squad win the Champions League title in 2021, but his playing time has been inconsistent over the past two seasons.

In 2021-22, Pulisic started just 13 Premier League matches while making 22 appearances. His 1,286 minutes ranked just 17th on Chelsea despite tying for fourth on the team with six goals.

The winger averaged 0.56 goals and assists per 90 minutes, which ranked third on the team with at least 10 appearances.

This production came despite moving around the lineup to get on the pitch, including some appearances as a wingback in manager Thomas Tuchel's 3-4-2-1 system. Transfermarkt listed six different positions for Pulisic over his 38 appearances in all competitions last season.

With just 30 minutes off the bench through two matches in 2022-23, it seems the forward may need a fresh start.

Manchester United could certainly use attacking help after a dreadful start to the year that puts them bottom of the Premier League table. The squad has just one goal in its two losses, which came from an own goal in their 2-1 defeat Brighton and Hove Albion.

Despite his struggles at times with Chelsea, Pulisic has proved to be an impact player with the United States national team, scoring 21 goals with 10 assists in 50 appearances. The next step is to carry this over to the club level.

A move to Newcastle could also create more playing time for Pulisic, helping a team that failed to find the back of the net against Brighton in its last match.

Atletico Madrid and Juventus could offer Champions League football, with the latter providing a chance to reunite with USMNT teammate Weston McKennie. However, they could also create the same challenges for playing time on a weekly basis.

Achieving equal pay for the men's and women's national soccer teams two months ago lifted the "dark cloud" over the United States Soccer Federation, U.S. Soccer President Cindy Parlow Cone told ESPN:

"Not only getting equal pay with the CBAs but solving the litigation has made this dark cloud that was hanging over all of our heads move along.

"It affected everything we did at the federation, so now to have a reset with our national team players on the men and women's side, to move forward together, to actually be aligned with each other and hoping each other succeed is really great.

"It has allowed me to sleep a little bit more at night, which I'm also appreciative for."

The USSF, United States Women's National Team Players Association and the United States National Soccer Team Players Association agreed to terms on collective bargaining agreements that achieved equal pay in May.

Parlow Cone said at the time:

"This is a truly historic moment. These agreements have changed the game forever here in the United States and have the potential to change the game around the world. U.S. Soccer and the USWNT and USMNT players have reset their relationship with these new agreements and are leading us forward to an incredibly exciting new phase of mutual growth and collaboration as we continue our mission to become the preeminent sport in the United States."

The CBAs for the men's and women's teams, which have identical economic terms, run through 2028. The teams will receive identical pay for every competition, including the men's and women's FIFA World Cups, and will also split a portion of U.S. Soccer's commercial revenue, including broadcast, partner, sponsorship and ticket sale revenue.

Members of the men's and women's national teams also receive equal benefits for child care and retirement, along with equal support for venues and field surfaces, accommodations, travel, staffing, scheduling predictability, safe work environments. Some USWNT players also receive insurance, parental leave and short-term disability.

The USWNT had been fighting for equal pay since 2016 when five of the team's star players—Hope Solo, Carli Lloyd, Becky Sauerbrunn, Alex Morgan and Megan Rapinoe—filed a wage discrimination claim with the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission.

Three years later, the women withdrew their claim and instead filed a lawsuit against U.S. Soccer, suing the federation for gender discrimination. They said the discrimination affected their paychecks, where and when they played, medical treatments, coaching and travel.

In 2020, a federal judge rejected the USWNT's argument over receiving less pay than the men's team but preserved the claim of unequal working conditions. The women's players appealed, and in February, they reached a settlement with U.S. Soccer that included a pledge from the federation to equalize pay, which wasn't achieved until May.

Achieving equal pay was huge for the women's national team, who will look to win their third straight World Cup in 2023 in Australia and New Zealand.

The United States men's national soccer team has advanced to the 2024 Paris Olympics after defeating host Honduras 3-0 in the semifinals of the 2022 CONCACAF Under-20 Championship.

🇺🇸𝙏𝙃𝙀 𝙊𝙇𝙔𝙈𝙋𝙄𝘾 𝘿𝙍𝙀𝘼𝙈 𝘾𝙊𝙈𝙀𝙎 𝙏𝙍𝙐𝙀!!🇺🇸

For the first time since 2008, the USA is headed to the Men's Olympic Football Tournament!

See you at @Paris2024! pic.twitter.com/Yn0tbGp6oG

— U.S. Soccer YNT (@USYNT) July 2, 2022

This year, the two finalists in that tournament received automatic bids to the Olympics. The United States grabbed the second one after the Dominican Republic defeated Guatemala in a penalty shootout earlier Friday.

The U.S. and Dominican Republic will play Sunday in San Pedro Sula to determine the CONCACAF Under-20 champion.

The Americans scored all three of their goals in the first half.

Paxten Aaronson, an 18-year-old midfielder who plays for the Philadelphia Union, scored in the third minute.

GOAL by Paxten Aaronson! ⚽️
What a start for @USYNT! 🇺🇸#CU20 pic.twitter.com/WYLG4omBpd

— Concacaf (@Concacaf) July 2, 2022

F.C. Vizela's Alejandro Alvarado tacked on the second in the 23rd minute.

✌️🇺🇸

pic.twitter.com/pyus4wEtHi

— U.S. Soccer YNT (@USYNT) July 2, 2022

Quinn Sullivan, who also plays for the Union, added another in the 43rd.

One step closer to Olympic qualification for the @USYNT 🇺🇸

They go up 3-0 🙌

📺: @FS1 pic.twitter.com/4xcMpaNHXY

— FOX Soccer (@FOXSoccer) July 2, 2022

This marks the first time that the American men's team will take part in an Olympic competition since the 2008 Beijing Games.

The 2024 Games will take part from July 26 through August 11. Sixteen teams will play in the men's tournament.

Not much went well for the United States men's national team at the CONCACAF Nations League on Tuesday night through the first 90 minutes.

But Jordan Morris saved the day in stoppage time.

On a rainy night and a mud-splotched pitch, the USMNT drew 1-1 with El Salvador, thanks to Morris' late-match heroics.

Jordan Morris scores the equalizer in the 91st minute 💥

(via @FOXSoccer)pic.twitter.com/vISqTbxk4q

— B/R Football (@brfootball) June 15, 2022

That's why you play this game like a World Cup game. Let this team figure things out.. They did.. #USMNT

— Maximiliano Bretos (@MaxBretosSports) June 15, 2022

It appeared the game's key moment was going to be Ethan Horvath's 35th-minute gaffe, when was frozen by an Alexander Larin shot and let in the game's first goal.

Ethan Horvath 😬

(via @FOXSoccer)pic.twitter.com/TiG0hp3l5a

— B/R Football (@brfootball) June 15, 2022

100% a shot from Larín… a beautiful strike too. Horvath got caught at his near post- not a great sequence for him or Cannon. #USMNT had some good moments but need to find some quality on this surface somehow….

— Stu Holden (@stuholden) June 15, 2022

This is an absolute slop-fest on a nightmare pitch, so very little can be taken seriously. But Horvath's positioning is unaffected by the conditions...that was really, really, really bad. My kingdom for a #USMNT GK who is starting every week.

— Stephen Meyer (@StephenMeyerRDC) June 15, 2022

Ethan Horvath... Ugh.

— Maximiliano Bretos (@MaxBretosSports) June 15, 2022

https://twitter.com/AndyGlockner/status/1536901640548020224

The USMNT's comeback chances grew even bleaker when Paul Arriola was sent off in the 71st minute on a controversial red:

Paul Arriola was shown a red for this challenge pic.twitter.com/LxKRg84MwP

— FOX Soccer (@FOXSoccer) June 15, 2022

Refs let several clear fouls by the defenders go and then red-card the attacker. Ok

— Ty Schalter (@tyschalter) June 15, 2022

This ref hasn't handed out any yellows for some pretty egregious tackles throughout this game and then decides to give a straight red to Arriola.

What a joke. This is peak CONCACAF.

— Jimmy Conrad (@JimmyConrad) June 15, 2022

RED CARD! Paul Arriola is sent off, leaving the #USMNT with 10 men. Looked to be a yellow, but ref says otherwise and now the Americans are down a goal and down a man.

1-0 El Salvador, 71st minute.

— Ives Galarcep (@SoccerByIves) June 15, 2022

Nine minutes later, El Salvador's Ronald Gomez was shown red himself for denying Yunus Musah a clear goalscoring opportunity, evening the sides once again.

And despite some time-wasting tactics from the El Salvadorians and a missed call on a handball in El Salvador's box, the USMNT still managed to find an equalizer.

This game had scraps. The pitch was a mess. The officiating was spotty. It truly was the full CONCACAF experience. If you were given just one word to describe the action, you couldn't be blamed for settling on "drunk."

Clear handball in the penalty area by El Salvador is missed by the referee. (Still 1-0 El Salvador, 90th minute.) pic.twitter.com/MlKWe4BVh9

— Ives Galarcep (@SoccerByIves) June 15, 2022

Is this game CONCACAF equivalent of Beatles White Album? 🐐

— Men in Blazers (@MenInBlazers) June 15, 2022

https://twitter.com/davisjsn/status/1536914340967743495

Goalll!!!! This is definitly the game that will help CONCACAF Nations League surpass the NFL in popularity.

— John Hollinger (@johnhollinger) June 15, 2022

This @USMNT game is crazy crazy.

— Tom Withers (@twithersAP) June 15, 2022

All in all, the USMNT will take the result. It was a gutty draw to find in the end after it appeared the game had slipped out of their grasp.

In terms of what Craig Berhalter might have learned about his team, however, a pair of players at positions in question—Horvath at goalkeeper and Haji Wright at striker—didn't put their best foot forward.

In Wright's defense, a messy field and a chippy contest probably didn't give him a fair chance to make an impression. That context should matter. Horvath, however, was the difference between a USMNT win and a draw on a shot he should have saved.

As Berhalter continues to decide on his first-choice goalkeeper, that gaffe will likely remain in his mind.

The fourth and final United States men's national team game in June is the lone one of the bunch that takes place on the road.

Gregg Berhalter's team heads to El Salvador for its second Concacaf Nations League match of the international window. The first two games were friendlies with Morocco and Uruguay, earning a 3-0 win and 0-0 draw, respectively.

A victory is expected in San Salvador to remain on top of Group D in Nations League A.

Berhalter can learn a bit more about his reserve and fringe players for the FIFA World Cup roster in El Salvador compared to the 5-0 win over Grenada.

Goalkeeper Ethan Horvath and striker Haji Wright fit into that category, and it is confirmed that both players will start.

Horvath, who was recently promoted to the Premier League with Nottingham Forest, is third on the goalkeeper depth chart behind Matt Turner and Zack Steffen.

Wright scored a career season-high in goals in Turkey with Antalyaspor to play his way into the USMNT forward picture.

Jesus Ferreira scored four goals against Grenada, and now Wright will have his chance to impress up top against a better opponent.

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USMNT vs. El Salvador Odds

Odds via DraftKings Sportsbook

Money Line: United States (-285; bet $285 to win $100); El Salvador (+700; bet $100 to win $700); Draw (+320)

Over/Under: 2.5 (-110)

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Storylines To Watch

Ethan Horvath, Haji Wright Have Chances To Shine

The USMNT's Twitter account announced that Horvath would start Tuesday's game in goal.

Horvath is third on the goalkeeper depth chart behind Steffen and Turner, but he could play his way into minutes in Qatar.

Steffen and Turner will likely require loans away from Manchester City and Arsenal to earn consistent playing time with eyes on November.

Finding the right fit could be hard for the Premier League clubs and the players. There could be a desire for either team to keep Steffen or Turner as backups, and that could significantly hurt their form ahead of the World Cup.

Horvath is not guaranteed of first-team minutes with newly-promoted Nottingham Forest in England's top flight. However, first-choice keeper Brice Samba is not signing a new contract and could be moved in the summer.

Horvath needs to leave a good impression with Berhalter during the chances that get sent in his direction. The El Salvador match is a better opportunity to evaluate that than the one-sided affair versus Grenada in which Turner barely touched the ball.

Berhalter confirmed a few days ago that Wright would get the start up top inside the Estadio Cuscatlan in San Salvador.

Wright could receive a better evaluation leading the line on the road compared to what a start against Grenada would have provided.

Ferreira is a known commodity within the USMNT program, and his four goals on Friday night provided a small boost to his stock up top.

Wright could increase the competition with a standout performance on the road. He scored a penalty in the first game of the window against Morocco.

The 24-year-old can use Tuesday's game as a chance to move closer to securing a trip to Qatar.

Ferreira appears to be the favorite in the No. 9 role as of right now, but that may be by default since there is no clear-cut favorite at the position.

Horvath and Wright will have the most eyes on them on Tuesday because of their positional situations, but they will not be the only ones under focus.

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How Will Berhalter Manage Rest Of Roster?

Berhalter needs to strike a fine balance between playing his most competitive roster on the road in Concacaf action and evaluating some of his reserves with Qatar rapidly approaching.

The ideal scenario would have the starters play 55-60 minutes and break open a multi-goal lead that makes Berhalter feel comfortable bringing in more reserves.

The USMNT had some trouble putting away Grenada in the first half on Friday night. Ferreira's first goal did not come until the 43rd minute in what felt like a lackadaisical opening stanza.

The Americans need to start better in order to take control of the contest and not let the home side gain belief.

El Salvador is on top of Nations League Group D after a home win and an away draw against Grenada.

Berhalter could choose to play a few of his depth players from the start. Cristian Roldan, Jordan Morris and Cameron Carter-Vickers are among those players looking to feel safer about their spots on the World Cup roster.

Carter-Vickers could be given another opportunity to shine next to either Aaron Long or Walker Zimmerman at center-back, while Roldan may get minutes in a crowded midfield.

Morris might place his name in the No. 9 discussion, but he could also be used on the flank in the USMNT system.

The reserve and fringe players will not book spots on the plane to Qatar in the minutes they receive in El Salvador, but they could move up or down the pecking order depending on their performance.

How many of the starters and reserves we see off the bat is up for Berhalter to manage. He has to weigh getting three points on the road with the tired legs most of the European-based players have from long club seasons and who he wants to see on the field in certain spots before the international window comes to an end.

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Prediction: USMNT 2, El Salvador 0

The USMNT will have a harder time with El Salvador than with Grenada, but that is not saying much.

The road test will be nice for the USMNT to deal with after a long two weeks. Wright will get on the scoresheet and make the No. 9 discussion a bit more interesting as the summer goes on.

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One of the prevailing questions surrounding the United States men's national team heading into this year's World Cup is who, if anybody, will seize the No. 9 role.

On Friday night, Jesus Ferreira gave four reasons why he might be that guy.

The FC Dallas striker scored four goals for the USMNT, highlighting a 5-0 victory over Grenada in the CONCACAF Nations League.

The USMNT finally get the opening goal against Grenada through Jesus Ferreira! 🔥 pic.twitter.com/vRGzKFZQJ5

— ESPN FC (@ESPNFC) June 11, 2022

No. ✌️ for @Jesusfcd27 🇺🇸 pic.twitter.com/qxbpQ1qpDS

— U.S. Soccer Men's National Team (@USMNT) June 11, 2022

JESUS FERREIRA HAT TRICK FOR THE USMNT! WHAT A GOAL 🔥 pic.twitter.com/4RkUXAgtIW

— ESPN FC (@ESPNFC) June 11, 2022

History for @jesusfcd27!!!!!

🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸 pic.twitter.com/Twuwsy9aFr

— U.S. Soccer Men's National Team (@USMNT) June 11, 2022

It was a huge showing for Ferreira, who came into the game with three international goals for the United States, more than doubling his total. And he became just the fourth player to score four goals in a game for the USMNT.

Paul Arriola also scored for the United States.

Yes, it came against Grenada, a country the United States should be handling with ease. And yes, given the chances his teammates created for him, Ferreira should have found the back of the net multiple times. He probably could have doubled his tally.

FINAL - #USMNT 5, Grenada 0.

A lackluster first half left USA fans little to be excited about, but the second half was a different story.

Good games from Arriola, De La Torre and obviously Ferreira. That Arriola-Ferreira FC Dallas combo has a nice connection going.

— Ives Galarcep (@SoccerByIves) June 11, 2022

Jesus Ferreira feeling the pressure of other 9’s creeping into the picture and is already on a hat-trick 60 in.

He needed that. .

Gregg needed a 9 to step up.

Haji Wright on deck for El Salvador.

It’s still wide open race.

— herculez gomez (@herculezg) June 11, 2022

For the #USMNT, Not much to take away from that game with a 5-0 win vs a minnow. A little sloppy here and there, but overall it was fine. Good for Jesus Ferreira, obvious MOTM. Thought LDLT and Arriola played with intensity, which Berhalter said he was looking for in this one

— Brian Sciaretta (@BrianSciaretta) June 11, 2022

Felt like this game was about trying to get Jesus Ferreira's confidence going with the #USMNT. A hat trick will probably help with that.

3-0 #USMNT

— Paul Tenorio (@PaulTenorio) June 11, 2022

https://twitter.com/nrarmour/status/1535461122572267521

But that hasn't always been the case for the FC Dallas forward on the international stage, and if Friday's performance is the confidence-booster he needed, the USMNT could be one step closer to answering the biggest question on its roster.

And Ferreira had a few beauties in the bunch, another good sign.

Players like Ricardo Pepi, Jordan Pefok, Gyasi Zardes, Haji Wright and Josh Sargent may still have their say in the race to lead the line come the World Cup. But Ferreira, finally, had his signature performance for the United States.

He may have punched his ticket to Qatar in the process.