Where are they now? The USMNT XI from Christian Pulisic’s debut in 2016
Almost eight years have passed since Christian Pulisic made his senior debut for the United States.
Undoubtedly one of the biggest stars that American soccer has ever boasted, Pulisic is now the captain and one of the first names on the teamsheet.
Jurgen Klinsmann first named him in the squad for World Cup qualifiers in March 2016. He was a teenager back then and had caught the eye during a breakthrough campaign with Borussia Dortmund. He was brought off the bench in the closing stages in an emphatic 4-0 victory over Guatemala.
We’ve revisited that XI and checked in on where each player is today.
GK: Brad Guzan
The goalkeeper was into his final few months at soon-to-be-relegated Aston Villa when this match took place.
He ended up staying put in the Premier League for another year and joined newly-promoted Middlesbrough that summer, although he largely spent his solitary season at the Riverside benched by Victor Valdes.
Guzan returned to the States in 2017, joining Atlanta United, where he remains today. The 39-year-old has made over 200 appearances for the MLS outfit and is now into his eighth season there.
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RB: DeAndre Yedlin
Out of favour at Tottenham, Yedlin spent the 2015-16 campaign out on loan at Sunderland before joining their hated rivals Newcastle the following summer.
The full-back spent almost five years on Tyneside, having helped them back to the Premier League in his debut season. He went on to spend a short stint at Galatasaray before joining Inter Miami in 2022.
Yedlin went on to play alongside the likes of Lionel Messi and Sergio Busquets but departed for FC Cincinnati earlier this month.
CB: Geoff Cameron
Another stalwart of English football that returned to his home country for his career swansong, Cameron left Stoke after six years in 2018, joining QPR on loan before a permanent move.
In 2021 he signed for FC Cincinnati and turned out for them for two years before hanging up his boots in 2022.
CB: Steve Birnbaum
The DC United defender made his international debut in 2015 and made 11 senior appearances for his country.
Eight years on he remains at DC, where he’s developed into a leader. The 33-year-old is now the club captain of a squad that includes the likes of Mateusz Klich and Christian Benteke. But he hasn’t appeared for the United States since 2017.
LB: Edgar Castillo
Born and raised in Las Cruces, New Mexico, Castillo made three senior appearances for Mexico before making the switch to the United States in 2009. He earned 16 caps for his country between 2009 and 2016.
Something of a journeyman in his club career, Castillo played for 14 different clubs in Mexico and the US and went on to play alongside Guzan at Atlanta and Cameron at Cincinnati before he retired in 2021.
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CM: Kyle Beckerman
A proper stalwart of American soccer, Beckerman called time on his career in 2020 after over 500 MLS appearances for Colorado Rapids and Real Salt Lake.
The midfielder won the MLS Cup in 2009, the Eastern Conference playoffs in 2009 and Western Conference playoffs in 2013. He was part of the USMNT squad that won the Gold Cup in 2013 and featured in the MLS all-star game six times.
Since 2021 he’s been the head coach of the Utah Valley Wolverines.
CM: Michael Bradley
The first half of Bradley’s career saw him represent Borussia Monchengladbach, Aston Villa, Chievo and Roma. He was more settled after returning to his home continent in 2014, spending nine years and making over 900 appearances for Toronto FC.
Only Landon Donovan and Cobi Jones have played more games for the United States than Bradley, who earned 151 caps.
Bradley retired last year and has since joined his father Bob on the coaching staff of Norwegian outfit Stabæk Fotball.
CM: Graham Zusi (Christian Pulisic, ’81)
Drafted by Sporting Kansas City – back when they were known as the Wizards – as an up-and-coming prospect all the way back in 2009, Zusi remained loyal to them throughout his club career.
A proper one-club man, he became the longest-tenured player to have played with one club in 2023 – but he had his contract renewal option declined. He never officially announced his retirement but it would be safe to assume that his playing career is over at the age of 37.
Fresh-faced substitute Pulisic has grown into a poster boy for American soccer and is currently playing some of the best football of his career with AC Milan.
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FWR: Gyasi Zardes (Ethan Finlay, ’71)
The former LA Galaxy forward was an ever-present for the USMNT during this period.
Zardes received the MLS Comeback Player of the Year Award in 2018, having produced some of the best football of his career under Gregg Barhalter. He went on to link back up with the coach at international level, although he hasn’t represented his country since 2022.
He joined Austin FC last year and is now into his second season with the MLS newcomers.
Finlay made his third and final USMNT off the bench here, although he continues to turn out in MLS with Austin FC.
ST: Clint Dempsey
The Texan, who scored 57 goals in 141 appearances for the USMNT, was approaching the final chapters of his career in 2016. Later that year he won the MLS Cup with Seattle Sounders, the last of the three trophies he lifted in his club career.
Since retiring, Dempsey has moved into the media and is a visible presence as an analyst on CBS Sports’ coverage.
FWL: Bobby Wood (Jozy Altidore, ’66)
During the 2015-16 season, Wood was turning out in the German second tier for Union Berlin. He continued flitting between the Bundesliga and Bundesliga II for Hamburg and Hannover before he joined MLS club Real Salt Lake in 2021.
The 31-year-old forward moved to New England Revolution last year. He hasn’t made an international appearance since 2018.
Altidore came off the bench and added the gloss with the fourth goal over Guatemala. The striker scored 42 goals in 115 appearances for the national team and last appeared in 2021. He’s currently a free agent after leaving New England Revolution following the expiration of his contract last year.
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