USMNT World Cup Roster Comparison (Clubs Teams - Europe vs US/Mex): 1990 - 2026

I was curious about the historical club breakdown of USMNT's modern day World Cup rosters since 1990 and whether there was a noticeable impact on result.  I've noted players based in European leagues vs US and Mexico based players (US includes domestic leagues/college/USSF-sponsored).  I've also noted players who started (substitute appearances not counted) in any one of the meaningful WC games.  

*(2018 WC - US did not qualify - last 2 WC qualifiers in 2017 rosters examined here.)

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US WC Rosters 1990-2026 listed below:

1990

22 Total: 4 players in Europe, 4 college players and 13 in random domestic leagues at the time

Starters (3 games) - 3 Europe, 1 college, 11 domestic

Result: Group stage exit

GK

Tony Meola (Univ of Virginia) - 3 starts

Kasey Keller (Portland Timbers)

David Vanole (LA Heat)

DF

Mike Windischmann (Albany Capitals) - 3 starts

Desmond Armstrong (Baltimore Blast) - 3 starts

Marcelo Balboa (San Diego Nomads) - 2 starts, 1 sub

Jimmy Banks (Milwaukee Wave) - 2 starts

John Doyle (SF Bay Blackhawks) - 2 starts

Steve Trittschuh (Tampa Bay Rowdies) - 1 start

Brian Bliss (Albany Capitals) - 1 sub

Paul Krumpe (UCSB)

MF

John Harkes (Albany Capitals) - 3 starts

Tab Ramos (Figueros) - 3 starts

Paul Caligiuri (SV Meppen) - 3 starts

John Stollmeyer (Washington Stars) - 1 start, 1 sub

Chris Henderson (UCLA)

Neil Covone (Wake Forest University)

FW

Bruce Murray (Washington Stars) - 3 starts

Peter Vermes (FC Volendam) - 3 starts

Eric Wynalda (SF Bay Blackhawks) - 1 start, 1 sub

Eric Eichmann (Fort Lauderdale Strikers)

Christopher Sullivan (Győri ETO FC) - 2 subs

1994

22 Total: 7 in Europe, 1 in Mexico, 2 domestic league and 12 under contract with the US Soccer Federation. (The USSF signed some to exclusive contracts) 

Starters (4 games) - 4 Europe, 1 domestic league, 8 USSF, 1 Mexico

Result: Round of 16

GK

Tony Meola (USSF) - 4 starts

Juergen Sommer (Luton Town)

Brad Friedel (USSF)

DF

Alexi Lalas (USSF) - 4 starts

Marcelo Balboa (USSF) - 4 starts

Paul Caligiuri (USSF) - 4 starts 

Fernando Clavijo (USSF) - 3 starts

Cle Kooiman (Cruz Azul) - 1 start

Mike Lapper (LA Heat)

Mike Burns (USSF)

MF

Tab Ramos (Real Betis) - 4 starts

Thomas Dooley (USSF) - 4 starts

Mike Sorber (USSF) - 4 starts

John Harkes (Derby County) - 3 starts

Cobi Jones (USSF) - 1 start, 3 subs

Hugo Perez (LA Salsa) - 1 start

Claudio Reyna (USSF)

FW

Earnie Stewart (Willem II) - 4 starts

Eric Wynalda (1. FC Saarbrücken) - 3 starts, 1 sub

Roy Wegerle (Coventry City) - 3 subs

Frank Klopas (AEK Athens F.C.)

Joe-Max Moore (USSF)

1998

22 Total: 6 Europe and 16 MLS

Starters (3 games): 6 Europe, 12 MLS

Result: Group stage exit

GK

Kasey Keller (Leicester City) - 2 starts

Brad Friedel (Liverpool) - 1 start

Juergen Sommer (Columbus Crew)

DF

Thomas Dooley (captain) (Columbus Crew) - 3 starts

David Regis (Karlsruher SC) - 3 starts

Frankie Hejduk (Tampa Bay Mutiny) - 2 starts, 1 sub

Eddie Pope (D.C. United) - 2 starts

Mike Burns (New England Revolution) - 2 starts

Marcelo Balboa (Colorado Rapids) - 1 sub

Jeff Agoos (D.C. United)

Alexi Lalas (NY MetroStars)

MF

Claudio Reyna (VfL Wolfsburg) - 3 starts

Cobi Jones (LA Galaxy) - 3 starts

Earnie Stewart (NAC Breda) - 2 starts, 1 sub

Brian Maisonneuve  (Columbus Crew) - 2 starts, 1 sub

Tab Ramos (NY MetroStars) - 1 start, 1 sub

Chad Deering (VfL Wolfsburg) - 1 start

Predrag Radosavljević (Kansas City Wizards) - 2 subs

FW

Brian McBride (Columbus Crew) - 2 starts

Joe-Max Moore (New England Revolution) - 2 starts

Roy Wegerle (Tampa Bay Mutiny) - 1 start, 1 sub

Eric Wynalda (San Jose Clash) - 1 start, 1 sub

2002

23 Total: 12 Europe and 11 MLS

Starters (5 games): 8 Europe and 9 MLS

Result: 2nd round of knockout (Quarterfinals)

GK

Brad Friedel (Blackburn Rovers) - 5 starts

Kasey Keller (Tottenham Hotspur)

Tony Meola (Kansas City Wizards)

DF

Tony Sanneh (1. FC Nürnberg) - 5 starts

Eddie Pope (D.C. United) - 5 starts

Frankie Hejduk (Bayer Leverkusen) - 4 starts

Jeff Agoos (San Jose Earthquakes) - 3 starts

Gregg Berhalter (Crystal Palace) - 2 starts

Carlos Llamosa (New England Revolution) - 2 subs

David Regis (Metz)

Steve Cherundolo (Hannover 96)

MF

John O'Brien (Ajax) - 5 starts

Claudio Reyna (Sunderland) - 4 starts

Pablo Mastroeni (Colorado Rapids) - 3 starts

Earnie Stewart (NAC Breda) - 2 starts, 2 subs

Eddie Lewis (Fulham) - 2 starts, 1 sub

DaMarcus Beasley (Chicago Fire) - 2 starts, 1 sub

Cobi Jones (LA Galaxy) - 4 subs

FW

Brian McBride (Columbus Crew) - 5 starts

Landon Donovan (San Jose Earthquakes) - 5 starts

Clint Mathis (MetroStars) - 2 starts, 1 sub

Josh Wolff (Chicago Fire) - 1 start, 1 sub

Joe-Max Moore (Everton) - 2 subs

2006

23 Total: 12 Europe and 11 MLS

Starters (3 games): 9 Europe and 5 MLS

Result: Group stage exit

GK

Kasey Keller (Borussia Mönchengladbach) - 3 starts

Tim Howard (Manchester United)

Marcus Hahnemann (Reading)

DF

Steve Cherundolo (Hannover 96) - 3 starts

Oguchi Onyewu (Standard Liège) - 3 starts

Eddie Pope (Real Salt Lake) - 2 starts

Carlos Bocanegra (Fulham) - 2 starts

Jimmy Conrad (Kansas City Wizards) - 1 start, 1 sub

Chris Albright (LA Galaxy)

Gregg Berhalter (Energie Cottbus)

MF

Claudio Reyna (Manchester City) - 3 starts

DaMarcus Beasley (PSV Eindhoven) - 2 starts, 1 sub

Bobby Convey (Reading) - 2 starts, 1 sub

Clint Dempsey (New England Revolution) - 2 starts

Pablo Mastroeni (Colorado Rapids) - 2 starts

Eddie Lewis (Leeds United) - 2 starts

John O'Brien (Chivas USA) - 1 sub

Ben Olsen (D.C. United) - 1 sub

FW

Brian McBride (Fulham) - 3 starts

Landon Donovan (LA Galaxy) - 3 starts

Eddie Johnson  (Kansas City Wizards) - 2 subs

Josh Wolff (Kansas City Wizards) - 1 sub

Brian Ching (Houston Dynamo)

2010

23 Total: 17 Europe, 2 Mexico, and 4 MLS

Starters: 11 Europe, 2 Mexico, 3 MLS

Result: Round of 16

GK

Tim Howard (Everton) - 4 starts

Brad Guzan (Aston Villa)

Marcus Hahnemann (Wolverhampton Wanderers)

DF

Carlos Bocanegra (Rennes) - 4 starts

Steve Cherundolo (Hannover 96) - 4 starts

Jay DeMerit (Watford) - 4 starts

Oguchi Onyewu (AC Milan) - 2 starts

Jonathan Bornstein (Chivas USA) - 2 starts

Clarence Goodson (IK Start)

Jonathan Spector (West Ham United)

MF

Michael Bradley (Borussia Mönchengladbach) - 4 starts

Clint Dempsey (Fulham) - 4 starts

Landon Donovan (LA Galaxy) - 4 starts

Ricardo Clark (Eintracht Frankfurt) - 2 starts

Maurice Edu (Rangers) - 1 start, 2 sub

José Francisco Torres (Pachuca) - 1 start

Benny Feilhaber (Aarhus Gymnastikforening) - 3 subs

DaMarcus Beasley (Rangers) - 1 sub

Stuart Holden (Bolton Wanderers) - 1 sub

FW

Jozy Altidore (Hull City) - 4 starts

Robbie Findley (Real Salt Lake) - 3 starts

Herculez Gomez (Puebla) - 1 start, 2 subs

Edson Buddle (LA Galaxy) - 2 subs

2014

We have 12 Europe, 1 Mexico, and 10 MLS

Starters (4 games): 6 Europe, 1 Mexico, and 8 MLS

Result: Round of 16

GK

Tim Howard (Everton) - 4 starts

Brad Guzan (Aston Villa)

Nick Rimando (Real Salt Lake)

DF

Fabian Johnson (1899 Hoffenheim) - 4 starts

Matt Besler (Sporting Kansas City) - 4 starts

DaMarcus Beasley (Puebla) - 4 starts

Geoff Cameron (Stoke City) - 3 starts

Omar Gonzalez (LA Galaxy) - 2 starts, 1 sub

DeAndre Yedlin (Seattle Sounders FC) - 3 subs

John Brooks (Hertha BSC) - 1 sub 

Timothy Chandler (1. FC Nürnberg)

MF

Michael Bradley (Toronto FC) - 4 starts

Jermaine Jones (Beşiktaş) - 4 starts

Alejandro Bedoya (Nantes) - 3 starts, 1 sub

Graham Zusi (Sporting Kansas City) - 3 starts, 1 sub

Kyle Beckerman (Real Salt Lake) - 3 starts

Brad Davis (Houston Dynamo) - 1 start

Mix Diskerud (Rosenborg)

FW

Clint Dempsey (Seattle Sounders FC) - 4 starts

Jozy Altidore (Sunderland) - 1 start

Chris Wondolowski (San Jose Earthquakes) - 2 subs

Aron Jóhannsson (AZ Alkmaar) - 1 sub

Julian Green (Bayern Munich) - 1 sub

2017

DID NOT QUALIFY FOR WC.  We'll compare our roster for the last 2 qualifying matchdays.

 (10/6/17 vs Panama; 10/10/17 vs T&T)

23 Total: 5 Europe, 2 Mexico and 16 MLS

Starters: 3 Europe, 2 Mexico, 6 MLS

GK

Tim Howard (Colorado Rapids) - 2 starts

Nick Rimando (Real Salt Lake)

Brad Guzan (Atlanta United)

DF

DeAndre Yedlin (Newcastle United) - 2 starts

Omar Gonzalez (Pachuca) - 2 starts

Matt Besler (Sporting Kansas City) - 2 starts

Jorge Villafaña (Santos Laguna) - 2 starts

Geoff Cameron (Stoke City)

DaMarcus Beasley (Houston Dynamo)

Graham Zusi (Sporting Kansas City)

Tim Ream (Fulham)

MF

Michael Bradley (Toronto FC) - 2 starts

Paul Arriola (DC United) - 2 starts

Darlington Nagbe (Portland Timbers) - 2 starts

Christian Pulisic (Borussia Dortmund) - 2 starts

Kellyn Acosta (FC Dallas) - 1 sub

Benny Feilhaber (Sporting Kansas City) - 1 sub

Dax McCarty (Chicago Fire) - 1 sub

Alejandro Bedoya (Philadelphia Union) - 1 sub

FW

Jozy Altidore (Toronto FC) - 2 starts

Bobby Wood (Hamburger SV) - 2 starts

Clint Dempsey (Seattle Sounders FC) - 2 subs

Chris Wondolowski (San Jose Earthquakes)

2022

26 Total: 17 Europe, and 9 MLS

Starters: 12 Europe, 2 MLS

Result: Round of 16

GK
Matt Turner (Arsenal) 4 starts

Ethan Horvath (Luton Town)
Sean Johnson (NYCFC)

DF

Tim Ream (Fulham) 4 starts 

Sergino Dest (AC Milan) 4 starts

Antonee Robinson (Fulham) 4 starts

Walker Zimmerman (Nashville SC) 3 starts, 1 sub

Cameron Carter-Vickers (Celtic) 1 start

Shaq Moore (Nashville SC) 2 subs

DeAndre Yedlin (Inter Miami CF) 2 subs

Aaron Long (NY Red Bulls)

Joe Scally (Borussia Mönchengladbach)

MF

Tyler Adams (Leeds United) 4 starts

Weston McKennie (Juventus) 4 starts

Yunus Musah (Valencia) 4 starts

Brenden Aaronson (Leeds United) 3 subs

Kellyn Acosta (LAFC) 2 subs

Luca de la Torre (Celta Vigo) 

Cristian Roldan (Seattle Sounders FC)

FW

Christian Pulisic (Chelsea) 4 starts

Tim Weah (Lille) 4 starts

Josh Sargent (Norwich City) 2 starts, 1 sub

Haji Wright (Antalyaspor) 1 start, 2 subs

Jesus Ferreira (FC Dallas) 1 start

Gio Reyna (Borussia Dortmund) 2 subs

Jordan Morris (Seattle Sounders) 2 subs

2026

26 Total: 17 Europe, 8 MLS, 1 Liga MX

Starters: 10 Europe, 2 MLS ( 3rd game of Group stage was meaningless game so not counted here)

Result: 3W, 2L, Round of 16

GK

Matt Freese (New York City FC) 4 starts

Matt Turner (New England Revolution) 1 start

Chris Brady (Chicago Fire)

DF

Alex Freeman (Villarreal) 4 starts, 1 sub

Tim Ream (Charlotte FC) 4 starts

Chris Richards (Crystal Palace) 4 starts

Antonee Robinson (Fulham) 4 starts

Joe Scally (Borussia Mönchengladbach) 1 start, 1 sub

Auston Trusty (Celtic) 1 start, 1 sub

Mark McKenzie (Toulouse) 1 start

Miles Robinson (FC Cincinnati) 1 start

Max Arfsten (Columbus Crew) 1 sub

MF

Weston McKennie (Juventus) 5 starts

Malik Tillman (Bayer Leverkusen) 4 starts, 1 sub

Tyler Adams (AFC Bournemouth) 4 starts

Sebastian Berhalter (Vancouver Whitecaps) 1 start, 4 subs

Gio Reyna (Borussia Mönchengladbach)  1 start, 4 subs

Cristian Roldan (Seattle Sounders)

FW

Sergiño Dest (PSV) 4 starts, 1 sub

Folarin Balogun (AS Monaco) 4 starts

Christian Pulisic (Milan) 3 starts, 1 sub

Ricardo Pepi (PSV) 1 start, 3 subs

Tim Weah (Marseille) 1 start, 1 sub

Brenden Aaronson (Leeds United) 1 start

Haji Wright (Coventry City) 2 subs

Alejandro Zendejas (Club América) 1 sub