The questions surrounding the U.S. men’s national team before the 2019 Concacaf Gold Cup begins just heated up a notch or two.
Head coach Gregg Berhalter has called in FC Dallas right back Reggie Cannon from the preliminary 40-man roster, with Tyler Adams withdrawing due to injury. After being evaluated in New York City, the 20-year-old Adams was diagnosed with acute on chronic groin issues that will require a minimum of 6-8 weeks recovery period.
Adams, primarily a center mid while with the New York Red Bulls and now with Red Bull Leipzig of the Bundesliga, has been tasked with playing a hybrid right-back role under Berhalter.
Cannon, who joins Nick Lima of the San Jose Earthquakes as the only other natural right back on Berhalter’s roster, enters the Gold Cup with two USMNT caps; he appeared in friendlies against Italy and Peru last fall under then-interim coach Dave Sarachan. Cannon, who has made 49 appearances for FC Dallas, has also been called into camp previously by Berhalter.
The roster move also ensures Berhalter won’t have a full-strength XI as the USMNT near their first competitive match since failing to qualify for the 2018 FIFA World Cup following a 2-1 loss on Oct. 10, 2017 at Trinidad and Tobago.
The USMNT enter their Gold Cup Group D opener June 18 vs. Guyana coming off back-to-back friendly losses against Jamaica (1-0) and Venezuela (3-0).
