
<p>The 2022 World Cup is in the rear-view mirror.&nbsp;Hence, it’s time for the US Men’s National Team (USMNT) to turn its attention to the 2026 World Cup, to be played here in the United States alongside Mexico and Canada.&nbsp; </p>



<p>Given the unique timing of the Qatar World Cup, the annual January camp for the United States also represents the first games of the new World Cup cycle.&nbsp; Unfortunately, this camp begins under a <a href="https://www.cbsnews.com/news/us-soccer-scandal-gregg-berhalter-claudio-reyna-investigation-violence-report/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">cloud of uncertainty</a> and a level of drama worthy of a soap opera.&nbsp;</p>



<p>Hopefully, Wednesday’s USA versus Serbia game can bring some much-needed positivity.</p>



<p>Interim boss <a href="https://worldsoccertalk.com/news/anthony-hudson-named-temporary-usmnt-head-coach-20230104-WST-414370.html">Anthony Hudson</a> has a job to do.&nbsp; Hudson does have managerial experience.  Unfortunately, his results are poor: 9-11-7 (W-L-D) with the New Zealand national team and 8-28-10 with the Colorado Rapids.&nbsp; His task is a mix of getting results in these two friendlies against Serbia and Colombia, as well as getting young Olympic-age players international experience before a trip to the 2024 Olympic Games in Paris next year.&nbsp;</p>



<h2>USA-Serbia preview: How the USMNT roster looks</h2>



<p>The roster called-in by Hudson certainly leans into the Olympic player pool.&nbsp; Twelve of the players called in are age 23 or younger.&nbsp; Many of the players called up have never played for the <a href="https://worldsoccertalk.com/nations/usmnt-tv-schedule/">USMNT</a> before.&nbsp; </p>



<p>Perhaps most importantly a <a href="https://worldsoccertalk.com/news/usmnt-calls-up-three-dual-national-players-for-training-camp-20230118-WST-415999.html">number of the players are dual-nationals</a> and at the center of a tug-of-war between the US and Mexico.&nbsp; The most notable of those are forwards Brandon Vazquez of FC Cincinnati and Alejandro Zendejas (coming off a great game last week for Club America in Mexico City).&nbsp;</p>



<p>And of course, it’s not a January camp without a handful of MLS veterans to round things out.&nbsp; The difference now is that a number of them were on the World Cup roster.  Those guys can serve a mentoring role to the youngsters who’ve never played at the international level before.&nbsp; Among them are players such as defender Walker Zimmerman and midfielder Kellyn Acosta who have 37 and 55 caps respectively.&nbsp;</p>



<h2>Serbian opposition</h2>



<p>Serbia rolls into 2023 off the back of a poor World Cup.&nbsp; They dropped their Group G opener to Brazil 2-0, blew a 3-1 second half lead and settled for a draw against Cameroon, and then lost 3-2 in a back and forth affair in the group finale against Switzerland.&nbsp; </p>



<p>Like the US, the Serbs also have an eye focused on getting experience for their young players.&nbsp; Of the 17 players called in by manager Dragan Stojkovic, only three of them have any international experience.&nbsp; Those three players have a combined four caps for Serbia.&nbsp; Funnily enough two of those guys play in MLS: goalkeeper Dorde Petrovic with the New England Revolution and forward Dejan Joveljic with the LA Galaxy.&nbsp;</p>



<h2>When and where to watch the game</h2>



<p>Wednesday, January 25, 2023<br>BMO Stadium<br>Los Angeles, CA<br>10pm ET<br>Live on HBO Max, Universo and <a href="https://imp.i305175.net/c/330866/1313913/11640" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Peacock</a></p>



<h2>All-Time Series</h2>



<p>Series tied 0-0-1 (W-L-D)</p>



<h2>Last Meeting</h2>



<p>Sunday, January 29, 2017<br>San Diego Stadium<br>San Diego, CA<br>USA 0-0 Serbia</p>



<h2>Current FIFA Ranking</h2>



<p>USA: 13<br>Serbia: 29</p>



<h2>Next US Game</h2>



<p>Saturday, January 28, 2023<br>International Friendly<br>USA vs. Colombia<br>Dignity Health Sports Park<br>Carson, CA<br>7:30pm ET<br>Live on TNT, Telemundo and <a href="https://www.fubo.tv/lp/soccer/?irad=356358&amp;irmp=330866" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">fuboTV</a></p>



<p><em>Photo: IMAGO / Ulrich Hufnagel</em></p>


With the 2022 World Cup in Qatar now done and dusted, it's time for the USMNT to go again. Here's our USA-Serbia preview.

USA-Serbia preview: 2026 World Cup cycle begins - World Soccer Talk

USA-Serbia preview: 2026 World Cup cycle begins


<p>United States men’s national team players DeAndre Yedlin and Walker Zimmerman applauded head coach Gregg Berhalter. The duo spoke to reporters about their boss, as well as other topics, during Tuesday’s Major League Soccer media day.</p>



<p>“I think Gregg’s a great head coach. I think he did a great job of kind of banding us all together and really making sure we’re all fighting for the same goal,” Yedlin <a href="https:\/\/www.wfmz.com/sports/ap-sports/yedlin-zimmerman-praise-embattled-us-coach-berhalter/article_309bfa81-a562-507c-8e95-29729dcbe4af.html" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">said</a>.</p>



<p>“Obviously, we all know certain things are happening and again some of those decisions they’re not up to me. He’s a great coach and I’ve really enjoyed working with him.”</p>



<h2>Zimmerman and Yedlin on board with Berhalter</h2>



<p>Berhalter is currently under investigation because of a <a href="https:\/\/worldsoccertalk.com/news/gregg-berhalter-threatened-with-blackmail-during-world-cup-20230103-WST-414243.html" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">domestic violence incident</a> that took place in 1991. Although the coach is not currently under contract, U.S. Soccer has not yet made their final decision on whether or not Berhalter will return at the helm. His contract expired after the 2022 World Cup. Berhalter, however, has made it clear that he <a href="https:\/\/worldsoccertalk.com/news/berhalter-wants-to-continue-role-with-usmnt-20230106-WST-414575.html" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">wants to continue</a> with the <a href="https:\/\/worldsoccertalk.com/nations/usmnt-tv-schedule/">USMNT</a>.</p>



<p>Star defender Walker Zimmerman also heaped praise on his coach. “Gregg has done a great job for the national team. I think that the record speaks for itself,” <a href="https:\/\/www.wfmz.com/sports/ap-sports/yedlin-zimmerman-praise-embattled-us-coach-berhalter/article_309bfa81-a562-507c-8e95-29729dcbe4af.html" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">stated</a> Zimmerman.</p>



<p>“We obviously wish we could have gone further in Qatar. I know he wishes that as well. I think he did a really good job creating a team culture and a chemistry that was impressive. He has handled a lot of things very, very well. So, yeah. We’ll see what happens.”</p>



<h5>Berhalter’s assistant will take the reigns this month</h5>



<p>Assistant Anthony Hudson has been named as the <a href="https:\/\/worldsoccertalk.com/news/anthony-hudson-named-temporary-usmnt-head-coach-20230104-WST-414370.html" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">temporary head coach</a> for the USMNT while the investigation continues. Hudson will take over the team during their January training camp in California. The former Bahrain and New Zealand boss will also be in charge of the USMNT’s friendly matches against Serbia and Colombia this month as well.</p>



<p><em>PHOTO: IMAGO / Xinhua</em></p>


USMNT stars DeAndre Yedlin and Walker Zimmerman praised head coach Gregg Berhalter during a press conference on Tuesday.

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