The oddsmakers’ top five picks to win this season’s Europa League? Every single one of them has at least one U.S. international on the roster. This isn’t just a random stat, folks, it’s a huge signal about where American men’s soccer is heading.
The USMNT’s European Takeover Is Real
This season’s Europa League feels totally intertwined with the story of American men’s soccer. It’s a fascinating barometer for the USMNT right after a World Cup on home soil, and with the long, grinding road to the 2030 tournament already kicking off. We’re talking about American players actually earning meaningful space on high-profile teams across the continent. Europe’s club competitions haven’t offered such an unfiltered showcase for American players at their peak in a long, long time. Yeah, the dream is still the Champions League, where our guys are regulars, but the Europa League is a massive step in the right direction. It’s clear proof the player pool has been trending correctly for decades, with a healthy mix of MLS academy products and European youth team standouts now competing around the continent on Thursdays, and sometimes Wednesdays.
Pulisic Returns With A Vengeance For Milan
Speaking of making an impact, Christian Pulisic is back, baby! He might not be back to full fitness yet after an injury-plagued World Cup, but Pulisic is still the headliner on any list of standout Americans. New head coach Ruben Amorim is looking forward to his return, and Pulisic wasted zero time getting to work. His first appearance of the season came this past Saturday as a halftime substitute, and what did he do? Notched an assist that helped Milan claw back from a 2-0 deficit to snatch a 2-2 draw. That’s clutch, man! He’s found a happy home in Milan since joining the club three years ago, enjoying a pair of career-best campaigns before hitting a slump last season. He’s not alone, either: Yunus Musah is also at Milan, and he’s hoping to revive his career there.
Matchday 1 of the Europa League is upon us, and it’s clear: our guys are not just showing up, they’re showing out. A fourth consecutive World Cup exit in the round of 16 may mask it, but this USMNT-coded edition of the Europa League is a sign of a player pool trending in the right developmental direction. The road to the 2030 tournament is long, but with this kind of presence in Europe, you gotta feel good about where the USMNT is heading.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by CBS Sports.
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