The United States team provided fans with excitement throughout their World Cup campaign. The excitement built around this year's USMNT World Cup campaign was something that our nation has never seen. While the the success of getting out of the "Group of Death" is still fresh, it is now time to take the next step and expectations will be extremely high for the 2018 team. Here are some players fans should look out for in the 2018 World Cup cycle.
DeAndre Yedlin (Seattle Sounders): Many people did not think he was going to make the World Cup squad, but he was included in the 23 man roster and did he ever deliver. Yedlin created concern in opponents during his forays forward whenever he was on this pitch, and with four years until next World Cup his defense should get considerably better. Yedlin's stock rose greatly and transfer rumors are starting to form around the fullback. Big clubs such as Inter Milan, Liverpool FC and Roma are the biggest name teams who are rumored to be trying to acquire the 20-year-old defender.
Yedlin will be looking to build on his successful 2014 World Cup campaign (Photo: @WCfootynews | Twitter)
Julian Green (Bayern Munich): Could Julian Green be the United States' best soccer prospect ever? It is a definite possibility. The talent is definitely there as we saw during the game against Belgium. He is extremely quick and has an array of juke moves on the ball. Green must get more playing time at the club level though. He is currently on the bench at Bayern Munich playing for their reserve team. It would be nice to see Green get loaned to a team where he can play in every game. He is only 19-years-old though and Green should be a huge part of the United States next World Cup campaign.
The United States will look for Julian Green to score many goals for them in the future (Photo: @SoccerSays | Twitter)
John Brooks (Hertha BSC): Remember the memorable header that would eventually lead to a United States win against Ghana? Well this is the man with the golden head. Brooks is a natural defender who in time should be a shutdown fullback. He is expected to be starting for his club team Hertha Berlin and with more playing time in the Bundesliga his skills will continue to get better and better.
John Brooks will look to take over a starting role for the US come 2018 (Photo: @WNEW | Twitter)
Erik Palmer-Brown (Sporting Kansas City): The 17-year-old was offered a contract with Juventus, but Sporting KC turned down their offer. He has all the tools that a premier center half needs: strong, fast, good size, guts, and knowledge of the game. Remember he is only 17 (what were you doing when you were 17?), but he is playing beyond his years right now.
The 17-year-old will look to make the USMNT in 2018 (Photo: @boostssportsllc | Twitter)
Diego Fagundez (New England Revolution): Fagundez is not yet an American citizen, but he has his green card and should be an official citizen of the U.S. in two years. This kid is electric and a natural goal scorer. Something the United States needs desperately. He has been compared to Lionel Messi. Messi may be a stretch, but this kid is extremely exciting when he has the ball.
Fagundez is an electric young player looking to make an impact for the US (Photo: @MLS | Twitter)
Other notables: Gedion Zelalem(choosing between Germany and US), Luis Gil, Aron Johannsson, Mikkel Diskerud, Terrence Boyd
