Well, another World Cup year is upon us, with the top men in the world scheduled to compete in Qatar this fall, and the world’s best women taking the pitch the following summer in Australia and New Zealand. Of course, it will technically be winter there, but you get our point. If you’re like most American soccer fans, you’re probably focused on following MLS or one of the big European leagues, with the national team situation taking a backseat for the moment. For you, the experts at The Center Circle have put together a little cheat sheet to help you stay up to date with everything that’s going on with the U.S.’s national soccer teams. Read on, and figure out which player’s Team USA soccer jersey you want to wear to the sports bar on match day.

USMNT—Determined Underdogs

Though the profile of the game of soccer has grown immensely in the United States in the past few decades (due largely to the success of MLS), the American men are still an underdog on the international stage. Every year, though, the stature of MLS is rising and more USMNT players are playing in top-tier European leagues, so the talent gap between the USA and the rest of the world is closing fast.

Players like Christian Pulisic (Chelsea), Tyler Adams (RB Leipzig), Weston McKennie (Juventus), and Timothy Weah (Lille) are poised to take the USMNT to the next level, competing against players who are often teammates during other parts of the year. The USMNT is going to be competing with England, Iran, and the winner of Wales vs. Scotland/Ukraine in Group B. This means it’s likely they’ll advance to the round of 16. After that, it will be a tougher road, but this group might just have the talent, experience, and heart to make a splash.

USWNT—Perennial Favorites

The USWNT doesn’t start World Cup play for over a year, so we don’t really know what their path to a championship may be, and who will be on the roster. That said, qualifying for both the 2023 World Cup and the 2024 Olympics starts in less than two months. Whereas the USMNT is catching up to the rest of the world, the rest of the world is catching up to the USWNT. Today, there’s no guarantee of making the knock-out round. Every victory is going to have to be earned against worthy competition.

Add in that longtime players like Alex Morgan, Megan Rapinoe, and Tobin Heath may or may not be with the squad, and it’s easy to see why 2023 is not a guaranteed win for the U.S. Experienced players like Abby Dahlkemper, Kelly O’Hara, and Rose Lavelle will have to play exceptionally well to beat the world’s best.

Leave No Doubt About Your AllegianceWhether you’re a super fan, or just want to support your country, you’ll need the right jersey. Shop SoccerPro for the latest USMNT and USWNT jerseys, and cheer on your country in style.