Sean Johnson was added to the US Men’s National Team roster for the June international break. The New York City FC captain replaces Manchester City’s Zack Steffen, who withdrew for personal reasons.
The late call-up indicates that Johnson is the USMNT’s third-choice keeper behind New England’s Matt Turner (who will join Arsenal in the summer transfer window), and Nottingham Forest’s Ethan Horvath.
Still, there’s an argument to make that Johnson deserves an opportunity to start. The NYCFC keeper logged his fifth consecutive clean sheet in a row when New York City beat Chicago Fire on Sunday, and has six shutouts in 12 games played. He is the most in-form of the three goalkeepers, and he’s leading a club that is on a nine-game unbeaten streak in all competitions.
Turner, who is regarded as head coach Gregg Berhalter’s first choice, missed the start of the season with an injury, and has allowed two goals in each of his last three starts — on Saturday, Cincinnati FC scored on Turner twice.
Hovarth is a part of a Nottingham Forest squad that is one game away from earning promotion to the English Premier League, but he slipped in the pecking order and is now the club’s number-two goalkeeper behind Brice Samba. Hovarth last started a game on March 20, more than two months ago.
The USMNT will play friendlies against Morocco and Uruguay before taking on Granda and El Salvador in the CONCACAF Nations League. The US have qualified for the 2022 FIFA World Cup Finals, and will make the trip to Qatar in November.
June USMNT Matches
• USA vs Morocco (friendly), TQL Stadium in Cincinnati, Wednesday, June 1, 7:30 pm ET
• USA vs Uruguay (friendly), Children’s Mercy Park in Kansas City, Sunday, June 5, 5 pm ET
• USA vs Granada (CONCACAF Nations League), Q2 Stadium in Austin, Friday, June 10, 10 pm ET
• El Salvador vs USA (CONCACAF Nations League), Estadio Cuscatlán in San Salvadror, Tuesday, June 14, 10 pm ET
In addition, center-back Alexander Callens was called up to the Peru national team. La Blanquirroja will play New Zealand in a friendly on June 5, then will face either Australia or the United Arab Emirates on June 13 for a one-game playoff to earn one of the final spots in the 2022 FIFA World Cup Final.