If you were to ask either the USWNT or USMNT fanbase about who the starting goalkeeper should be for the upcoming World Cup, brace yourself for the variety of answers you’ll receive. Gone are the days when Hope Solo and Tim Howard were unanimous picks. The lack of consensus is partly because of the plethora of encouraging prospects but mostly because of the lack of dominating performances from the top. And while it may take longer to integrate new faces into the national team - Aubrey Kingsbury didn’t receive her first cap until 30, despite winning two NWSL Goalkeeper of the Year awards - there are a number of fans who are so displeased with the veterans that they’re already willing to hand the keys to the car to the prospects.
Diving into the top U24 goalkeepers gives us an idea of what the rising talent pool looks like, as well as surveying where American goalkeepers are being developed. The following rankings are centered on a combination of current form and projected ability to succeed at the next level. Younger goalkeepers receive less of a bump for potential, as they’re largely unproven, while the older goalkeepers are nearing their finished level.
There are a few notable omissions, such as Julian Eyestone and Barcelona’s Spanish-American goalkeeper Diego Kochen. I have gone back and forth on this over the years but, as of right now, these lists only include goalkeepers who are at least 18 (as of February 2024) and have not turned 24 yet. Although starting for a professional side at such a young age is unquestionably an impressive accomplishment, ultimately there is too much development left ahead for a 17-year-old goalkeeper. Not to mention, a 17-year-old’s pathway to starting for the senior national team is close to a decade away.
Lastly, it’s worth noting that the federation is still short a National Goalkeeper Director. As previously reported on, the USSF had a goalkeeper director through 2005, whose responsibilities were centered on connecting all the efforts into a cohesive program that pointed players and coaches in the same direction. Without a full-time goalkeeper director, the country has defaulted into outsourcing goalkeeper development to whoever is most interested.
USWNT Prospects
1. Angelina Anderson, 22 - Angel City FC
2. Heather Hinz, 22 - Houston Dash
3. Halle Mackiewicz, 22 - Kansas City Current
4. Jordan Silkowitz, 23 - Kansas City Current #
5. Katherine Asman, 23 - Portland Thorns FC
6. Emmie Allen, 21 - Bay FC Trialist
7. Elizabeth Beardsley, 21 - Maryland
8. Macy Enneking, 23 - Iowa
9. Hensley Hancuff, 23 - North Carolina Courage
10. Nadia Cooper, 21 - Washington State
11. Neeku Purcell, 20 - UCLA
12. Alli Davis, 20 - New Mexico
13. Stephanie Sparkowski, 21 - Michigan
14. Nona Reason, 20 - Clemson
15. Tyler McCamey, 21 - Princeton
16. Leah Freeman, 22 - Duke
17. Marisa Bova, 23 - North Carolina Courage
18. Mia Justus, 21 - Texas
19. Marzia Josephson, 23 - Kentucky
20. Bella Hollenbach, 20 - Missouri
21. Megan Plaschko, 22 - TCU
22. Ryan Campbell, 22 - UCLA
23. Ashley Naylor, 22 - Notre Dame
24. Madison White, 23 - Racing Louisville
# - on loan with Brisbane Roar (Australia.1)
Bill says: The pathway to the NWSL has gone from a one-lane interstate to a complex, winding system where some roads lead fade into dead ends while others go directly to the top. Our best goalkeepers continue to explore creative routes like attending non-traditional college powerhouses, spending time in foreign leagues, or leaving college early like UNC product Emmie Allen. We’re still a long way off from a truly merit-based system but it is encouraging to see “unconventional” routes getting into the mix with goalkeeping development.
Another wrinkle - or potentially life raft - enters the scene with USL’s Super League, set to kick off in fall 2024. Will the second division one league be a serious factor in helping goalkeepers reach the NT or will it just devolve into a forgotten experiment? It’s tough to say at this point but the level of talent will be one to watch. With the Super League running fall-to-spring, transitioning from league to league will be extremely difficult but there’s always leftover talent that could compile a competitive league with ease.
Stylistically, most top goalkeepers are still hovering around the “tall and cautious” area, although there are some breakouts like Heather Hinz and Halle Mackiewicz who are willing to be a bit more front-footed. Don’t expect that to change any time soon but we should see a continued increase in young goalkeepers’ confidence with the ball. Long ago are the days where goalkeepers don’t take their own goal kicks but there’s still a much higher ceiling with playing through a goalkeeper to maintain possession.
The pathway to the USWNT is still heavily tilted towards the collegiate power five conferences developing goalkeepers but it’s an interesting era that we are walking into for 2024 with all the potential potential swirling in the air.
USMNT Prospects
1. Chris Brady, 19 - Chicago Fire
2. Gabriel Slonina, 19 - Chelsea FC #
3. Antonio Carrera, 19 - FC Dallas
4. Carlos dos Santos, 23 - Inter Miami
5. Gavin Beavers, 18 - Real Salt Lake
6. Roman Celentano, 23 - FC Cincinnati
7. Andrew Rick, 18 - Philadelphia Union II
8. Ethan Wady, 22 - Millwall FC
9. Nicholas Holliday, 18 - Crown Legacy FC
10. Brian Schwake, 22 - Castellón
11. Eryk Słowikowski, 18 - Venezia FC
12. Vicente Reyes, 20 - Norwich U21
13. John Pulskamp, 22 - Sporting Kansas City
14. Eric De La Cerda, 22 - Free Agent %
15. Alex Borto, 20 - Fulham U21s
16. Blake Kelly, 18 - Notre Dame
17. Wyatt Nelson, 18 - UCLA
18. Stellan Sakamoto, 19 - Querétaro U23
19. Emmanuel Ochoa, 18 - San Jose Earthquakes
20. Patrick Schulte, 22 - Columbus Crew
21. Chituru Odunze, 21 - Charlotte FC
22. Fred Emmings, 20 - Minnesota 2
23. Brooks Thompson, 21 - Hartford Athletic
24. Hunter Sulte, 21 - Portland Timbers
# - on loan with the Eupen (Belgium.1)
% - last with San Jose Earthquakes
Bill says: The ongoing problem of few twenty-year-olds having serious traction continues. Every “US Prospects to Watch” list is littered with teenage goalkeepers but the 20-24 range is - and has been for many years - barren of goalkeepers that give fans confidence. Unfortunately, this list is no different. Although MLS darlings (most notably Celentano and Schulte) continue to have success within the league, it’s difficult to see them jump to a higher level when Turner, Steffen, and Horvath struggle to shine even in England’s second division. And briefly scanning over at Slonina in Belgium, there are very few who think the potential future number one for the US will ever don a Chelsea blue. The “tall and cautious” mindset is dying out a little more quickly on the men’s side when compared to the women’s game, but overall American goalkeepers are still a bit behind when it comes to embracing the totality of the game. Somewhat surprisingly, success in MLS as a goalkeeper is less valuable now than it was 10-20 years ago.
For our young goalkeepers, Brady, Carrera, and Rick stand out with a nice blend of athleticism yet don’t want to plant their heels completely on the goal line for 90 minutes. All three are currently taking the newly minted route: MLS Next Pro. While we’ll still see goalkeepers come through the collegiate ranks, many young goalkeepers will get wide-eyed when they hear they could land a professional contract with the reserve team. Despite popular belief, plenty of goalkeepers are more than happy to forego their collegiate eligibility for a chance to play professionally. While MLS teams will also continue to rob local clubs of their top players to push them into MLS Next/MLS Next Pro, the question remains: Can goalkeepers continue serious traction after turning twenty or will they plateau like the rest of their predecessors? If most MLS teams aren’t going to throw first-time minutes to their young goalkeepers while simultaneously devaluing any accomplishments in lower leagues, it makes the pathway for goalkeepers in their early 20s difficult to conceptualize.