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The U.S. men's national team begins its World Cup campaign in just 10 weeks, and standout midfielder Weston McKennie appears to be hitting his stride at exactly the right moment.
The 27-year-old impressed in Juventus's 2–0 victory over Genoa in Serie A action on Monday, claiming Man of the Match honors after netting his side's second goal.
McKennie first sparked a swift counterattack in the 17th minute before thundering a first-time effort into the net from a cross inside the penalty area, lifting his Serie A tally to five goals this season — matching a career high he established in the 2020–21 campaign. The midfielder still has seven Serie A fixtures remaining to surpass that mark.
Weston McKennie is the Panini Player of the Match! 🏆#JuveGenoa pic.twitter.com/lT9Hqlvw6a
The strike was McKennie's ninth goal across all competitions this season, including four in UEFA Champions League action.
"An important victory," McKennie said in Italian on Juventus's post-match social media. "Thanks for the support. Forza Juve as always."
What Does This Mean for USMNT?
McKennie, who is anticipated to be a key starter for the Stars and Stripes this summer, continued to threaten in the final third throughout Monday's contest, narrowly missing two additional opportunities to add to his goal count.
USMNT head coach Mauricio Pochettino recently spoke highly of McKennie's ability, versatility, and work ethic.
"It's true that Juventus is Weston McKennie plus 10 players," Pochettino said last month. "We're happy for that because that means that he's an important player for Juventus. Another thing that I celebrate is that he can play in every single place ... he's playing and he's playing in different positions. It's good for him and it's good for us."
McKennie's sharp form in front of goal comes on the back of a subdued offensive showing for the USMNT during the March international window, where the side was outscored 7–2 across two friendlies against Belgium and Portugal. While McKennie did find the net against Belgium with a similar right-footed first-time finish, the Juventus star was kept quiet in the U.S.'s 2–0 defeat to Portugal.
MCKENNIE MAGIC IN FRONT OF NET! ✨#USMNT x @VW pic.twitter.com/jYEJyy2VjJ
The USMNT is desperately seeking an attacking boost, particularly given star forward Christian Pulisic's ongoing goal drought and Monday's troubling injury update regarding World Cup hopeful Patrick Agyemang. The striker, who has netted six goals in just 13 appearances for the USMNT, sustained an Achilles tendon injury during Derby County's match, effectively ruling him out of World Cup contention.
The USMNT returns to the pitch in late May for final preparatory friendlies against Senegal and Germany, matches Pochettino intends to use to finalize his World Cup squad.
The Stars and Stripes open their World Cup campaign in Group D on June 12 against Paraguay, followed by clashes with Australia on June 19 and Türkiye on June 25, with all three matches taking place on home soil.