Sean Johnson wanted the challenge

NYCFC keeper Sean Johnson almost didn't make the USMNT June roster, then found himself in net against Uruguay, and was named Man of the Match. On asking for the challenge, and his World Cup prospects:

Over the course of two days in Cincinnati, 26 USMNT players filtered through a converted conference room downtown. Each had fifteen minutes to make their case to the media. Who are you? Why are you here? Think you’re going to Qatar? 

The event marked the last domestic camp before the 2022 FIFA World Cup. Typically, the big media send-off would happen much closer to the tournament. But with a November World Cup, a September camp in Europe, and the constraints of club seasons, it’s now, and there’s still five months to go, and at least 10 of these guys are still vying for a spot. 

High on that list of hopefuls is veteran goalkeeper Sean Johnson. And originally, he wasn’t called into camp. 

In order to accommodate the numbers inside of a time-crunch, USMNT players arrived in pairs and split the room. Media, take your pick: in one corner, so and so, in the other, so and so. 

Sean Johnson’s fifteen minutes were scheduled parallel to Weston McKennie’s. And as you might imagine, the weight of the room tilted heavily toward McKennie’s desk.

But McKennie was early, and Tyler Adams’ session ran late, so after Weston questioned Tyler he walked across the room and did the same to Sean as he waited for Tyler to get out of his seat:

WM: Can I ask you a question? 

SJ: Please.

WM: So what are your plans, given that it is your birthday, to celebrate with teammates and staff?

SJ: I would say that there is actually nothing more that I could ask for on my birthday than to celebrate with… especially you, my favorite teamma- (He trails off, they’re both laughing). Yo let’s turn up bro. 

WM: (Says something I couldn’t make out.)

SJ: That’s my motto in life. Never a bad place to turn up. 

(Weston raises his hand to ask another question.) 

SJ (Nods toward Weston, the only person sitting in the media rows): Yes?

WM: What do you think about the attire that we wear? Do you think it could be a bit fresher?... Do you think it could have some more flavor, given that we are the US Men’s National Team, one of the biggest Nike partnerships?

SJ: Yeah, I think we should start with pockets. That should be the first thing. And then we can talk about fashion after that. But, maybe a side satchel… something that’ll carry a phone, hotel key… 

(Weston McKennie continues as Sean laughs and says, It’s a packed room by the way. Most of the media are still over by Tyler Adams.) 

WM: How excited are you about this new generation coming up? You know, you've been a part of both… you know, some people call you an old head (Sean Johnson cuts in to say “Or Dad”)… that you’ve been a part of the past generations and the new generation heading into the World Cup. Have you noticed a difference in how the teams carry themselves through qualifiers, and leading up to the process of playing in the World Cup? 

SJ: It’s like being a team Dad with a bunch of children. 

(Weston interjects to tell him to lean forward and speak up. Johnson replies “No no no, you come closer sir”. McKennie moves past the empty chairs to the front row as Sean says “Next question”.) 

WM: What do you mean next question?! You didn’t answer my last question!

SJ: I answered your question, you were just too far away to hear me. 

(Some media are arriving now, and as Tyler Adams departs Michael Kammarman approaches: “Come on Wes!”. )

When Gregg Berhalter called 27 players into the final domestic camp, Sean Johnson wasn’t one of those names. The presumed pecking order of goalkeepers has Sean Johnson fourth, and just shy of a flight to Qatar. 

After the roster release Berhalter talked to media about “difficult conversations”, conversations which will only get harder the closer you get to the World Cup… at which point the hopefuls can no longer hope. He named Sean Johnson, in particular, as one of the phone calls that was “really, really tough” to have. 

But just before camp, Manchester City’s backup keeper and USMNT’s presumed number one- Zack Steffen- pulled out for personal reasons. And just like that, Johnson was in. 

Then on June 5th in Kansas City, the number four keeper suddenly found himself number one in net, featuring against the toughest competition of the four-match window: Uruguay. 

It was a nil-nil slogfest. The USMNT backline looked shaky at best. But Johnson came up big with a handful of saves, keeping a clean sheet and putting an end to La Celeste’s 5-game win streak. He looked cool under pressure, passed well through the press, and absorbed the mistakes of a backline in intermittent disarray.  He was, in fact, named Man of the Match. 

The flummoxed few fans did wonder, though: how do you go from being off the roster, to getting the start against Uruguay? What, cried the everlasting flummoxed, is Gregg doing? It’s a fair question. 

Matt Turner is undoubtedly the keeper challenging for Zack Steffen’s starting spot. He’s the “shot-stopper”, juxtaposed to Steffen’s progressive style of play… or so they say. Turner (Moving to Arsenal this summer, in part to prove he can play progressive too, as a —backup— keeper in Premier League) featured against Morocco June 1. He looked sturdy as ever in the 3-0 victory. His beaming grin coming through the post-match proved he knew it, too. 

Steffen isn’t here. And we know what Turner can do, so rotation makes sense. But where was Ethan Horvath? Horvath has long been the presumed third option. He’s come up with big games whenever given the job. And with Nottingham Forest’s promotion to England’s top flight, Horvath makes himself USMNT’s third —backup— EPL keeper. 

But as we near the World Cup, the USMNT keeper position is looking among the most uncertain. Steffen has been shaky for club and country. All three preferred options are now playing backup roles in EPL, and the wisdom of launching a World Cup campaign absent any keeper getting regular minutes is looking increasingly circumspect. 

… And knocking hard at the door, on the fringe of that predicament, is Sean Johnson: hungry for that roster spot, and playing day in and day out for MLS reigning champions, NYCFC. 

After the Uruguay game, Sean Johnson spoke to media in the mixed zone. He looked calm and level-headed as ever. He also stood —and I have no idea if he meant this or not— in everyone’s way. At 6 foot 3, Johnson is a tall guy.

He didn’t exactly make himself smaller so the Uruguayans could get by. After what was admittedly a scrappy match, the NYCFC keeper stood his ground, looking confidently out at the media while names like Cavani and Valverde squeezed by in the sliver of space behind him, looking at him, like, is this guy gonna move? He wasn’t. 

Intentional or not, I dug the vibe. 

Johnson fielded the expected questions and gave expected answers: With the other keepers in backup roles, did he feel he could earn a spot in Qatar? All I can do is play my game. 

But then he said something that intrigued me. Coming into camp, apparently, Johnson talked to Berhalter. He told him he wanted a challenge. And apparently, they gave him Uruguay, the biggest challenge he could get. 

The man of the match stood there with the game ball in his hands, evincing no strong emotion, but surely knowing, if this was his one challenge to prove his name belongs in that World Cup roster, well. Ethan Horvath has his work cut out for him.

We’ve got months of club form left for these keepers to prove their worth, and any number of transfers could change the situation. There will be a camp in Europe with two friendlies come September. And we’ve got two matches left this window. Ethan Horvath will get his chance to prove something. And for that matter, so will Zack Steffen. 

But on Sunday in Kansas City, Sean Johnson made sure Gregg knows: if thrown in net against a big challenge, if needed as the last line of defense against a team like Uruguay, Sean Johnson can hold that ground.