ATLANTA, GEORGIA—Has Brookwood grad over very own Walker Zimmerman increased his global profile since the September window? That’s a challenging claim because, aside from former New England Revolution goalkeeper Matt Turner, maybe no US player stood out during a 2-0 loss to Japan and a 0-0 draw with Saudi Arabia.
But the star of Nashville SC, who played the full 90 minutes in both games, appears firmly established as the USMNT’s top center back. Who will play alongside Zimmerman against England, Iran, and Wales in Group B is more of a concern; Chris Richards of Crystal Palace may be the most likely candidate (though he missed this September camp to injury).
Zimmerman made his debut for the United States in January 2017 against Jamaica. In 2019, he was selected into the squad that finished runners-up in the CONCACAF Gold Cup. He was also a squad member that won the tournament in 2021, starting all three group stage matches before leaving the game due to a hamstring injury.
