ORLANDO – Last week, Gregg Burhalter and the United States National Team staff named their 26-man roster that will travel to Qatar for the World Cup. On the list was Sean Johnson, UCF men's soccer product and MLS Champion who now becomes the first-ever player in the program's history to represent its country at the world's biggest tournament.
For Johnson, this honor has been a long time in the making. The Lilburn, Georgia native grew up playing soccer for his local schools and clubs before committing to the University of Central Florida in 2005. His two seasons in Orlando were instrumental for both the team and his future in the pros.
Johnson was a member of the C-USA Commissioners Honor Roll his freshman season where he made 17 starts, tallying 1,668 minutes between the posts. He was named to the all-conference tournament team later that year after a successful rookie campaign. In 2008, the now starter on the United States Under-20 National Team had a historic sophomore season. Johnson started every game in goal for the Black and Gold, finishing with 108 saves. That tally remains the best individual mark since 1986 and good for third all-time in the program's history. His 14-save performance against SMU on Oct. 25, 2008 is the sixth most in team history. He was named the team MVP following the season, before he continued his development with the Atlanta Blackhawks in the USL Premier Development League.
Johnson was drafted by the Chicago Fire in the fourth round (51st overall) as a Generation Adidas player. Since his debut that year against LA Galaxy, he has accumulated 31, 929 minutes, 355 appearances and became the first player in school history to win the MLS Cup as a starter with New York City FC last season. After his 2017 move to the MLS newcomers, Johnson became a pillar in the team, eventually leading the squad to the 2021 MLS Cup Final in Portland against the Timbers. He was named the Cup Final MVP after making numerous saves in-game before a dominating penalty kick performance, clinching the organization its first ever championship.
With the National Team, Johnson has made four Concacaf Gold Cup rosters, winning the competition in 2013, 2017, and 2021. He is currently riding a 767-minute shutout streak into the World Cup, with just one goal conceded in his career, coming in his debut versus Chile back in 2011.
Johnson is one of three goalkeepers Berhalter picked, joining Arsenal's Matt Turner and Luton Town's Ethan Horvath. In a press conference earlier this week, he said on his call-up, "it was a very emotional time for me, a very special moment to find out I was going to the World Cup, it's been a lifelong dream and goal of mine as a player since the first time I stepped on the field."
The U.S. National Team kicks off its first World Cup campaign in eight years on Monday versus Wales, who are led by fellow MLS star Gareth Bale. America then faces England on Friday before wrapping up the group stage with a matchup against Iran on the following Tuesday.
Here's a full breakdown of the Group Stage schedule:
Monday, Nov. 21: Wales, 2:00 pm, FOX
Friday, Nov. 25: England, 2:00 pm, FOX
Tuesday, Nov. 29: Iran, 2:00 pm, FOX
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