If you’re following the USMNT as it prepares for the upcoming World Cup, you know that the biggest concern for the club is the No. 9 (center forward, often referred to as “striker”) spot. Since Jozy Altidore began his fade from fame, the national team has cycled player after player through the role, with varying results. However the result, though, it was never good enough to truly lock down the position. The closest we had to that was Zardes, but his game had holes, even if the head coach pretended otherwise. So as we turn the final turn towards Qatar, I’ve decided to do a quick rundown on the players vying for the No. 9 spot and their performances each week.

Massive caveat: these rankings are a mix of what I see and what I know about Coach Berhalter. He may change his mind at anytime. Also he may not be thinking the same as this guy.

1. Jesús Ferreira - FC Dallas

The presumed starter at this point, given his minutes and Berhalter’s preference, had a good midweek match against Philadelphia. Ferreira played 82 minutes in the match, finishing with a goal on 4 shots. The goal was a beautiful one, as the forward trailed the attack and found space in the box. He received the pass, skips around a defender and unleashed a beautiful shot past Philly’s GK Andre Blake. Currently the FC Dallas striker is third in MLS in goals scored and is good form.

2. Jordan Pefok

He has to be, right? After an incredible run in the Swiss league last season, were he scored 22 goals in 32 apps, Pefok made the move to the Bundesliga with Union Berlin. Now four matches in, he has scored three goals and notched an assist and looks to have found a promising spot to prosper, paired with Sheraldo Becker. This weekend saw Pefok scoring against Leipzig, taking the shot from the top of the 18 from between two defenders. Beautiful finish Regardless of the fair criticisms of his appearances with the USMNT during qualifying, there’s zero chance Berhalter ignores a forward scoring goals at this rate in the German top league.

3. Josh Sargent

It gets messy here, but since I’ll revisit this in a week, let’s plug in the red-haired wonderboy. Sargent has STRUGGLED since moving to Norwich, which was relegated after a rough season in the EPL. As this year’s Championship got rolling, Sargent wasn’t getting much time, but in the last two matches, he’s made the cut and has made the best of it. Friday, Norwich faced Milwall and Sargent was on fire, scoring a brace. Sargent hasn’t had a call up in a while, but should he get hot, it’s hard to imagine Berhalter not bringing him in. It’s more than just what he brings to the table. I think there’s also a bit of favoritism towards him within the program. People WANT him to succeed.

The Rest of the Realistic Candidates

Darkhorse candidate Brandon Vázquez, who plays for Cincinnati in MLS is having a whale of a season, currently sitting on 15 goals. This week he was held goalless in a 1-1 draw with Red Bull NY. I call him a darkhorse, not because of his level of play, but because he has yet to get a call up and adding him in this late in the game might be risky. If he’s playing well enough though, might tempt Gregg to pull the trigger.

Haji Wright currently plays in the Turkish SuperLig for Antalyaspor. Three matches into this season, Wright has three goals, two of those coming this weekend against Trabzonspor. Two things hold back Wright, in my opinion. 1. The SuperLig isn’t the most challenging of leagues. 2. Wright got a call up during a friendly window and scored (PK) on his debut, but in Nation’s League play against El Salvador his play was less convincing and he was benched halfway through. Berhalter went so far as to call him out afterwards, “It’s always difficult when players get an opportunity and don’t fully capitalize on it. It’s not nice for a coach, it’s not nice for the player, it’s not nice for the group. We’re all rooting for Haji to be a force.” So maybe the ship has sailed for Wright. Hard to say.

And I definitely have to mention Ricardo Pepi, a fan favorite who is struggling mightily for a club that is struggling just as hard. Mid-table in the Bundesliga, Augsburg FC seems less convinced that it needs Pepi in the lineup. He came in at the 68th minute this weekend against Mainz and was active, but didn’t manage to do the most important thing: score. Pepi needs playing time and he needs to start scoring. It would be easy for him to flip the script and be back in the top three, given his early success with the USMNT.

- Dan Vaughn