NYCFC midfielder James Sands on his dream of enjoying in a house World Cup, lacking out on Gregg Berhalter’s Nations League roster – and the way he plans to get again within the USMNT fold!

New York Metropolis FC midfielder James Sands was not referred to as into the US males’s nationwide group for the CONCACAF Nations League‘s ultimate 4. 

He was not added to the squad when Luca de la Torre was faraway from Yanks’ camp because of damage a day after NYCFC received its first recreation of the Main League Soccer season with Sands appearing as a rock within the defensive midfield. 

Sands not being a continuing determine throughout the USMNT but will not be one thing that bothers him. He’s solely 23 and already has 13 caps with the Stars and Stripes. Sands was additionally referred to as into the group’s January camp, regardless of not seeing the sphere in opposition to Slovenia.  

For his national-team goals, all roads result in the 2026 FIFA World Cup, being hosted in North America, with a heavy majority video games going down in his house nation. 

And even when meaning not being referred to as in for this summer season’s Copa America, doing all he can over the following two years is Sands’ largest national-team precedence.  

‘Taking part in in a World Cup in your house nation could be a spotlight of anybody’s profession,’ Sands instructed DailyMail.com after NYCFC’s win over Toronto FC. ‘And I’ve received a plan behind my thoughts to get me there and it is nearly taking these steps daily.’

What are these steps for Sands?  In any case, the following World Cup ultimate will happen a brief drive from his hometown of Rye, New York. 

Sands is one among NYCFC’s longest-tenured gamers, having been concerned with the group in some kind since 2015. And he hopes to point out he can lead others with that longevity.  

On the sphere, enjoying ahead extra and enhancing his vary of passing are his largest targets to show what’s wanted to leap off the web page when USMNT head coach Gregg Berhalter decides which gamers to name up. 

‘Plenty of time with a nationwide group, it’s simply not one thing you’ll be able to management day after day. I can not be calling him daily,’ Sands mentioned. ‘He is not watching me in coaching daily. So that you discover a approach to type of put it behind your thoughts and deal with the way you’re enjoying along with your membership group.’ 

Sands’ longest interval away from NYCFC was on mortgage with Scottish-club giants Rangers. His time in Glasgow gave him big-match expertise that included an look within the 2022 UEFA Europa League ultimate and within the Champions League.

‘I’m at all times attempting to get referred to as as much as the nationwide group, however I perceive now that the majority of these guys are enjoying in Europe. So it does make it exhausting enjoying within the MLS,’ Sands mentioned. 

‘It is at all times going to be the coach’s determination for the nationwide group. And he is at all times going to position a little bit extra worth on the blokes who’re enjoying within the prime European leagues, which I might too. That is how the world works,’ Sands added. ‘All I can do is put in good performances right here and hopefully they discover.’

If restricted spots for upcoming matches can be found for American-based gamers, with Copa America on the horizon, that makes each recreation over the following few months have a heightened significance. 

‘I do know that the employees of the nationwide group does a very good job watching MLS video games,’ Sands mentioned. ‘I do know they’re seeing these video games and I simply must preserve performing my greatest and hopefully get myself within the combine.’

‘Plenty of time with a nationwide group, it’s simply not one thing you’ll be able to management day after day. I can not be calling (Berhalter) daily. He is not watching me in coaching daily,’ Sands added. ‘So that you discover a approach to type of put it behind your thoughts and deal with the way you’re enjoying along with your membership group.’

There’s not an even bigger highlight in MLS proper now than Inter Miami. Though NYCFC has a recreation up subsequent in opposition to FC Cincinnati, that upcoming conflict on March 30 in opposition to Lionel Messi, Luis Suarez, and co. is tough to not take into consideration. 

Going toe-to-toe with one of many biggest footballers of all-time could be one heck of a resume-builder for Sands. It’s an plain home alternative. 

Even the point out in passing of the Inter Miami recreation from NYCFC head coach Nick Cushing, raised his eyebrows and altered his tone. 

‘(Berhalter’s) focus is extra simply attempting to get outcomes and that is the being the supervisor and nationwide group. That is your solely focus, so I do not assume he has as a lot time with every participant as perhaps Nick might need, like a membership supervisor, which is totally truthful,’ Sands mentioned. ‘And I perceive that. So it is only a completely different approach to function.’

Sands would view not being referred to as into the USMNT for Copa America as ‘not the tip of the world’ as all roads for him, and actually soccer as a complete in the US, result in the 2026 World Cup. His private targets is not going to let him stray from that focus. 

For now, discovering the small victories in coaching and placing as a lot of these collectively in a row as he can is Sands’ mindset. 

‘It is by no means going to be excellent. However I believe once you set targets like that, it is at all times about “Can I get a little bit bit higher?” And I do not assume you are gonna discover one recreation, “Wow. James is a unique participant.” However you discover little by little, “He has that in his locker,”‘ Sands mentioned. 

‘I’ll for positive discover it earlier than different individuals discover it and that is actually all that issues,’ Sands continued. ‘If I really feel like I am progressing, enhancing, that is what I deal with. I do not actually pay an excessive amount of consideration to if different individuals assume I am doing it nicely or not.’