USMNT star Yunus Musah swaps shirts with Bukayo Saka after World Cup

‘Grateful to have crossed paths on football’s biggest stage’: USMNT star Yunus Musah swaps shirts with his old Arsenal teammate Bukayo Saka after starring in the 0-0 tie with England

  • Yunus Musah impressed as USA held England to a 0-0 tie at the World Cuo
  • The 19-year-old was once an academy prospect at Arsenal with Bukayo Saka
  • Saka was in the England starting line-up for the game on Friday in Qatar
  • USA now needs to beat Iran on Tuesday to reach the knockouts of the World Cup
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  • Click here for the latest World Cup 2022 news, fixtures, live action and results

He said it was going to be a special game before kickoff and after a staring role in an important result for USMNT, Yunus Musah made time to return his roots. 

Musah was once on Arsenal’s books as a youth player, where he was a teammate of England Bukayo Saka.

And the two took a moment to reflect on their journey from young proteges at Arsenal’s Hale End youth academy to World Cup stars by swapping shirts after the game, which finished in a 0-0 tie.

Yunus Musah (right) of USMNT and Bukayo Saka (left) swapped shirts after Friday’s World Cup game ended 0-0 between England and USA in Qatar

Munus impressed for USA while Saka had a difficult game on a tough night for his team

Musah shared a picture of the duo after the game, holding each other’s jersey, with the caption: ‘It’s been years since the days at Hale End but I’m so grateful to have crossed paths again on footballs biggest stage.’

Musah, 19, produced an impressive display in an important draw for his USA side. He won 100 per cent of his aerial duels, all of his passes in the final third, won all his tackles and had 100 per cent shot accuracy.

The point from the game means USA now goes into Tuesday’s clash with Iran knowing that a victory for Gregg Berhalter’s men books a place in the last 16. 

Saka, meanwhile, struggled to recapture the form that saw him score twice against Iran and was substituted 

And if things had been different, Musah could have been lining up alongside Saka for England at the World Cup in Qatar.

Musah played for England at youth level – making 30 appearances across various teams – and he signed for Spanish team Valencia from English side Arsenal when he was 16.

In November 2020, after holding talks with Berhalter, Musah chose to represent the USA at youth level. 

Musah was an Arsenal academy player before leaving at 16 to join Spanish giants Valencia

‘I am both really – English and American,’ Musah said. ‘I had a great time at England. I loved every time, had a lot of camps, great people and everything.

‘It came to a point where I was playing in the first team [at Valencia] and playing in the under-19s when I went to the national team.

‘Gregg called me and told me about the project with the US. He told me how much he wanted me in the team and I was just 17 at the time. For a first-team manager to want me that badly really helped my decision.’

Musah’s appearance against England was his 21st USA cap. 


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