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This is an opinion column.

The journey to the 2026 FIFA World Cup began for the United States Men’s National Team this past week.

The team went 2-0 in a pair of friendlies against Uzbekistan and Oman. It was easy stuff, or at least that’s how this current surge of talented players made it seem. Gregg Berhalter was back on the sidelines, but for my eyes there was something more significant about this team than the U.S.’s old-new coach. It went under reported — because this is college football season in the South — but the trend deserves special attention.

Earlier this summer, I pointed out in a column that if the men’s national team wants to reach its full potential, then it would need a firm foothold in the American Deep South. Does Berhalter read my columns? In this most recent international window, which served as a kicking off point for 2026, two players on the team were from Alabama for the first time in the history of the USMNT.

The two players were Chris Richards and Tanner Tessman. Both Richards and Tessman are from the Birmingham area, and they’re both extremely proud of their Southern soccer roots. They have interesting stories, too. It’s not like their parents were professional soccer players. Richards, who is a defender, is the son of a pro basketball player. Tessman is the godson of Clemson football coach Dabo Swinney.

It’s like Alabama is turning into an international soccer hotbed, and I’m only halfway kidding about that.

Gregg, I have more great ideas for the future of the USMNT if you’re prepared to take the next step. Does the U.S. need more Southern-fried soccer to win the 2026 World Cup? Yes, obviously.

It’s time for the USMNT to play a game at Birmingham’s Protective Stadium. It would benefit both Alabama and U.S. Soccer. For the USMNT, highlighting the signature toughness of Alabama-raised soccer players is worth the investment for future international success. On top of that, there’s no doubt that fans would pack Protective to celebrate the team. It would give the USMNT a pro-U.S. home crowd and deliver a big payday to the BJCC.

Richards and Tessman honed their skills at local youth clubs, so congratulations to those organizations for inspiring a pair of players who eventually advanced to the senior national team. It would be dishonest of me to leave out the fact that Richards and Tessman had to leave Birmingham for academy systems in Dallas before turning pro. Richards, who is 23 years old, now plays for Crystal Palace in the Premier League. Tessman, 21, plays for Venezia in Italy’s second division, Serie B.

In the years since Richards and Tessman trained in Dallas, academy-type settings are now available to players in Huntsville and Birmingham. Huntsville has the MLS Next program that’s tied to MLS club Nashville SC. Birmingham’s academy structure is a partnership between local clubs and USL Championship team Birmingham Legion FC.

Both Richards and Tessman are big fans of their hometown club, Birmingham Legion. Richards attended a game this summer and joined me for a fun one-on-one interview about his career and success with the USMNT. I’ve also written about Richards’ deep love for Alabama, and his appreciation for being an internationally successful Black soccer player from the Deep South.

With Richards leading the way, the U.S. shut out Uzbekistan 3-0 last Saturday in St. Louis. On Tuesday, Team Stars and Stripes blanked Oman 4-0 in Minneapolis. I’m not going to pretend like shutting out soccer lightweights Uzbekistan and Oman deserves some kind of national medal of freedom — OK, maybe it does because go USA! — but it is important for Alabamians to understand that Alabama-born Richards is turning into the beating heart of the USMNT defense.

Richards started both games after leading the U.S. in the semifinals and finals of the CONCACAF Nations League back in June. The U.S. trounced Mexico 3-0 in the semis and won the Nations League championship game 2-0 against Canada. If you’re counting at home, that’s four consecutive shutouts for the U.S. defense in games featuring Richards in the starting lineup.

Richards is a central defender. It’s no minor role, and Richards’ signature professionalism and toughness is shaping the culture of the team. That’s a major development for U.S. Soccer and something to be celebrated locally. Richards is the USMNT’s Alabama Hammer.

Tessman is a defensive midfielder, which is also one of the more important positions in soccer. He was a late addition to the USMNT this window after another player suffered an injury. Tessman was an unexpected sub in the 35th minute against Uzbekistan. He came on when teammate Luca de La Torre broke his nose while bashing heads with an opponent. Tessman looked the part after settling into the game and one of his steals set up a goal by Ricardo Pepi in the 80th minute.

Tessman has a lot of potential, and he’s proving it at the club level. Two weeks ago, his stunning, 30-yard blast off a free kick for Venezia showed what he can bring to the USMNT.

The development of homegrown talents Richards and Tessman are proof of Alabama’s rising status as a valuable contributor to the USMNT. From what I’m told, Richards wants badly for the USMNT to play a game in Birmingham. Time to make it happen.

If nothing else, Birmingham deserves a chance to celebrate its Alabama Hammer before he shows the world what Southern soccer is all about.

Joseph Goodman is the lead sports columnist for the Alabama Media Group, and author of “We Want Bama”, a book about togetherness, wild times and rum. You can find him on Twitter @JoeGoodmanJr.