Julian Hall Emerges as Potential Surprise Candidate for U.S. Men’s National Team Roster Ahead of FIFA World Cup
In the lead-up to next month’s FIFA World Cup, 18-year-old forward Julian Hall is on track to make an impression as a surprise roster candidate for the U.S. men’s national team. However, before any roster decisions are finalized, Hall will lead the New York Red Bulls against their rivals, New York City FC, on Saturday.
Hall recently made headlines by becoming the youngest player in MLS history to score a regular-season hat trick, spearheading the Red Bulls to a 3-2 victory over the Columbus Crew on Wednesday. His remarkable performance elevates the Red Bulls’ record to 5-5-3, placing them at 18 points in the standings.
Red Bulls coach Michael Bradley praised Hall, stating, “Jules is a great kid. He comes in every day ready to work, ready to train, ready to listen. He has a great personality. He has really good starting points as a player. And I’ve enjoyed every second of working with him.”
This season, Hall has become a key player for the Red Bulls, leading the team with nine goals and contributing two assists in just 13 matches. He currently stands tied for fourth in the MLS Golden Boot race.
While Hall aspires to play in the World Cup, he remains focused on his club’s upcoming matches before an international break. “Whatever happens, happens,” Hall remarked. “My focus is with the club. But obviously, it’s a dream of anyone that plays, to play in the World Cup. I hope someday that happens, but if it’s not this year, then I’m going to keep working hard and striving for that goal.”
On the other side, NYCFC also holds a record of 5-5-3 with 18 points, coming off a 1-0 victory against Charlotte FC, thanks to an eighth-minute goal from Nicolas Fernandez, assisted by Hannes Wolf. Fernandez leads NYCFC with nine goals and has three assists, while Wolf contributes five goals and two assists.
After securing back-to-back clean sheets, including a 3-0 win against Columbus, NYCFC, under coach Pascal Jansen, appears to be gaining momentum as they approach two more league matches before the World Cup pause. Jansen acknowledged the team’s effort, stating, “It’s a big compliment to everybody on the pitch because they worked really hard and showed the character needed to get these games over the line. Hopefully we can continue this in the third block of games.”
The two teams last faced off in the U.S. Open Cup on April 29, where NYCFC won 3-1. They have triumphed in three consecutive matches and four of the last five encounters in the series.