For the first time since Bill Clinton was president, the U.S. men’s national team’s starting goalkeeper position is up for grabs. Zack Steffen has been one of the front-runners to take over for Tim Howard for some time now, and after his performance in the U.S.’s draw yesterday with France, he has emerged, in my opinion, as the keeper who has made the strongest claim to be the team’s No. 1.



Steffen is still only 23, which means he will be 27 by the time the 2022 World Cup rolls around, just entering his prime as a goalkeeper. (The window is later for goalkeepers, generally 27 to 33.) He will need to continue maturing over the next few seasons, but now is the right time to for the USMNT to start getting him the experience he will need for 2022. Build him up now, while the consequences of mistakes are relatively light, and help him learn for when the stakes are higher.



Who are the alternatives? In 2022, Brad Guzan will be well past his prime at...