The 2014 World Cup roster will by no means start from scratch. An encouraging core will return for the next cycle of qualifying, which begins in 2012.
Midfielders Landon Donovan and Clint Dempsey will be 32 and 31, respectively, in four years and will likely remain central figures on the team. Goalkeeper Tim Howard, at 35, will be even more seasoned and likely will remain the starter in net, and defender Oguchi Onyewu might return at age 32.
Young standouts Jozy Altidore, who is only 20 years old, and Michael Bradley, 22, will have another four years of international play in which to grow, and several other players who were part of the South Africa run are 25 or younger -- midfielders Jose Torres, Maurice Edu, Stuart Holden and Benny Feilhaber, defenders Jonathan Spector and Jonathan Bornstein and forward Robbie Findley. Should forward Charlie Davies, 24, return to form after a car accident, he also would likely factor into roster discussions.
