sport news NYCFC midfielder James Sands on his dream of playing in a home World Cup, ... trends now
New York City FC midfielder James Sands was not called into the United States men's national team for the CONCACAF Nations League's final four.
He was not added to the squad when Luca de la Torre was removed from Yanks' camp due to injury a day after NYCFC won its first game of the Major League Soccer season with Sands acting as a rock in the defensive midfield.
Sands not being a constant figure within the USMNT yet is not something that bothers him. He is only 23 and already has 13 caps with the Stars and Stripes. Sands was also called into the team's January camp, despite not seeing the field against Slovenia.
For his national-team dreams, all roads lead to the 2026 FIFA World Cup, being hosted in North America, with a heavy majority games taking place in his home country.
And even if that means not being called in for this summer's Copa America, doing all he can over the next two years is Sands' biggest national-team priority.
Sands is one of NYCFC's longest-tenured players, having been under contract since 2017
Sands also spent over a year with Rangers on loan, playing for the Scottish giants
'Playing in a World Cup in your home country would be a highlight of anyone's career,' Sands told DailyMail.com after NYCFC's win over Toronto FC. 'And I've got a plan in the back of my mind to get me there and it's just about taking those steps every day.'
What are those steps for Sands? After all, the next World Cup final will take place a short drive from his hometown of Rye, New York.
Sands is one of NYCFC's longest-tenured players, having been involved with the organization in some form since 2015. And he hopes to show he can lead others with that longevity.
On the field, playing forward more and improving his range of passing are his biggest goals to display what's needed to jump off the page when USMNT head coach Gregg Berhalter decides which players to call up.
‘A lot of time with a national team, it’s just not something you can control day to day. I can't be calling him every day,' Sands said. 'He's not watching me in training every day. So you find a way to sort of put it in the back of your mind and focus on how you’re playing with your club team.’
Sands' longest period away from NYCFC was on loan with Scottish-club giants Rangers. His time in Glasgow gave him big-match experience that included an appearance in the 2022 UEFA Europa League final and in the Champions League.
'I am always trying to get called up to the national team, but I understand now that most of those guys are playing in Europe. So it does make it hard
