England kick off their World Cup campaign against Iran at the Khalifa International Stadium this afternoon.
Having last won a major trophy over 56 years ago, the nation will, undoubtedly, unite behind Gareth Southgate's side and attempt to inspire success in Qatar.
However, Leeds United and their supporters can be forgiven for also keeping an eye on the action elsewhere in Group B.
READ MORE: Leeds United star has warning for USA ahead of Wales World Cup clash
Whites stars Tyler Adams and Brenden Aaronson are set to play major roles for the USA, with the former having officially been named as captain of his nation.
In addition to current players, the rarity of a mid-season World Cup may provide Leeds with the chance to identify possible additions ahead of the winter transfer window.
Given the connections between Leeds and the USA in the boardroom, in the dugout and on the pitch, below are three compatriots from Gregg Berhalter's side that Jesse Marsh could monitor throughout the tournament's duration.
Christian Pulisic
Club: Chelsea
Position: Winger
Age: 24
Christian Pulisic has been previously linked with a move to Elland Road after appearing to fall out of favour at Chelsea.
The 24-year-old was said to be a target for the Whites during the summer transfer window but a move failed to come to fruition with the American winger staying put at Stamford Bridge.
Former Blues boss Thomas Tuchel seemed to prefer other attacking options over the £58million man before Graham Potter's arrival saw a slight increase in game-time.
Nevertheless, Pulisic has still failed to complete 90 minutes this season and was left out of starting line-ups in recent defeats to Newcastle and Arsenal. A fresh start could be deemed beneficial to all parties involved.
If Leeds could help the former Borussia Dortmund star recapture form that previously made him one of Europe's most exciting attackers, the Whites would significantly strengthen their ranks.
Ricardo Pepi
Club: FC Groningen (on loan from FC Augsburg)
Position: Striker
Age: 19
Ricardo Pepi is a player that could potentially be one to resolve their striker woes, with Patrick Bamford having failed to find the net in his 10 Premier League outings amid injury problems.
Born in El Paso, Texas, the 19-year-old joined FC Dallas' youth set-up prior to signing for North Texas SC in USL League One. His first taste of senior football was a successful one in 2019 as he netted nine goals in 13 appearances.
Following a breakthrough 2020 MLS season upon returning to Dallas, Pepi became the youngest player in Major League Soccer history to score a hat-trick and enjoyed a prolific 2021 campaign, when he scored 13 goals and was subsequently called up to the national side.
Such form convinced Bundesliga side FC Augsburg to make Pepi the most expensive American MLS player to sign for a European club before he joined Dutch outfit FC Groningen on loan in September.
An impressive start to the Eredivisie season has seen Pepi demonstrate his talents on the European stage, netting recording six goals in only nine outings. Having also proven to be comfortable on the international stage, Leeds could certainly benefit from a player of his profile.
Cameron Carter-Vickers
Club: Celtic
Position: Centre-back
Age: 24
The name Cameron Carter-Vickers will, probably, be recognisable to most Leeds supporters. The Southend-born defender had spent all of his career in English football before joining Celtic last season.
While Leeds may not be in total need of another centre-back, defensive weaknesses have plagued Marsch's time in charge of the club, as they did for Marcelo Bielsa last season. Individual additions may go a long way to resolving such problems.
Despite a string of successive loan spells in the Championship, Carter-Vickers failed to make a Premier League appearance during his time in North London but did feature in the club's first-ever UEFA Europa Conference League match.
He, particularly, won plaudits for stints with Swansea City and Bournemouth, where his ball-playing abilities stood out. Carter-Vickers quickly became a fan favourite under Ange Postecoglu at Celtic Park as he played 45 games in all competitions on the way to Premiership and Scottish Cup glory.
By performing at a World Cup, Carter-Vickers can silence doubters that are quick to disregard the quality of Scottish football. His capabilities in possession could even prove just as valuable to Marsch as defensive strengths would.
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