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 playing in the MLS,’ Sands said.
‘It’s always going to be the coach’s decision for the national team. And he’s always going to place a little more value on the guys who are playing in the top European leagues, which I would too. That’s how the world works,’ Sands added. ‘All I can do is put in good performances here and hopefully they notice.’
Sands is primarily a defensive midfielder but he hopes to expand his game for the USMNT
Sands has yet to have a major breakthrough with the national team but he believes it is coming
If limited spots for upcoming matches are available for American-based players, with Copa America on the horizon, that makes every game over the next few months have a heightened importance.
‘I know that the staff of the national team does a good job watching MLS games,’ Sands said. ‘I know they’re seeing these games and I just have to keep performing my best and hopefully get myself in the mix.’
‘A lot of time with a national team, it’s just not something you can control day to day. I can’t be calling (Berhalter) every day. He’s not watching me in training every day,’ Sands added. ‘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.’
There is not a bigger spotlight in MLS right now than Inter Miami. Although NYCFC has a game up next against FC Cincinnati, that upcoming clash on March 30 against Lionel Messi, Luis Suarez, and co. is hard to not think about.
Going toe-to-toe with one of the greatest footballers of all-time would be one heck of a resume-builder for Sands. It is an undeniable domestic opportunity.
Even the mention in passing of the Inter Miami game from NYCFC head coach Nick Cushing, raised his eyebrows and changed his tone.
‘(Berhalter’s) focus is more just trying to get results and that’s the being the manager and national team. That’s your only focus, so I don’t think he has as much time with each player as maybe Nick might have, like a club manager, which is completely fair,’ Sands said. ‘And I understand that. So it’s just a different way to operate.’
Sands has experience in a UEFA Europa League final and in the Champions League
Sands next few games include road challenges against FC Cincinnati and Inter Miami
Sands would view not being called into the USMNT for Copa America as ‘not the end of the world’ as all roads for him, and truly soccer as a whole in the United States, lead to the 2026 World Cup. His personal goals will not let him stray from that focus.
For now, finding the small victories in training and putting as many of those together in a row as he can is Sands’ mindset.
‘It’s never going to be perfect. But I think when you set goals like that, it’s always about “Can I get a little bit better?” And I don’t think you’re gonna notice one game, “Wow. James is a different player.” But you notice little by little, “He has that in his locker,”‘ Sands said.
‘I will for sure notice it before other people notice it and that’s really all that matters,’ Sands continued. ‘If I feel like I’m progressing, improving, that’s what I focus on. I don’t really pay too much attention to if other people think I’m doing it well or not.’