Headline: Jack McGlynn Shines for Stoke City, Earns U.S. National Team Call-Up
FAYETTEVILLE, Ga. — Jack McGlynn has quickly adapted to the cold, rainy nights in Stoke, an experience he has come to accept with a laugh. “I’ve felt it now,” he said. “There have been one or two cold ones. I’m hearing it might get worse.”
As November settles in, the 23-year-old American midfielder knows he has chosen a challenging environment to showcase his skills. Situated in England’s West Midlands, Stoke often bears the brunt of weather patterns from the Irish Sea.
In soccer, a common question arises about whether highly skilled players can perform in difficult conditions, leading to the cynical saying, “But can he do it on a cold, rainy night in Stoke?” Despite these challenges, McGlynn has been thriving since transferring from Major League Soccer’s Houston Dynamo to second-division Stoke City just before the summer transfer window closed.
In his 11 appearances, the Queens, New York, native has scored five goals and contributed two assists. He has recently scored in three consecutive matches, a streak that led to a last-minute call-up to the U.S. national team after Gio Reyna withdrew due to injury.
McGlynn now joins the 25-man squad preparing for the CONCACAF Nations League quarterfinals against Haiti on Saturday in Miami and next Tuesday in Cincinnati.
Jack McGlynn missed the World Cup and fell out of the USMNT picture. Now he’s scoring spectacular goals in England, winning over Stoke City fans and getting another chance to prove himself.
(Steve Bardens via Getty Images)
Few American players are currently in better form than McGlynn, who has captured the hearts of Stoke City supporters. His performances have helped elevate the club to position themselves level on points with Birmingham City and Middlesbrough at the top of the English Championship.
The Potters boast an impressive 8-1-2 record since McGlynn joined the squad, creating a compelling argument for a Premier League return after more than eight years of challenges, during which they haven’t finished higher than 15th. This season started on a rough note.
“When I got there … I looked at the standings and I was like, ‘Oh dear, what’s happening?'” he recounted to Yahoo Sports on Monday, reflecting on the team’s initial struggles with three losses totaling a 9-3 scoreline.
“I watched them win their first match and I was like, ‘OK, we have got something now. We could turn it around,'” he remarked. “It’s been a great run of results since, and I’m just really happy to be there.”
While Stoke City may not be the most glamorous location in Europe, McGlynn finds fulfillment in achieving his childhood dream of playing in England. The fans have welcomed him by chanting his name and “USA, USA!” after his goals, including some remarkable finishes. He shares this experience with Luca Bombino, a 20-year-old left back also hailing from San Diego FC.
“It makes me smile every time I hear it,” McGlynn expressed. “It’s something you dream about as a kid, where you’re playing in England and fans will chant your name. Stuff of dreams, really.”
Operating primarily from the right wing, McGlynn has made a name for himself with standout moments like a clever free kick during a match against Blackburn Rovers. Positioned about 30 yards from the goal, he noticed the goalkeeper drifting and cleverly shot directly toward the goal, scoring as the goalkeeper failed to recover in time.
“He’s the only player on the pitch for us who might attempt something like that,” praised coach Mark Robins in a BBC Radio interview. “I did wonder if he might try it, but to execute that was phenomenal.”
McGlynn followed up that performance with another goal in a recent 2-1 victory against Portsmouth.
After the match, the Stoke City team gathered to prepare for their long journey home. While awaiting the arrival of a few players, McGlynn was informed by staff of a break, allowing him some time to recuperate after a demanding schedule of three matches in eight days.
However, sporting director Jon Walters delivered unexpected news that U.S. officials needed him in camp immediately.
Realizing his boots were packed away with equipment headed to another location, he quickly ran back to retrieve them. “I ran back to the dressing room to get them,” McGlynn said. “I was like, ‘Oh, I need them.’
After taking his boots and rejoining his team, he set off for nearby Manchester, where he boarded flights to Amsterdam, then Atlanta, to begin U.S. camp.
McGlynn, who has 13 caps and two goals for the national team, had been absent from U.S. camp since September 2025. His chances for the World Cup had diminished due to injuries sustained earlier in the year, forcing him to watch the tournament from home.
“Missing out was tough,” he admitted. “I played through an injury for two months before [the team was selected], and that time off in the summer definitely helped me get fresh, get healthy and flip my mindset to, ‘I’ve got to make the next one now. I’ve got to get back in the squad.’
As he established himself at Stoke City, U.S. coach Mauricio Pochettino selected other young talents for the previous camp, which resulted in four straight wins.
After observing those matches, McGlynn noted a renewed enthusiasm among the team. “It just seems like a new hunger and ambition with youthful energy. You kind of feed off that,” he said of the experience.
For this camp, Pochettino retained most of the strong roster. Following Reyna’s injury, McGlynn found himself back in the mix.
“It was a lot,” he acknowledged about the swift sequence of events over the weekend, “but I’m very happy to be back with the group.”
Once his national commitments conclude, McGlynn looks forward to returning to Stoke for the ongoing promotion race and the chilly, gray weather that accompanies it.
