US Under-20 national team call-up and ACC Defender of the Year in his second and final season of college soccer at Syracuse.
He’s suited up for just one competitive game, a 7-0 Concacaf Nations League drubbing of Cuba at Audi Field in October 2019, and was not called into action by Gregg Berhalter.
Such workouts are a commonplace activity by both club and national teams, and then-Five Stripes boss Frank de Boer admitted the strain might easily have happened the moment he rejoined his club instead.
This past March, Atlanta decided not to release Robinson and his teammates – left back George Bello and right back Brooks Lennon – to the US U-23s for Concacaf Olympic qualifying, a left-handed compliment of sorts.
“I was definitely disappointed,” Robinson told reporters at the time, expressing hope that he would get to take part in the Tokyo Summer Games if they earned a spot.
The US U-23s were ultimately unsuccessful, however, crashing out to Honduras one game short of qualification.
That has now arrived this month, in the form of a central role in the USMNT’s hunt for the 2021 Gold Cup title.
“I’m definitely grateful to be here,” said the soft-spoken Robinson in a Tuesday media availability from Kansas City, the USMNT’s home base for the duration of group-stage play.
The US face a tricky Group B assignment and have left many of their first-choice regulars at home to rest ahead of the intense World Cup qualifying slate that begins in early September.
A prototypical modern central defender versed in both three- and four-player back lines, he’s technical, tall and commanding but also fleet of foot, quick on the turn and excellent one-on-one and in the air.
“Early on, my first camps with Gregg were definitely learning experiences, getting used to the competition of the play,” said Robinson, “but also getting to know how he wants to play, things like that.
“That’s something I’ve been trying to focus on – switching play, hitting long balls and stuff like this,” he added.
From another angle, this month’s chance arrives not a moment too soon, considering that Robinson faces some ferocious positional competition in the US pool.