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Jeff Carlisle
Maybe you’ve got heard: The 2026 FIFA World Cup is lower than a yr away, and as such, the roster for the United States males’s nationwide staff is taking form. Thoughts you, there have been occasions when the define of stated roster has appeared extra like a funhouse mirror than a wonderfully rendered picture.
The just lately concluded Gold Cup featured absences that reached into the double figures, which enabled a number of gamers to get on the sector who in any other case would not have. Some seized their alternative and can get additional appears, whereas others may have little to no shot at making the 26-player roster subsequent summer time.
However U.S. supervisor Mauricio Pochettino has had to deal with the hand he is been dealt, and — knock on wooden — the American participant pool is not less than starting to heal up, probably giving him extra choices going ahead. With that in thoughts, right here is motor vehicles have a look at a projected roster for 2026, with some room on the finish for these on the skin wanting in.
Goalkeepers (3)
Matt Turner | 31 | New England Revolution (on mortgage from Lyon)
Turner’s return to MLS from Europe appears like a retreat, however shifting again to New England ought to give him one thing been missing ever since he left the Revs in 2022: regular enjoying time. And if he does get common minutes, one would presume that he’ll be the starter subsequent summer time.
It is value remembering that Turner has one merchandise on his résumé that his rivals do not: World Cup expertise. However Pochettino has made it clear that performances matter, and Turner might want to ship at membership stage if he is to reclaim his beginning spot with the USMNT.
Matt Freese | 26 | New York City FC
Freese boosted his inventory with some strong performances on the Gold Cup, which included outdueling Costa Rica legend Keylor Navas in a penalty shootout. There have been errors, together with a giveaway that led to a purpose towards Haiti, and that’s one thing he’ll want to scrub up. Suffice to say, the competitors for the beginning goalkeeper place is extensive open, and now that Turner is again in MLS, Freese’s performances will probably be in contrast on a weekly foundation.
Zack Steffen | 30 | Colorado Rapids
Steffen appeared poised to get some enjoying time on the Gold Cup, just for a knee injury to scuttle his opportunity. Staying wholesome is the only greatest problem holding Steffen again. He had a muscle harm earlier this season, and one other knee harm in 2023 hastened his return to MLS from Europe. The excellent news is that when Steffen has seen subject this season, he has performed effectively. He ranks third within the league with 5.99 targets prevented in simply 14 matches and in addition impressed with the Individuals in January, which means Pochettino has already seen up shut what Steffen is able to.
Heart backs (5)
Chris Richards | 25 | Crystal Palace
Richards was america’ greatest participant on the Gold Cup, going from “attainable starter” earlier than the event to “first identify on the staff sheet” after. He is as near a lock as you will get for the World Cup roster.
Tim Ream | 37 | Charlotte FC
Ream was strong on the Gold Cup, together with his management and expertise doing loads to guide the U.S. into the ultimate, however for a way lengthy can Pochettino depend on the 37-year-old? It is one factor to ship on the Gold Cup; the competitors on the World Cup will probably be a number of notches increased. That is no fault of Ream’s, in fact. It is as much as one other participant to push him out of the lineup, and to this point, that hasn’t occurred.
Mark McKenzie | 26 | Toulouse
The New York Metropolis native had a profitable first season in Ligue 1 with Toulouse, however he has but to translate that into consistency with the Individuals. McKenzie appeared to have earned Pochettino’s belief following the Concacaf Nations League quarterfinal spherical towards Jamaica, however subsequent performances towards Canada, Turkey and Switzerland noticed him fall out of favor.
Given the pedigree of his league, McKenzie is among the many prime candidates to supplant Ream, however he’ll want to boost his recreation as a way to make that occur.
Cameron Carter-Vickers | 27 | Celtic
Few defenders in america pool present as imposing of a bodily presence as Carter-Vickers, however he wants a refined passer beside him. The Celtic middle again confirmed effectively in restricted minutes on the World Cup when he partnered with Ream within the 1-0 win over Iran. Since then, there have been shaky outings within the Copa America and Nations League. He is a participant Pochettino is aware of effectively given their temporary overlap at Tottenham Hotspur. Can CCV make extra of an impression within the time that is left?
Miles Robinson | 28 | FC Cincinnati
Robinson was a hard-luck omission in 2022, when a torn Achilles prevented from making the U.S. squad that went to Qatar. He hasn’t fairly gotten again to that pre-injury stage and had just some cameos on the Gold Cup, however he has been strong for FCC, and his capacity to cowl house behind the protection stays a powerful swimsuit.
Full backs (4)
Sergiño Dest | 24 | PSV Eindhoven
Essentially the most welcome sight of the week was Dest scoring the winner for PSV within the Dutch Tremendous Cup towards Go Ahead Eagles. The U.S. has missed the correct again immensely since he final performed for the U.S., in March 2024, given his capacity to create the surprising going ahead.
Antonee Robinson | 27 | Fulham
Robinson is one other mainstay who seems to be on his approach again after having knee surgery earlier this summer. His supply from extensive positions is a weapon Pochettino will probably be eager to use when Robinson returns to the U.S. staff.
Joe Scally | 22 | Borussia Mönchengladbach
Scally was one of many gamers conspicuous by his absence on the Gold Cup, however his expertise — he has made greater than 120 Bundesliga appearances — is troublesome to miss. That stated, his lack of affect going ahead means he may discover himself below strain from any one of many younger crew of full backs who’ve suited up for the Individuals prior to now yr.
Caleb Wiley | 20 | Watford (on mortgage from Chelsea)
Wiley wasn’t included within the Gold Cup, however his numbers final yr on mortgage with Watford confirmed marked enchancment on the defensive facet of the ball with each his duel and aerial proportion over 60%. Whereas Wiley was impactful within the attacking third throughout his days with Atlanta United, that hasn’t been within the case with Watford, albeit in a small pattern dimension of 10 video games. His second season with the Hornets will give him a chance to indicate off extra of his capacity in that space.
Midfielders (5)
Tyler Adams | 26 | AFC Bournemouth
Adams appeared a bit off his recreation on the Gold Cup, significantly within the remaining, though it is unclear how a lot the foot injury that kept him on the bench early within the event was bothering him. That stated, Adams stays one of many key U.S. gamers and if wholesome — no assure given his harm historical past — he’ll be on the roster subsequent summer time.
Weston McKennie | 26 | Juventus
The Juventus man appeared effectively in need of his greatest on the Nations League in March, and with the Club World Cup occupying him for the summer time, he did not get an opportunity to participate on the Gold Cup. When he is at prime kind, although, McKennie is a two-way pressure who can be a risk on set items. One would anticipate him to be on the roster subsequent summer time, however Pochettino has let or not it’s identified that reputations will rely for little, and McKennie might want to show as soon as once more that he deserves to be within the beginning XI.
Johnny Cardoso | 23 | Atlético Madrid
Cardoso stays an enigma. At membership stage, he is proved to be a participant that may knit the sport collectively from a deep-lying place, a lot in order that Atlético supervisor Diego Simeone made it a precedence to carry Cardoso to his facet this summer time. However with the U.S., the midfielder continues to confound. Harm prevented Cardoso from having any sort of affect on the Gold Cup and he stays a strong squad decide for now, however in some unspecified time in the future, he’ll want to begin producing for the U.S.
Luca de la Torre | 27 | San Diego FC
De la Torre made essentially the most of his likelihood on the Gold Cup, though he appeared to have worn down bodily by the top of the event. The San Diego midfielder’s capacity to maintain possession on a staff that at occasions struggles in that regard is a useful trait to have. His spot appears a bit susceptible, nonetheless, and he’ll must maintain excelling at membership stage.
Tanner Tessmann | 23 | Lyon
Tessmann was one other head-scratching omission earlier this summer time, provided that he appeared to have received Pochettino over in the course of the early days of his tenure. After getting acclimated to Ligue 1 final season, Tessmann’s dimension and ability give him the instruments to excel. This season he’ll must take the following step ahead in his profession, the higher to persuade Pochettino that he deserves to be with the total staff.
Attackers (4)
Christian Pulisic | 26 | AC Milan
The one query surrounding Pulisic is the extent to which his relationship with Pochettino must be mended after he publicly backed the U.S. supervisor right into a nook over his offer to play in two friendlies last summer. The truth is there’s an excessive amount of at stake for a rapprochement to not occur.
Tim Weah | 25 | Marseille
Weah gives the USMNT with tempo, a trait missing in a lot of the remainder of the roster. A change in golf equipment forward of a World Cup is all the time a dangerous proposition, however assuming Weah has an opportunity to tackle an even bigger function with a membership that often finds itself close to the highest of the Ligue 1 desk, the transfer represents a chance to develop his recreation.
Malik Tillman | 23 | Bayer Leverkusen
Tillman was one other participant who benefited from an prolonged run on the Gold Cup, at the same time as he grew to become a goal for bodily play by opponents. Now he is taking an enormous step up at membership stage, moving to German powerhouse Bayer Leverkusen from PSV Eindhoven. Tillman nonetheless tends to hold his head throughout occasions of wrestle, however his attacking expertise is plain. That stated, there are nonetheless just a few gamers to maneuver previous as a way to make the beginning XI when the total staff is collectively.
Diego Luna | 21 | Real Salt Lake
Luna has turn into a Pochettino favourite given his creativity, toughness and talent to play out of tight areas. He popped up for some very important targets too, together with two within the Gold Cup semifinal overcome Guatemala. He is not resting on his laurels, having already matched the eight targets he scored final season with Actual Salt Lake. A troublesome Gold Cup remaining towards Mexico confirmed there’s nonetheless room for progress.
Forwards (5)
Folarin Balogun | 24 | AS Monaco
An injury-riddled marketing campaign that included shoulder surgery meant that Balogun hasn’t suited up for the USMNT in any respect in 2025, however with no different U.S. ahead stepping as much as declare the beginning spot, Balogun continues to be — marginally — the front-runner. The U.S. might want to do a greater job of exploiting Balogun’s capacity to get in behind defenses.
Ricardo Pepi | 22 | PSV Eindhoven
Pepi is one other U.S. ahead who was felled by harm over the past membership season, with knee surgery ending his season prematurely. With longtime membership foil Luuk de Jong know having left PSV for FC Porto, there ought to be extra of a chance for Pepi to get enjoying time with the Dutch giants. That may very well be sufficient for a participant who simply missed out on the 2022 World Cup to turn into mainstay with the USMNT.
2:17
Pepi displays on ‘actually painful’ layoff as return nears
Ricardo Pepi appears again on his five-month harm absence as he prepares to return to PSV in time for the brand new season.
Josh Sargent | 25 | Norwich City
It is a acquainted story with these forwards: Sargent’s membership kind additionally hasn’t but translated to worldwide stage. His final purpose for the U.S. was in 2019, and he has made 16 appearances with out netting because the begin of 2020. After turning down a transfer to Bundesliga facet VfL Wolfsburg, Sargent appears set to spend one other season within the English Championship, the place he is had success prior to now, however is Pochettino prepared to offer Sargent one other likelihood?
Patrick Agyemang | 24 | Derby County
Agyemang confirmed flashes of capacity within the Gold Cup, however there are additionally components of his recreation — primarily his contact — that look uncooked. Now he is headed over to England the place his recreation will probably be held to a fair increased normal. Pochettino likes Agyemang’s dimension, and the U.S. will want a bodily imposing striker on the roster.
Haji Wright | 27 | Coventry City
Wright is one other participant set to spend time within the English Championship, and he’ll be seeking to enhance on the 12 targets he scored final season. His versatility in having the ability to play on the wing may very well be what cements his place on the ’26 roster.
Lacking the reduce
Patrick Schulte | Goalkeeper | 24 | Columbus Crew
An premature harm pressured Schulte off the Gold Cup roster, in any other case it might need been him getting time within the event as a substitute of Freese. With different keepers similar to Steffen getting again into kind, the window of alternative appears to be closing for Schulte.
Auston Trusty | Heart again | 26 | Celtic
Trusty is a type of gamers the place you surprise why he hasn’t been given extra of an opportunity with the U.S., provided that he has each Premier League and UEFA Champions League expertise. To be clear, not all of these experiences have been constructive, and features a relegation with Sheffield United, however Trusty was a gradual contributor throughout Celtic’s double-winning marketing campaign in 2024-25, and at age 26, he is getting into his prime years. He’ll must dazzle within the Champions League if he is to actually catch Pochettino’s eye.
Max Arfsten | Full again | 24 | Columbus Crew
Arfsten was one thing of a challenge for Pochettino on the Gold Cup, being requested to play left again when he had been a wingback with Columbus with a remit to get ahead. As such, Arfsten struggled defensively early within the event, however acquired higher with every recreation. He even tallied his first U.S. purpose towards Costa Rica within the quarterfinals. If he can proceed his defensive enchancment, he could but get on the ultimate roster.
Alex Freeman | Full again | 20 | Orlando City SC
At age 20, Freeman has a excessive upside, and held up effectively on the Gold Cup. He faces a little bit of a logjam at proper again behind Dest and Scally, however his regular defensive play in addition to his capacity to get ahead may see him make a late problem for the ultimate roster. If not, he figures to get possibilities later in his profession.
Yunus Musah | Midfielder | 22 | AC Milan
How the mighty have fallen. As soon as a part of the vaunted “MMA” midfield with McKennie and Adams, Musah has seen his inventory fall for each membership and nation. Final season Musah fell out of favor at Milan, and his appearances below Pochettino noticed him deployed as a wingback quite than his ordinary spot within the middle of midfield. Musah requested out of the Gold Cup for private causes. A settled membership state of affairs will help Musah’s approach again, with Napoli and Nottingham Forest reportedly interested, however new Milan supervisor Massimiliano Allegri has experimented with Musah in a number of positions. His time at San Siro may not be over but.
Alejandro Zendejas | Attacker | 27 | América
Zendejas’ omission is puzzling given his kind for América, for whom he scored seven targets in 19 league and playoff appearances throughout final spring’s Clausura. At this stage, Zendejas appears very a lot on the skin of the roster, though an harm or two in the correct a part of the sector may change his circumstances.
Gio Reyna | Attacker | 22 | Borussia Dortmund
Reyna’s descent from supernova prospect to almost forgotten man is effectively documented. It is wild to assume that simply 17 months in the past he was the MVP of the Concacaf Nations League. However for Reyna, his path to a 2026 World Cup roster spot is all about his membership state of affairs. If he can get out of Dortmund and land in a spot the place he can get enjoying time, then there’s hope. In any other case, subsequent summer time’s World Cup will move him by.
Sebastian Berhalter | Midfielder | 24 | Vancouver Whitecaps
Berhalter had his ups and downs on the Gold Cup, however confirmed enchancment over the course of the event, and was particularly efficient on set items. That stated, he is one other performer who has a whole lot of gamers to climb over if he’ll get into the total roster. It appears a step too far for the time being, however given the progress he is made prior to now yr, he cannot be written off fully.
Damion Downs | Ahead | 21 | Southampton
Downs is one other ahead who provides up spectacular dimension and energy. These traits will probably be put to good use within the English Championship with Southampton. Downs would appear to be in direct competitors with Agyemang, and with the latter participant now with Derby (to not point out Sargent at Norwich) there will probably be direct comparisons by way of their performances.