The 2026 FIFA World Cup kicks off in 231 days and while it still feels like the tournament is ample time away, the clock has already been ticking for the U.S. men’s national team.
Mauricio Pochettino will have plenty of roster decisions to make before next summer’s competition begins, while the program itself only has three international windows left to prepare. A lot could still change by June too, pending injuries and form to many of the players in the current pool.
Projecting the 2026 World Cup roster is a bit simpler than it was in 2022, given that many key faces of the program have developed into important players. From Christian Pulisic to Chris Richards to Tyler Adams, many of the USMNT’s main figures are in the primes of their careers and should be expected to play large roles in the squad.
However, several positions are still up for grabs, including the starting No. 9 job, the right back position, and potentially the No. 1 goalkeeper role.
With all that in mind, here is a projected 26-man roster we could see represent the United States at the 2026 World Cup:
Goalkeepers
Matt Freese, Matt Turner, Patrick Schulte
Matt Freese has continued to play the No. 1 goalkeeper under Mauricio Pochettino and bearing a major chance in performances, I don’t see that changing. Freese delivered a solid showing at the CONCACAF Gold Cup and made a few important saves during the September and October international widows.
Matt Turner and Patrick Schulte would be my two choices behind Freese if the tournament started tomorrow. Both Turner and Schulte will have a half-season of MLS play under their belts before the World Cup continues and overall look to have a leg up on other MLS and European options.
Missed the Cut – Ethan Horvath, Zack Steffen, Gabriel Slonina.
On The Radar – Diego Kochen, Chris Brady.
Defenders
Sergiño Dest, Alex Freeman, Chris Richards, Cameron Carter-Vickers, Miles Robinson, Tim Ream, Mark McKenzie, Antonee Robinson, Max Arfsten.
Going into the 2022 FIFA World Cup, it was unknown who Gregg Berhalter would go with at the starting centerback positions. That doesn’t seem to be the case for 2026.
Chris Richards looks to have propelled himself into the USMNT’s No. 1 centerback over the past season-and-a-half, especially given the consistent playing time at Crystal Palace. Richards has become a strong one-on-one defender and overall is tough to beat in the air. I fully expect Richards to be the face of the USMNT backline even heading into 2030.
Tim Ream’s veteran presence has kept him in the USMNT picture under Pochettino. Ream’s calmness and composure has led to him teaming up with Richards on multiple occasions this year. Bearing injury or form, I’d expect Ream to be in the USMNT’s opening day XI next to Richards.
Miles Robinson and Mark McKenzie seem to have shifted themselves into the mix for the No. 3 centerback position, while Celtic’s Cameron Carter-Vickers was also part of the October camp. Robinson and McKenzie both featured in the October window while Carter-Vickers was unused against Ecuador and Australia.
These three will continue to fight for starting roles, especially if Pochettino does continue with a three-CB set up heading into the new year.
Antonee Robinson is the USMNT’s No. 1 left back option, but a slow start to the new Premier League campaign has led to Max Arfsten earning chances in the October window. When 100% fit, Robinson will be the starter at left back or left wing-back, but Arfsten has done well to remain a consistent part of the squad.
John Tolkin, Kristoffer Lund, and Caleb Wiley are also candidates for the No. 2 left back job but will have to force their way into Pochettino’s plans over the next few months.
At right back, Sergino Dest’s versatility and explosiveness does give him an edge over the options in the pool, but the main question is, can he stay healthy? Should Dest make a long run in the PSV XI over the winter and spring months, I’d back him to get the nod.
Alex Freeman and Joe Scally are two players that will compete for the starting right back job, but Freeman has boosted his stock in recent months. The Orlando City defender looks ready to play a large role for the USMNT heading into the future while Scally is a good defensive option despite his exclusion from the last two camps.
Right now, Freeman has the leg up on Scally.
Missed The Cut – Erik Palmer-Brown, Auston Trusty, John Tolkin, Kristoffer Lund, Joe Scally, Bryan Reynolds, Walker Zimmerman, Caleb Wiley, Nate Harriel.
Midfielders
Tyler Adams, Weston McKennie, Yunus Musah, Malik Tillman, Tanner Tessmann, Brenden Aaronson, Diego Luna.
Pochettino will have plenty of tough decisions to make in his midfield.
One tough decision he won’t have to make is regarding Tyler Adams though. Adams is the USMNT’s leader in midfield and he remains very much so heading into 2026. His work rate and engine is at a high level and could help the USMNT be one of the better defensive sides next summer.
Weston McKennie’s versatility could see him used in a number of different roles. McKennie was used as a wide midfielder during the October window and could even play as a wing back if needed. He also does remain important as a central midfielder, potentially next to Adams or another teammate like Yunus Musah.
Musah is a player that I expect to see force his way back into the squad. A loan move to Atalanta should provide him with the opportunity to play regularly, whether that is in Italy’s domestic competitions or the UEFA Champions League. However, it will be interesting to see what Pochettino does with Musah for the November and March camps.
Tanner Tessmann has quickly become an important midfielder for the USMNT, given his increased role at Ligue 1 side Lyon. Tessmann’s range and awareness has led to him starting week in and week out at Lyon, while also forcing himself back into the USMNT picture.
It will be curious to see whether or not Tessmann is a starter by next summer, but he certainly is a bench option.
In terms of creativity, Malik Tillman, Diego Luna, and Brenden Aaronson are my three choices to round out the midfield. Tillman’s role with the USMNT has risen over the last year, which has led to his club move to Bayer Leverkusen.
Luna is a powerful runner and has previously shown that he isn’t afraid to stick his nose into the dirty work. Like other MLS players chosen in this squad, he will also have a half-season of league play under his belt by the time the World Cup begins.
Brenden Aaronson brings veteran experience to the midfield, especially in comparison to guys like Aidan Morris, Johnny Cardoso, and others. Aaronson will work hard and will provide nonstop running, which is something that he has continued to do at club and international level.
Having a guy like Aaronson to bring into a match off of the bench could be vital in the tournament.
Aidan Morris and Johnny Cardoso are two guys that are on the bubble and could force their way in with strong domestic seasons abroad. Cardoso’s injury-rittled start at Atletico Madrid has hurt his chances, but he’s still got a long way to go until the roster is picked.
Gio Reyna could force his way into the picture, but ultimately needs to stay healthy and needs to produce goal contributions at Borussia Moenchengladbach. If he doesn’t do that, it could be the slide of his international career.
Missed The Cut – Gio Reyna, Aidan Morris, Cristian Roldan, Gianluca Busio, Paxten Aaronson, Luca De La Torre, Johnny Cardoso, Djordje Mihailovic, Jack McGlynn, Quinn Sullivan (Injury).
Forwards
Christian Pulisic, Tim Weah, Haji Wright, Folarin Balogun, Alex Zendejas, Ricardo Pepi, Patrick Agyemang.
The increased roster size from 23 to 26 players should help Pochettino in bringing in a few extra forwards for the competition.
Christian Pulisic should be the first name on the forward list, given his importance to the program and his final-third abilities. Pulisic’s blistering start to the season with AC Milan is another prime example of his goalscoring and assisting abilities. However, there is always a worry about his fitness, which could be a potential issue by the end of the Serie A campaign.
Tim Weah’s versatility should see him at either right wing or right wing back. Weah has found the goals hard to come by at Marseille so far this season, but there’s time for him to turn that around. He had a quiet October window for the USMNT though and will know his performances have to improve.
Alex Zendejas is another name that could be used at right wing. Zendejas was part of the October roster before an injury forced him to withdraw from the squad. He’s remained a consistent performer in Mexico with Club America and should remain a large part of their attack going forward.
The No. 9 race will be tough for Pochettino to break down, but I see Folarin Balogun and Haji Wright battling for the starting job right now. Both Balogun and Wright scored during the October window and bring something different to the squad. Wright’s versatility could also see him used out wide, a role that Frank Lampard has tinkered with at Coventry City.
Ricardo Pepi, Patrick Agyemang, and Josh Sargent are the other three forwards fighting to be part of the World Cup roster. Pepi’s future could be determined by fitness, which has led him to miss parts of the new PSV campaign. However, when healthy, the former FC Dallas product remains a key player.
Out of all five striking options, Agyemang brings the most physicality. He wins duels, he draws fouls, and is a problem for opposing defenders to deal with, whether it’s in the starting lineup or off of the bench. I expect him to get the nod.
Sargent is the odd-man out right now, given his long scoring drought for the USMNT. The Norwich City striker hit the ground running in the new EFL Championship season, but his cooled off in recent weeks.
Can Sargent turn it around by next summer? Absolutely, but time is of the essence.
Missed The Cut – Daryl Dike, Jesus Ferreira, Cade Cowell, Jordan Pefok, Griffin Yow.
What do you think of this roster projection? Who is on the squad that you are happy to see included? Who is the one player you would add to the team that isn’t among our 26? Who isn’t listed on any of the above lists that you feel absolutely should be mentioned? (We will be adjusting the list to include any players we may have accidentally left off).
Share your thoughts below.
Source link
Add Comment