The U.S. men’s national team’s penultimate window before the FIFA World Cup begins is in 18 days.
European heavyweights Belgium and Portugal will oppose Mauricio Pochettino’s squad at Mercedes-Benz Stadium, providing two very good tests for the USMNT ahead of the summer.
While Pochettino should have most of his first-choice players available, there are plenty of roles and spots still up for grabs. Folarin Balogun and Haji Wright will jostle for the No. 9 role, Antonee Robinson aims to return to the left back position, and could Noahkai Banks force his way into the centerback picture after a strong season to date in Germany.
Sergino Dest’s recent injury could force Alex Freeman or Joe Scally to step in at right back. Who will join Weston McKennie and Tyler Adams in midfield? Will Pochettino call in all four of his top strikers for March’s camp?
With all that in mind, here is a projected 26-player roster we could see in two weeks time in Atlanta:
Goalkeepers
Matt Freese, Matt Turner, Jonathan Klinsmann
Matt Freese played the No. 1 goalkeeper role in 2025 and I see zero reason for that to change in the first camp of 2026. Freese delivered several top performances for the USMNT last year, most notably in the CONCACAF Gold Cup.
I don’t see Matt Freese, Jonathan Klinsmann, or anyone else overtaking Freese at this time.
Centerbacks
Chris Richards, Noahkai Banks, Miles Robinson, Tim Ream, Mark McKenzie.
If the World Cup started tomorrow, Chris Richards and Tim Ream would be Pochettino’s No. 1-2 options at centerback. The question is though, who will join them?
Mark McKenzie, Miles Robinson, and Auston Trusty all featured in 2025 for the USMNT and remain consistent players at club level. McKenzie has continued to play week in week out for Toulouse, while Trusty stepped in for the injured Cameron Carter-Vickers at Celtic and hasn’t looked back.
Robinson has remained a stalwart for FC Cincinnati in MLS and brings veteran experience to the mix.
Noahkai Banks is a young, rising talent and deserves another call-up before the World Cup. Banks has played consistently for Augsburg and has previously earned praise from Pochettino for his long-term abilities as a player.
I think the fifth centerback spot comes down to Trusty and Banks, and I believe Pochettino goes with the younger option this time around.
Fullbacks/Wingbacks
Antonee Robinson, Max Arfsten, Alex Freeman, Joe Scally, Tim Weah
Sergino Dest’s recent injury opens the door at right back/right wing back. Enter Alex Freeman and Joe Scally.
Freeman took major steps with the USMNT in 2025 and has since moved to La Liga club Villarreal. Although playing time has been tough early for the versatile defender, Freeman still has a bright future ahead of him.
Scally brings more experience to the fold than Freeman and has continued to play regularly for Borussia Moenchengladbach. Whether it remains to be seen if Pochettino wants to use Scally as a third centerback in his formation, it’s hard to not take Scally at this stage given Dest’s fitness/injury issues.
On the left side, Antonee Robinson should be back in the fold this camp.
Robinson’s playing time has been sporadic in 2026, with Ryan Sessegnon jostling with him for minutes at Fulham. Still, it’s hard to keep Robinson out of the USMNT picture given his strong defensive abilities and pace on the flanks.
Max Arfsten is No. 2 on the left back depth chart right now after delivering a stellar 2025 for club and country. He could feature in one of these matches, if Pochettino doesn’t want to risk Robinson in both fixtures.
Tim Weah, who can also feature as a forward, is also an option as a wingback. Weah has played as a right back/wing back for Marseille this season and could also be used there under Pochettino, like we’ve seen in the past.
Central Midfielders
Tyler Adams, Aidan Morris, Tanner Tessmann, Cristian Roldan, Sebastian Berhalter, Johnny Cardoso.
Pochettino will once again have several tough decisions in regard to his midfield.
Tyler Adams being back healthy and playing for Bournemouth is key.
Adams will be the USMNT’s engine in midfield, allowing for others to spring attacks upfield. His range, aggressiveness, and strong work rate will be key on whether or not the USMNT can make a deep run this summer.
Whether Adams can stay healthy over the final few months of the EPL season will be something to watch.
Aidan Morris and Tanner Tessmann have both delivered impressive club seasons to date, especially Morris who has helped Middlesbrough stay in the automatic promotion race in England’s second-tier. Despite missing time during the fall, Morris has returned for Boro and hasn’t missed a beat.
Tessmann continues to jump in and out of the squad as French club Lyon remains in multiple competitions. He also provides a strong defensive presence while also making smart decisions in possession.
Johnny Cardoso’s recent resurgence with Atlético Madrid warrants him a return to action, especially with only minimal chances left before the World Cup. Cardoso looks to be playing confidently, which is a great sign going forward.
Sebastian Berhalter and Cristian Roldan are still in the early stages of their club seasons in MLS, but remain important to the USMNT mix. Roldan brings veteran experience to the midfield and can play a number of roles for Pochettino.
Berhalter impressed last year with his corner kick and free kick service, something that I imagine will continue going forward. He may not be a starter, but could be an impact option off of the bench.
Attacking Midfielders
Christian Pulisic, Weston McKennie, Malik Tillman, Brenden Aaronson
It may not be Christian Pulisic’s best run of form heading into a USMNT window, but he remains just as important now as he has before.
Pulisic dropping back into an attacking midfield role for the USMNT could be what gets him back on track, especially against top opposition. Playing Pulisic alongside Weston McKennie gives the USMNT their best duo among attacking midfield options, a theme that could continue into the summer.
McKennie is enjoying his best club season to date and should slot right back into the midfield. It will be interesting to see how much free rein Pochettino gives McKennie, but I expect to see him running freely against Belgium and Portugal.
Malik Tillman and Brenden Aaronson will also fight for opportunities, whether it’s in the starting lineup or off of the bench. Tillman’s form has dipped a bit at Bayer Leverkusen this winter but he did just return to action last weekend.
Aaronson’s goal contributions have dried up a bit as well for Leeds United, but his defensive work rate remains impressive regardless. Both Tillman and Aaronson could be starters, but could also be key bench threats.
Strikers
Haji Wright, Folarin Balogun, Patrick Agyemang, Ricardo Pepi.
Mauricio Pochettino has four good options to call in for the No. 9 race and I expect all four to see minutes this month.
Folarin Balogun leads the way after a good run of form with AS Monaco in France. Balogun has 13 goals this season across all competitions, with a handful of them coming in the last three weeks.
Right now the No. 9 role is Balogun’s job to lose, especially given the way he ended 2025 with the USMNT.
Haji Wright would be No. 2 on my pecking order, given his blistering run with Coventry City. After struggling to score goals in November and December, Wright has scored eight goals in 2026, with three coming in consecutive appearances for the EFL Championship’s league leaders.
It’s hard to rule Wright out, unless an unforeseen injury occurs.
Ricardo Pepi is back amongst the goals for PSV as well, sitting third on my list for the striker position. Although Pepi missed time this new year due to a broken arm, he is back playing for PSV and adding goals to his name.
Out of the strikers on this list, Pepi featured the least amount of time for the USMNT in 2025, but still deserves one final chance to pad his stock.
Patrick Agyemang’s goals may have dried up a bit for Derby County, but he brings a different sense of physicality to the mix compared to Balogun, Wright, and Pepi. Agyemang scored five goals for the USMNT in 2025 and is a great option to have off of the bench.
It’s unsure if Pochettino will take four strikers, but it’s hard to argue against it with all four having good club seasons.
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.
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