The U.S. men’s national team is a constantly changing group of players, all with their sights set on the 2026 World Cup. With the U.S., Canada, and Mexico hosting the tournament, the teams don’t have to worry about qualifying, but rather focus on securing a spot on the roster for the big event.
USMNT head coach Mauricio Pochettino faces the tough task of selecting just 26 players out of the millions of soccer players in the country. These players will have the chance to make their dreams come true or face disappointment. The upcoming 15 months leading to the World Cup will be intense as players battle for their place on the roster.
Pochettino inherited a core group of established players when he took on the coaching role, but there is still room for new talent to emerge. With six A-team camps, competitive games, friendlies, and a full club season ahead, players will have limited opportunities to prove themselves. The competition for roster spots will be fierce, and the list of players will likely change monthly as performances fluctuate.
Some players are considered "locks" for the World Cup roster if they remain healthy, such as Christian Pulisic, Weston McKennie, Antonee Robinson, Tim Weah, Tyler Adams, and Yunus Musah. These players have proven themselves on the field and are expected to play key roles in the tournament.
Other players, like Matt Turner, Folarin Balogun, Sergiño Dest, Chris Richards, and Gio Reyna, are also likely to secure a spot on the roster unless unforeseen circumstances arise. These players have shown promise and talent, but will need to continue performing at a high level to cement their place on the team. Even if he struggles to secure regular playing time for his club, he is likely to make the World Cup roster. However, this uncertainty is causing some hesitation. He has made 47 appearances for the national team since 2020 and is a regular starter for Leeds United in the English Championship. While he may not secure a starting spot for the U.S. team, his versatility off the bench could be a valuable asset for the World Cup. And just like many top coaches, Pochettino has shown a preference for using an unbalanced back four that can adapt to either a formation with two center backs and two fullbacks or one with three center backs and one fullback.
Center backs
Locks and likelies: Chris Richards
Bubble: Cameron Carter-Vickers, Mark McKenzie, Tim Ream, Auston Trusty, Miles Robinson
Long shots: Noahkai Banks, Walker Zimmerman, Maximilian Dietz, George Campbell, Jackson Ragen, Matai Akinmboni
Wild cards: Anrie Chase
The battle for starting spots and roster positions is wide open. While Richards, Carter-Vickers, McKenzie, and Ream are currently leading the race, there is room for surprise contenders to emerge.
Two promising young dual nationals to watch are Noahkai Banks and Anrie Chase. Banks, who is 18 years old, has broken into the first team at Augsburg in the Bundesliga and recently made it onto the USMNT’s 60-man Nations League preliminary list. Chase, a 20-year-old at Augsburg, is eligible to play for the US through his father but has only represented Japan at the youth level so far.
Central midfielders
Locks and likelies: Weston McKennie, Tyler Adams, Yunus Musah
Bubble: Johnny Cardoso, Tanner Tessman, Aidan Morris, Gianluca Busio, Jack McGlynn
Long shots: Timothy Tillman, Benjamin Cremaschi, Lennard Maloney, James Sands, Luca de la Torre, Emeka Eneli, Santiago Castañeda, Keaton Parks
With the core midfielders almost set in stone, there is limited space for the long shots. However, Jack McGlynn’s creativity and left foot could offer a unique dimension to the squad.
To be continued…
Wingers/attacking midfielders
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