We’re nonetheless over a yr away from the 2026 World Cup, however it’s by no means too early to take inventory of the gamers who will characterize america males’s nationwide group on the planet’s greatest sporting occasion.
Beneath USMNT coach Mauricio Pochettino, there will probably be some apparent selections for who makes up the 26-player roster. However count on some roles to be up for grabs, particularly if this group continues to battle amid a surprising four-game dropping streak going into the Gold Cup.
And that might result in loads of surprises when the squad is formally named subsequent yr.
If the World Cup began in the present day, which gamers would make up the beginning XI? How completely different would the squad look from the one which reached the spherical of 16 at Qatar 2022? Let’s go place by place and see who’s getting that decision.
GOALKEEPERS
Matt Turner is the favourite to start out in purpose for the U.S. on the World Cup. (Picture by John Dorton/ISI Images/USSF/Getty Photos)
GK: Matt Turner
Backups: Zack Steffen, Patrick Schulte
Simply missed out: Matt Freese, Diego Kochen
With only a yr to go, Turner — the USMNT’s starter since 2022 — nonetheless hasn’t confronted a critical problem for his job regardless of his lack of standard enjoying time with Crystal Palace. Steffen was imagined to show that at this month’s Gold Cup, however harm his knee and can miss the match. With Turner anticipated to discover a new membership the place he’ll be the No. 1 later this summer season, he stays in pole place in purpose for the subsequent World Cup.
Improve from ‘22?: Sure. Turner now has World Cup and Premier League expertise, one thing he didn’t have 4 years again. And he wasn’t beginning at membership stage then, both. However a possible transfer from Crystal Palace to French membership Lyon ought to give him time to extend his minutes.
DEFENDERS
Is Antonee Robinson the second-best participant on the USMNT? (Picture by Stephen Nadler/ISI Images/Getty Photos)
(R-L): Sergino Dest, Chris Richards, Miles Robinson, Antonee “Jedi” Robinson
Backups: Alex Freeman, Mark McKenzie, Joe Scally, Tim Ream, Walker Zimmerman
Simply missed out: Max Arfsten, Cameron Carter-Vickers, John Tolkin, Auston Trusty
Dest and Jedi are locks on the skin, if wholesome. Similar for heart again Richards. However who will probably be Richards’ companion within the center come subsequent summer season? Proper now, Miles Robinson might be the front-runner by default. However that undoubtedly may change between now and subsequent June.
Improve from ‘22?: TBD. Jedi has actually improved since Qatar, establishing himself as among the best left backs within the Premier League. Amid a stable season with Crystal Palace that included successful an FA Cup, Richards might be an improve over 2022 starter Zimmerman. However Ream was on the peak of his powers in Qatar, and Dest has but to return to full health since present process ACL surgical procedure 13 months in the past.
MIDFIELDERS
Tyler Adams and Weston McKennie are anticipated to star within the USMNT’s midfield as soon as once more. (Picture by Robin Alam/ISI Images/Getty Photos)
Holding midfielders: Tyler Adams, Weston McKennie
Backups: Johnny Cardoso, Yunus Musah, Tanner Tessman
Simply missed out: Gianluca Busio, Aidan Morris
Adams and McKennie didn’t have one of the best displaying throughout March’s Nations League finals, however Pochettino in all probability wants each stalwarts on the sector if the People are to make a deep run subsequent summer season. That stated, Cardoso may nudge a type of two to the bench if he continues to enhance at tempo — and if he can ever replicate his kind in Spain’s LaLiga whereas sporting the USA crest.
Improve from ‘22?: Sure. Whereas Adams has been stricken by damage all through the 2026 cycle, he was wonderful for Premier League aspect Bournemouth final season. At 27, he’ll simply be getting into his prime subsequent summer season. The identical goes for McKennie, who has been among the best midfielders in Italy for 2 consecutive seasons with Juventus.
Diego Luna has been one of many few brilliant spots for the USMNT this yr.(Picture by Stephen Nadler/ISI Images/USSF/Getty Photos)
Attacking midfielder: Diego Luna
Backup: Gio Reyna
Simply missed out: Jack McGlynn
One among vanishingly few brilliant spots in March, Luna seems poised to be the USMNT’s fundamental playmaker in the course of the Gold Cup with Reyna with Borussia Dortmund on the Membership World Cup. Would Reyna be on this spot the place he obtainable? Perhaps not, given his dearth of enjoying time with BVB final season. However we’re anticipating him to discover a new membership the place he’s capable of characteristic recurrently earlier than the World Cup.
Improve from ‘22?: N/A. Gregg Berhalter didn’t actually have a playmaker within the center 4 years in the past; the then-USMNT coach paired Adams and McKennie with extra of a box-to-box sort in Yunus Musah. It confirmed, because the buildup to all three of the People’ targets in Qatar started on the flanks.
FORWARDS
Christian Pulisic is coming off of a profession yr with AC Milan. (Picture by Robin Alam/ISI Images/Getty Photos)
Wingers (R-L): Tim Weah, Christian Pulisic
Backups: Brenden Aaronson, Malik Tillman, Haji Wright
Simply missed out: Paxten Aaronson, Damion Downs, Quinn Sullivan
Apparent on Pulisic. One other shoo-in starter when wholesome, Weah ought to slide into the identical position he manned in 2022 when he scored the People’ first purpose in Qatar. Aaronson spent final season in central midfield for Leeds United, however he is more likely to return to the flank now that Leeds is again within the Premier League. Tillman can cement his USMNT with a robust Gold Cup displaying after which one other stellar marketing campaign with Dutch champs PSV. Meantime, Wright — one other World Cup goalscorer – may also fill in at striker.
Improve from ‘22?: Sure. After the transfer to AC Milan, Pulisic is coming off one of the best two seasons of his profession by far and will take one other step ahead in 2025-26. In the meantime, Weah jumped up a stage when he went from France’s Lille to Juventus in 2023. He’ll be much more skilled come subsequent summer season after collaborating within the FIFA Club World Cup and one other UEFA Champions League marketing campaign.
Ricardo Pepi had 18 targets in all competitions with PSV final season. (Picture by Joe Puetz/ISI Images/Getty Photos)
Striker: Ricardo Pepi
Backups: Folarin Balogun, Patrick Agyemang
Simply missed out: Josh Sargent, Brian White
Pepi gained the job late final yr with a flurry of targets in Pochettino’s first two camps, then continued his prolific methods for PSV earlier than hurting his knee. Balogun, for whom damage prevented his participation below Pochettino in any respect, ought to return to the combo this season. Then there’s Agyemang, who got here virtually out of nowhere to grow to be a U.S. common in 2025.
Improve from ‘22?: Sure. Berhalter began three completely different gamers on this spot 4 years in the past. If Pepi picks up the place he left off earlier than injuring his knee in a Champions League match in Liverpool final winter— Pepi scored the winner earlier than leaving the sector — the job needs to be his alone subsequent summer season. The rangy Texan’s goals-to-minutes ratio has been off the charts in two seasons with PSV, for whom he’s anticipated to start out full-time his coming marketing campaign.
Doug McIntyre is a soccer reporter for FOX Sports activities who has lined United States males’s and girls’s nationwide groups at FIFA World Cups on 5 continents. Comply with him @ByDougMcIntyre.
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