ASN’s Brian Sciaretta provides up his newest prediction as to what the USA roster will appear like for the 2026 World Cup, with breakdowns as to which gamers are within the combine and preventing for spots
BY
Brian Sciaretta
Posted
April 17, 2026
7:15 AM
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IN ABOUT A MONTH, we’ll know the 2026 World Cup roster for the USA nationwide workforce. The workforce is not going to collect between from time to time, which implies the one factor gamers can do is carry out effectively for his or her golf equipment. Whereas head coach Mauricio Pochettino insisted that the March roster was not the ultimate roster, it ought to present some clues.
The March roster was 27 gamers, though it had 4 goalkeepers – which means that it was the identical variety of subject gamers because the World Cup workforce may have. Assuming Tyler Adams, Sergino Dest, and Haji Wright will make the workforce after lacking March as a result of harm, which means three gamers must come off, with one being Patrick Agyemang who’s injured.
On high of that, the workforce didn’t play effectively in March towards Belgium and Portugal. That would additionally make just a few extra gamers susceptible.
The perfect guess, nevertheless, is that Pochettino has been attempting to construct one thing with this group and never use every window completely for auditions. There can be some adjustments, after all, however most of what we’ve seen since final September (when Pochettino mentioned was the final probability to have a look at new gamers) is what is going to comprise of the World Cup roster.
With that mentioned, here’s a predicted roster.
Goalkeepers
1) Matt Freese 2) Matt Turner3) Chris Brady
Within the combine: Patrick Schulte, Roman Celentano, Jonathan Klinsmann
Evaluation: Matt Freese has been the U.S. nationwide workforce No. 1 since final summer season and Matt Turner has settled into the No. 2. Nothing within the March window advised something totally different. Whereas it’s potential Freese or Turner may flip beginning/back-up roles main as much as the World Cup, it’s not possible (absent harm) to see a state of affairs the place each don’t make the workforce.
That leads us to the No. 3 goalkeeper. Chris Brady looks like the very best alternative in the mean time. Roman Celentano and Jonathan Klinsmann have struggled for the reason that begin of 2026. Patrick Schulte has been first rate, however Brady has been higher.
Central Defenders
4) Chris Richards5) Tim Ream6) Mark McKenzie7) Auston Trusty
Within the combine: Miles Robinson, Noahkai Banks, Tristan Blackmon, George Campbell, Walker Zimmerman
Evaluation: that is arguably the weakest space of the participant pool – and that’s not good. Being sturdy in central protection is required by groups who require upsets to make a run. Chris Richards is the very best of the bunch, by a large margin. Tim Ream has had an awesome profession however has not had a great begin to 2026. It’s clear that age is catching as much as him, however Pochettino could be very invested in Ream and it’s laborious to check a state of affairs the place Ream is minimize.
Mark McKenzie has had an honest season for Toulouse even when he hasn’t had a defining efficiency for the U.S. nationwide workforce. In the meantime, Auston Trusty had an honest shift in March – so why not? There simply aren’t lots of choices within the again.
Miles Robinson couldn’t play throughout the March window as a result of harm. However past that, Cincinnati has been horrible defensively over the past six weeks. That’s not essentially Robinson’s fault, however it doesn’t assist his case both.
Noahkai Banks might be an possibility, however there isn’t something to recommend he has determined to play for the USA. With him asking out of the ultimate camp earlier than the World Cup roster is known as, predicting him making the workforce is nothing greater than wishful pondering.
Tristan Blackmon, George Campbell, and Walker Zimmerman have been all called-up in 2025 for restricted instances. However the truth they weren’t introduced again suggests they’re backup choices now in case of harm.
In fact, Pochettino would possibly carry a fifth central defender however gamers like Tanner Tessmann or Alex Freeman are simply as prone to play within the backline if wanted.
Fullbacks
8) Sergino Dest9) Alex Freeman10) Antonee Robinson11) Max Arfsten
Within the combine: Joe Scally, John Tolkin, Kristoffer Lund
Evaluation: At this level, the very best guess is that Pochettino will decide who has been calling up, every time wholesome. Sergino Dest, Alex Freeman, Antonee Robinson, and Max Arfsten have all been chosen every time they’re not injured. With that, Dest stays a little bit of a wildcard. He has mentioned that he’s aiming to return from harm earlier than the top of the season. For now, we expect he’ll make it. If not, Scally comes again in.
Joe Scally is a troublesome omission as a result of he may also play as a central defender in a three-man backline. Then once more, so can Tanner Tessmann and Alex Freeman. However Pochettino has by no means appeared to full belief Scally and even left him out of a few of the fall camps. Nonetheless, Scally ought to be there if Dest isn’t totally match.
On the left aspect, Robinson is wholesome – for now. Arfsten has had defensive liabilities however is sweet at getting ahead. However Arfsten has been the popular possibility when Robinson hasn’t been wholesome. With John Tolkin injured (though it’s unclear his timetable for return) and Kristoffer Lund having by no means been within the image, Arfsten ought to definitely be there.
There may be additionally Tim Weah, who may begin at proper again, proper wing, and even left again. He’s listed as a winger right here, however that doesn’t imply he isn’t a fullback possibility.
Central midfielders
12) Tyler Adams13) Tanner Tessmann14) Johnny Cardoso15) Sebastian Berhalter16) Christian Roldan
Within the combine: Aidan Morris, Yunus Musah
Evaluation: That is the deepest space of the participant pool and the place the place probably the most tough picks can be made.
Amongst these on the workforce, Tyler Adams is as near a lock as anybody outdoors Richards or Pulisic. If central protection is a weak point, Adams will help alleviate that greater than anybody as he’s a really helpful protect to the backline and he is a good disrupter. Tanner Tessmann has been singled out for his “brain” – which helps in his versatility to assist in central protection if wanted.
Johnny Cardoso solely performed 45 minutes for the U.S. workforce, however he was first rate as the remainder of the workforce struggled. He’s but to have a giant recreation for the USMNT, however his membership resume ought to be sufficient. Sebastian Berhalter was up and down in March however he’s enjoying effectively for Vancouver and has had good moments for the U.S. workforce over the previous yr. Plus, he is a wonderful free kick taker.
That leaves us with Cristian Roldan, who Pochettino likes and has singled out as a great teammate who provides worth on a giant 26-player roster.
The hardest omission right here could be Aidan Morris, who has been persistently good for Middlesbrough. The issue for Morris is that he is perhaps redundant with Tessmann, Cardoso, and Adams.
As for Yunus Musah, he looks like a longshot at this second given his horrible season in Italy the place his mortgage to Atalanta simply hasn’t yielded significant minutes. He’ll nonetheless solely be 27-years-old on the subsequent World Cup however he must develop. Proper now, at 23, he’s basically the identical gamers as he was at 19, however solely rustier for not having performed. He must make good choices this yr concerning the subsequent steps in his profession. However it’s laborious to imagine {that a} World Cup starter as a young person might be left off the workforce 4 years later.
Attacking midfielders
17) Weston McKennie18) Brenden Aaronson19) Malik Tillman20) Diego Luna
Within the combine: Gio Reyna, Jack McGlynn
Evaluation: That is an space of the sphere the place it’s tough to foretell given the inconsistency of the gamers. Weston McKennie has had an awesome season and might play in a number of totally different positions however appears probably the most beneficial to this workforce additional up the sphere. Brenden Aaronson is has additionally had a great season for Leeds though Pochettino has by no means been utterly bought (leaving him off the 2025 Nations League roster and giving him solely restricted minutes on the Gold Cup and this previous March window). However Aaronson is an brisk participant who brings wanted depth to video games.
Malik Tillman has not had an awesome season for Bayer Leverkusen, and has been thought of a disappointment given the $40 million price ticket paid for him final yr. However he has accomplished sufficient to be a part of the workforce.
Then there’s Diego Luna, who Pochettino mentioned in March was struggling in his return from an harm. Luna was subsequently left off the March roster. However that gave the impression to be a direct problem to Luna, and Luna has responded properly – enjoying effectively after membership play resumed after the window.
That brings us to Gio Reyna, a participant who has been the middle of a lot debate concerning his standing on the U.S. workforce. In the long run, the outcomes communicate for themselves. He isn’t enjoying for Borussia Monchengladbach. He hasn’t performed a lot over the past 4 years. Pochettino introduced him into the workforce for March, and whereas his minutes have been restricted, he didn’t stand out.
Possibly one thing adjustments within the weeks forward and he beings to play and produce for M’Gladbach. Absent that, there simply isn’t lots there. In the meantime, gamers equivalent to Luna, Aaronson, and even Alex Zendejas are enjoying extra, honing their craft, and constructing an affirmative case.
Wingers & Forwards
21) Christian Pulisic22) Tim Weah23) Haji Wright24) Alex Zendejas25) Folarin Balogun26) Ricardo Pepi
Within the combine: Josh Sargent, Brian White, Damion Downs
Evaluation: This space of the pool noticed a shift in latest weeks with the harm to Patrick Agyemang. That opens the door for an additional participant, though one other middle ahead isn’t essentially wanted with Folarin Balogun and Ricardo Pepi as established producers and Haji Wright in a position to play each on the wings and as a middle ahead.
Ought to one other harm come up, distant choices like Josh Sargent, Brian White, or Damion Downs change into probably.
Christian Pulisic’s powerful run of kind so far in 2026 stays the workforce’s high story heading into the World Cup. He’s a lock to make the workforce however success of the workforce probably hinges on him returning to high kind. All different discuss who makes the ultimate roster is basically irrelevant until Pulisic will be Pulisic.
Tim Weah may function on both aspect at fullback or winger, however he is an effective participant inside this squad and has had a great season with Marseille the place he has been a daily starter.
Alex Zendejas could be a shock inclusion, however the stars might be aligning properly for him. He’s having an awesome yr for Membership America, he would carry a pleasant left foot to the combo, he’s well-liked, and he did effectively in his most up-to-date call-up (final September). Plus, the workforce may use one other winger or a participant who may play a number of roles.
Backside Line
My take is that there aren’t many open spots. It’s basically these 26 gamers plus Miles Robinson, Noahkai Banks, Joe Scally, Aiden Morris, and Gio Reyna. That makes 31 gamers with a sensible shot. The opposite gamers listed solely come into the combo if there’s an harm or if one thing drastic occurs.
On the roster, Zendejas represents the most important stretch given he has not been with the workforce since September. However he looks like a great guess provided that he’s enjoying effectively, he’s versatile, and he brings a left foot.
Regardless, roster tasks shift and alter on a weekly foundation. That’s prone to proceed proper up till the workforce is known as. Gamers on the “bubble” simply must play effectively.
As for workforce success, it’s enjoyable to debate over the margins of the roster and which gamers will make the workforce with the ultimate spots, however in the end workforce success will come right down to how effectively the highest gamers carry out and whether or not the goalkeeper could make massive saves. Down the stretch, it’s most necessary to regulate Pulisic, McKennie, Adams, Richards, and Freese. The U.S. workforce’s success hinges on them.
