Can you believe we're just 338 days from the 2026 FIFA World Cup?
The 2025 Concacaf Gold Cup is over, the final slate of competitive matches the United States will play before hosting next summer's tournament, along with Mexico and Canada. In the next 11 months, head coach Mauricio Pochettino and his staff will begin the difficult process of selecting a 26-player roster for the biggest tournament in this country's history.
With just under a year left, I'm foolishly attempting to predict the final roster for the 2026 World Cup. Will I be wrong? Absolutely. But will it be worth it? That's unclear.
Before we start, it's important to point out that this isn't necessarily who I would pick, but rather who I think Pochettino would pick. Players are also listed in the order of how confident I am that they'll be on the final World Cup roster.
I've also attempted to structure the roster in a realistic way – I'm not going to bring three center backs and five strikers. Instead, I tried to model this similarly to how the United States structured their squad for 2022; three goalkeepers, five fullbacks, four center backs, six center midfielders, five attacking midfielders or wingers, and three strikers.
I'll be honest: I feel less good about the roster after going through this than I did before. I have real questions about goalkeeper and center back, and the striker situation is scary. But it's important to note that a lot can change in 11 months. And while I don't expect five new players to emerge at a world-class level, things might not look quite as grim when the tournament kicks off.
Onward!
Goalkeepers (3)
Matt Turner - Lyon
Matt Turner is still the most talented goalkeeper in the pool, and barring catastrophe, he'll be on the roster. Whether or not he starts will probably come down to how much he plays this year with Lyon.
Matt Freese - New York City FC
The New York City FC goalkeeper made a fantastic case for himself at the Gold Cup, starting every game and making three saves in their penalty shootout win over Costa Rica. He has a good chance to earn the No. 1 job this year.
Zack Steffen - Colorado Rapids
Zack Steffen was initially on the Gold Cup roster before withdrawing due to injury, and he's one of the best 'keepers in the pool with the ball at his feet. After a dreadful 2024 season, he's bounced back to put up some of the best numbers in MLS. Pochettino is familiar with him from their Premier League days and really seems to rate him.
On the cusp
Patrick Schulte (Columbus Crew), Diego Kochen (FC Barcelona), Drake Callender (Inter Miami), Chris Brady (Chicago Fire), Gaga Slonina (Chelsea)
Fullbacks (5)
Antonee "Jedi" Robinson - Fulham
Antonee Robinson is not just the best left back in the pool, but he's one of the best left backs in the Premier League. His work-rate and ability to stretch the field is tremendous, and he plays an important role in possession as well. Robinson is arguably the best player at his position the United States have, and he's going to be one of their most important players in 2026.
Sergiño Dest - PSV Eindhoven
After missing a year with a torn ACL, Sergiño Dest spent the Gold Cup working on an individualized training plan to get him back to full fitness. He's a key piece of this squad and is a starter if healthy.
Alex Freeman - Orlando City
The young Orlando City fullback was a surprise call up to the Gold Cup, and he started every match at the tournament. An out-and-out attacking right back in MLS, the 20-year-old showed a lot of flexibility to play a more disciplined role with the US, tucking into a back three and even pinching into midfield at times. He's one of the more exciting young talents in the pool and is a good depth option behind Dest.
Joe Scally - Borussia Mönchengladbach
Joe Scally has divided opinions among USMNT fans for years, but in a limited fullback pool, he's an important player. He's able to provide cover at both left and right back, and he can also pinch inside and act as a third center back. That versatility is crucial, especially on this roster that only includes four center backs.
Max Arfsten - Columbus Crew
The Columbus Crew winger was the starting left back at the Gold Cup to... mixed effect. He's an electric attacker at the MLS level, and led the tournament with three assists. As a defender, he struggled heavily at the start of the tournament but improved slightly as it went on.
Max Arfsten would be a controversial pick, but there aren't many left backs banging down the door for a spot. With Jedi Robinson locked in to play basically every minute, Arfsten would be an all-out attacking option who could factor in on the wings as well.
On the cusp
Peyton Miller (New England Revolution), John Tolkin (Holstein Kiel), DeJuan Jones (San Jose Earthquakes), Caleb Wiley (Chelsea), Marlon Fossey (Standard Liège)
Center backs (4)
Chris Richards - Crystal Palace
The Crystal Palace defender is the best center back in the pool and was fantastic at the Gold Cup. At just 25 years old, Chris Richards hasn't even entered his prime, but is playing at a high level for his club and is stepping up in a big way at the international level. The only real question is who will partner him?
Tim Ream - Charlotte FC
Tim Ream was fantastic in 2022 and is the most experienced defender in the pool, but he'll be 38 years old next summer, and while he reads the game exceptionally well, he's starting to get beaten for pace more frequently. I have zero issues with him being on the roster, but the fact that he seems so locked in as a starter is an indictment on the rest of the center back pool.
Jackson Ragen - Seattle Sounders
Jackson Ragen is still uncapped by the USMNT, so his inclusion is a bit out of left field. He would have been on the Gold Cup roster if he wasn't playing with Seattle at the Club World Cup, though, and has been on the periphery of the squad before. He's the best center back in MLS, can hang with any attacker physically, and is an elite distributor of the ball. Including him may be outside the box, but he's earned it.
Mark McKenzie - Toulouse
To be honest, this feels like a toss up. It's also an indictment of the center back depth that there's not a clear option. To be honest, every option besides Chris Richards feels like a concern, and once you get down to fourth on the depth chart, none of the options feel confidence-inspiring.
Pochettino seems to like McKenzie. He could also bring someone like Walker Zimmerman as an aerial specialist-slash-vibes guy, or a left-footed option like Auston Trusty. Who knows.
On the cusp
Walker Zimmerman (Nashville SC), Auston Trusty (Celtic), Cameron-Carter Vickers (Celtic), Noahkai Banks (FC Augsburg)
Center midfielders (6)
Tyler Adams - AFC Bournemouth
Despite his struggles at the Gold Cup, Tyler Adams is still the best midfielder in the pool and plays a crucial leadership role. When healthy, he's been legitimately good for a surprise Bournemouth side, and hopefully with a mostly healthy 2025-26 campaign (fingers crossed), he'll be in good form heading into next summer.
Weston McKennie - Juventus
Weston McKennie has played at a higher level more consistently than any midfielder in the USMNT pool and has been a difference maker on the pitch for years. He's on the plane.
Johnny Cardoso - Real Betis
I'll be honest, I've never seen it with Johnny Cardoso at the national team level, and certainly not at a level where I understand how he commands a €30 million transfer to Atlético Madrid. Still, he's playing at a club level that few Americans are, and seems to be highly rated by Pochettino and his staff. He'll be fighting for minutes, though.
Yunus Musah - AC Milan
Yunus Musah is one that we all expected to develop significantly after his impressive performance at the 2022 World Cup, but he's stagnated heavily. He's certainly not a lock to start as he was last time around, and could find himself missing out entirely if his club form doesn't improve. Still, he's an incredibly talented player and has a unique skillset in this pool, and his positional versatility gives him an added edge.
Jack McGlynn - Houston Dynamo
Say what you will, but Pochettino seams to really like Jack McGlynn. He's a completely different profile than the rest of the squad and has a wicked left foot, and it's not a bad option to have a player like him to bring in late and ping long diagonals forward when you're chasing a game.
Sebastian Berhalter - Vancouver Whitecaps
Sebastian Berhalter was on the fringe for me until late in the Gold Cup. By the end of the tournament, he had an argument to be the USMNT's best center midfielder. It's really hard for me to leave off players like Luca de la Torre or even Tanner Tessmann here, but I think there are others on this list who can do similar things. There are few in the pool who have Berhalter's two-way energy. Most important, though, is his set-piece delivery. That alone is worth bringing him to the World Cup.
On the cusp
Luca de la Torre (San Diego FC), Tanner Tessmann (Lyon), Aidan Morris (Middlesbrough), Cristian Roldan (Seattle Sounders), Gianluca Busio (Venezia), Benjamin Cremaschi (Inter Miami)
Attacking midfielders and wingers (5)
Christian Pulisic - AC Milan
Duh.
Timothy Weah - Juventus
One of the most direct and pacey wingers in the pool, Timothy Weah is a crucial piece of this team and a lock starter when healthy.
Diego Luna - Real Salt Lake
Diego Luna was the breakout player of the Gold Cup for the United States, and has a really unique profile. He's able to do the playmaker things you want from a No. 10, but he's also incredibly physical, ready for a fight, and does all the dirty work you'd want from a Concacaf player. He has a unique flair and ability to improvise. Like Bruce Arena famously said of Clint Dempsey, he "tries shit".
Don't be surprised if Diego Luna plays a major role in 2026, and goes on to bigger and better things at the club level too.
Malik Tillman - PSV Eindhoven
The PSV attacker finished as the USMNT's joint-top scorer at the Gold Cup, with his trailing runs into the box an important part of their game plan going forward. He also struggled at times to make the right choice in the final third, and his touch and final pass lets him down fairly frequently. Still, though, Malik Tillman is playing regularly at a high level and has shown an ability to impact games. He has to be on the roster.
Haji Wright - Coventry City
There are a lot of ways you could go with the last spot in this position group, and like in other spots, none of them are perfect. I think Pochettino will go with Haji Wright for a few reasons; he's left footed, can play comfortably on either flank, and has the ability to slot in as a No. 9 as well as on the wings. He has a decent scoring record with the US and has been in good form for Coventry in the English Championship.
There are other players who could absolutely play their way into the squad in the next 11 months, but for right now it seems like Wright's spot to lose.
On the cusp
Gio Reyna (Borussia Dortmund), Brenden Aaronson (Leeds), Paxten Aaronson (Eintracht Frankfurt), Alejandro Zendejas (Club América), Brian Gutiérrez (Chicago Fire), Quinn Sullivan (Philadelphia Union), Djordje Mihailovic (Colorado Rapids), Richie Ledezma (Chivas)
Strikers (3)
Ricardo Pepi - PSV Eindhoven
Ricardo Pepi has been in the best form of any American striker in Europe over the last year (admittedly a low bar). The PSV Eindhoven man scored 11 goals in 18 Eredivisie matches last year, but injuries severely hampered his minutes. Honestly, injuries are the biggest question mark around him right now – will he even be healthy for 2026?
If he is fit, he'll be on the roster, and don't be shocked if he's the starting No. 9 next summer.
Folarin Balogun - AS Monaco
Like with Pepi, injuries limited Folarin Balogun in his second season with AS Monaco. The Arsenal academy product managed just four goals in 16 games, and has really struggled to adapt to his new club, with a string of injuries keeping him sidelined. He was initially on the Gold Cup roster, but a late injury forced him out.
He hasn't been the answer at the No. 9 spot that many hoped he would be, and while his raw ability probably earns him a spot on the roster, injuries and poor club form could keep him off.
Patrick Agyemang - Charlotte FC
Oh boy, buckle up. Patrick Agyemang as the third striker in a World Cup? The Charlotte FC striker (potentially on his way to Derby County) divided opinions in the Gold Cup, and if selected over someone like Josh Sargent would certainly make some headlines.
For whatever reason, though, Pochettino just doesn't seem to rate Sargent (who I think is the best No. 9 in the pool) and really likes Agyemang. Agyemang does a lot of things well; his off-ball movement is good, he opens space underneath, he's a physical nightmare for defenders, and his presence on the pitch allows the attackers underneath to open up and play. He also gets consistently let down by misplaced passes, poor touches, and missed finishes.
With less than two years of professional soccer under his belt, he's still incredibly raw, but clearly has caught the eye of Pochettino. Don't be shocked if he makes the roster.
On the cusp
Josh Sargent (Norwich), Damion Downs (FC Köln), Brian White (Vancouver Whitecaps), Brandon Vázquez (Austin FC), Jordan Morris (Seattle Sounders), Daryl Dike (West Bromwich Albion)
