Here's who should be on the United States World Cup roster

In just 11 days, the United States will announce their roster for the 2026 FIFA World Cup.

There have been a lot of pieces written recently trying to predict what Mauricio Pochettino will do this summer. I've written one. The Guardian's Jeff Rueter recently published an excellent prediction, looking back through all the caps given during Pochettino's tenure. I highly recommend this if you're wanting a deep-dive prediction of what will happen.

This is not one of those pieces. This piece is a no-holds-barred breakdown of what I would do were I the head coach. It comes with the obvious caveat that I am not a head coach, and there are very good reasons why I should not be making decisions like this at any consequential level.

Still, it's a fun exercise. And we're always down for a bit of a good time here. Let's get this bread.

Goalkeepers

On the plane (3): Matt Freese, Matt Turner, Brian Schwake

Missing the cut: Patrick Schulte, Chris Brady, Roman Celentano, Zach Steffen, Diego Kochen, Ethan Horvath

Matt Turner has been in fantastic form for New England Revolution so far this season, but has been the clear number two behind NYCFC's Matt Freese in Pochettino's eyes over the last year. I don't think there's necessarily a bad choice between the two, but I'd lean towards Freese as the starter – he's earned it based on his form for the national team over the last year, and I can't shake the feeling that Turner is still mistake-prone at inopportune times.

For the third spot? I don't think it matters that much. There's a good argument to bring a veteran like Brad Stuver or Sean Johnson, and both are in great club form. I've opted for Nashville's Brian Schwake, who has been stellar since winning the starting job this season. He's proving to be as good a shot-stopper as Patrick Schulte or Roman Celentano, and he's excellent with his feet. He'll certainly be in the picture soon.

Centerbacks

On the plane (5): Chris Richards, Jackson Ragen, Alex Freeman, Auston Trusty, Joe Scally

Missing the cut: Tim Ream, Mark McKenzie, Cameron Carter-Vickers, Noahkai Banks, Tristan Blackmon, Miles Robinson

Ok, center back terrifies me. Aside from Chris Richards, there's not really a standout option here. The picture looks a little better if you include Alex Freeman here, who has played as a wide center back in a back three, and has the ability to push forward in possession. Those two should start every game.

The others? Is a "yikes" appropriate here? Tim Ream's form has dropped off a cliff with Charlotte FC. He's been a write-in-pen starter for the last five-ish years, and has been a presumed starter until the last few months. I'm at the point where I'm on the fence if he should even be on the roster. Per American Soccer Analysis's Goals Added metric, he's the 107th-best center back in MLS this season. Yikes feels appropriate.

Jackson Ragen, on the other hand, has been the best American center back in MLS for several seasons. Per ASA, he's MLS's best center back this year. He also has the ball-progression ability to make a real difference at the international level. Ragen hasn't had a sniff of the national team under Pochettino, save for a March camp callup that almost materialized but fell apart due to the Sounders' participation in Concacaf Champions Cup. He absolutely should be on the roster, even a starter.

Joe Scally is super versatile and plays at a high level on a weekly basis. He might be a bit redundant, but he can play on the left or right side in a back three, as well as either fullback. And Auston Trusty did enough against Portugal and Belgium to warrant a callup, even a starting spot. But this is, in my opinion, the weakest group in the pool.

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Left wingbacks

On the plane (2): Antonee "Jedi" Robinson, Max Arfsten

Missing the cut: John Tolkin, DeJuan Jones

This might be the simplest position to pick on the roster. Jedi Robinson is one of the best players in the pool. Max Arfsten has been one of the breakout players this cycle, and despite playing in a more advanced role for the Columbus Crew, he's a good option to have, especially when chasing a goal.

Robinson could, in theory, play as a left center back in a back three, which gives him a bit of versatility although the idea hasn't been tested on the pitch under Pochettino.

Right wingbacks

On the plane (2): Sergiño Dest, Tim Weah

Missing the cut: Nathan Harriel, Shaq Moore, Marlon Fossey

Both Tim Weah and Sergiño Dest have had injury issues recently. Weah missed the last two matches with Marseille, but returned to training this week. He should be fit. Dest missed almost two months with PSV, but is back on the pitch and started on Saturday, setting up Ricardo Pepi for a goal. These are the two clear standouts, and both should be on the roster.

Holding midfielders

On the plane (5): Tyler Adams, Weston McKennie, Sebastian Berhalter, Tanner Tessmann, Cristian Roldan

Missing the cut: Johnny Cardoso (injured), Aidan Morris, Adri Mehmeti, Yunus Musah, Luca de la Torre

Center midfield is in another tough spot. While Johnny Cardoso has never been able to translate club form into national team form, he's been a real contributor for Atlético Madrid this season, starting the first leg of their UEFA Champions League* semifinal against Arsenal. He's out injured.

Fortunately, Tyler Adams is back fit and playing for Bournemouth. He's a nailed on starter when healthy and should be the captain this summer. Weston McKennie has also been in form for Juventus, and could move back a line to partner Adams, even though he's played as more of an attacker for Juve.

Behind them, Sebastian Berhalter has been one of the best midfielders in MLS this season. He can cover Adams-esque amounts of ground if needed, and his set piece delivery is a major asset in a tournament. Tanner Tessmann has been less convincing for the national team, but has been a regular for a fine Lyon side. He's currently injured but should be back healthy. If he's not, Aidan Morris should slide in.

With Cardoso out of the picture, Cristian Roldan should absolutely be on the plane. Pochettino rates him, he plays regularly at a high level for Seattle, and he's a great glue guy in the locker room. I'm ignoring the haters here.

And yes, I'm including Adri Mehmeti on the "missing out" list. He's been better than most of the fringe players anyway, and has genuinely world-class intangibles already. You could convince me to put him on the roster now, but he should absolutely be in the first camp post-World Cup and start building him up to be a key piece of the squad in 2032.

*This was initially published with a typo, listing Concacaf Champions Cup, the superior tournament.

Attacking midfielders

On the plane (5): Christian Pulisic, Malik Tillman, Gio Reyna, Zavier Gozo, Álex Zendejas

Missing the cut: Brenden Aaronson, Diego Luna, Jack McGlynn

Christian Pulisic? Lock. Malik Tillman? Lock. Diego Luna? Cut.

Yeah, I know, I hate it too. I've gone back and forth on this hypothetical way more than I'm proud of, but I really think Gio Reyna makes more sense for this roster. It does feel like he's barely played since 2022, but he's been getting on the field more recently for Mönchengladbach, and he is one of the few players in the pool with genuine, world-class quality. I think he's a better option to bring on late if you need a goal.

Luna has been fantastic for the USMNT over the last few years, and could easily be brought if Pochettino opts for just three strikers (more on that in a minute). To me, though, he's served his purpose this cycle.

Álex Zendejas has been absolutely deserving of more time under Pochettino, with 13 goals and eight assists for Club América since the start of the 2025-26 season. He often wears the captain's armband for América and shoulders a level of responsibility that few other players in the pool do.

And Zavier Gozo is one of the most exciting young talents in American soccer right now. He has five goals and three assists in 12 appearances for Real Salt Lake and is going to be sold for eight figures to Europe within the next few months. If he were halving this level of production for even a mid-level European team, he'd be a lock. He has a very unique skillset, is a lethal 1-v-1 dribbler, and can easily play at wingback as well as anywhere across the front three. He should genuinely be on this roster.

Forwards

On the plane (4): Folarin Balogun, Ricardo Pepi, Julian Hall, Haji Wright

Missing the cut: Patrick Agyemang (injured), Daryl Dike, Josh Sargent, Brian White, Damion Downs

Again, Folarin Balogun is a lock, and should play the bulk of minutes this summer. Ricardo Pepi has bagged a very solid 18 goals in all competitions for PSV, scoring a goal every 88 minutes. He's proven to be a reliable option off the bench and feels like a potential supersub this summer. And Haji Wright was excellent for Coventry in their EFL Championship-winning campaign, bagging 17 goals in the Championship. His ability to play wide as well as centrally is a bonus.

And then there's Julian Hall. The 18-year-old has been on fire for Red Bull New York this season under first-year head coach Michael Bradley, starting every match and scoring nine goals in 13 games. His intelligence and movement in the box may already be the best in the pool. He's physically capable of holding his own against adult center backs already. And his potential is through the roof.

This isn't just a call-up to keep him away from Poland. I think he could genuinely make a meaningful callup this summer, not to mention being a building block of the program for the next decade. Get him on the plane!