Mauricio Pochettino names his 26-man USMNT roster on May 26. The World Cup opens on June 11. That's not much runway, and the decisions he makes in the next few weeks will define how seriously anyone should take the United States at a home tournament.
The attack looks settled on paper — Christian Pulisic leads it, Folarin Balogun and Ricardo Pepi compete for the striker spots, and Weston McKennie, Malik Tillman, Tim Weah, and Diego Luna fill out the wide and support roles. Gio Reyna and Brendan Aaronson are also in the picture. The forward line has options. Whether Pochettino gets the best out of them is a different question entirely.
The midfield hinges on Tyler Adams
Adams is the projected captain — if he's fit. That qualifier matters. When Adams plays, the USMNT has a functioning defensive midfield spine. When he doesn't, they've historically looked disorganized. Johnny Cardoso's injury has already reshuffled the depth chart, pushing Tanner Tessmann, Sebastian Berhalter, Aidan Morris, and Cristian Roldan into sharper focus.
A midfield built around a fitness question mark is exactly the kind of thing that shifts tournament odds. The USMNT open against Paraguay on June 12 — if Adams isn't at full tilt by then, that's a tricky opener regardless of home crowd advantage.
Defense is where the real debates live. Antonee Robinson and Sergino Dest are expected starters at fullback. Chris Richards and Tim Ream anchor the center, with Auston Trusty and Mark McKenzie competing for the remaining spots. Alex Freeman and Max Arfsten round out the projected eight-man defensive group — both relatively untested at this level.
Three keepers, one real conversation
Matt Freese is first choice. Matt Turner brings the international experience that earns a veteran a World Cup spot even when form is uneven. The third slot belongs to Chris Brady of Chicago Fire, who is building a case as the long-term future of the position — though at a home World Cup, Pochettino may prioritize reliability over projection.
The full predicted squad:
- Goalkeepers: Matt Freese, Matt Turner, Chris Brady
- Defenders: Antonee Robinson, Sergino Dest, Tim Ream, Chris Richards, Auston Trusty, Mark McKenzie, Alex Freeman, Max Arfsten
- Midfielders: Tyler Adams, Tanner Tessmann, Sebastian Berhalter, Aidan Morris, Cristian Roldan
- Attackers: Christian Pulisic, Weston McKennie, Malik Tillman, Tim Weah, Diego Luna, Gio Reyna, Brendan Aaronson, Folarin Balogun, Ricardo Pepi, Brian White
Brian White is the sleeper name here. His recent club form has reportedly put him ahead of more decorated options — which tells you something about the striker situation. Balogun and Pepi headline it, but neither has nailed down the role convincingly enough to make it uncontested.
Two friendlies before the Paraguay opener. Not much time to find answers, but enough to confirm what Pochettino already suspects about his best XI.
