USMNT World Cup roster projection: Who’s in, who’s on the bubble for the 26-man squad

We are about four weeks from the U.S. World Cup roster announcement, which will mark the end of Mauricio Pochettino’s evaluation exercise after eight training camps and 24 matches across 19 months.

Barring a significant injury or worrisome fitness issue in the coming weeks, most of the 26-man roster is settled. A quick scan of the personnel and lineup choices since September is enough to narrow Pochettino’s probable selections at a May 26 event in New York.

Is there a major surprise or two in the works? Eh, maybe. In all likelihood, the Argentine boss has known for some time who best fits into his plans — “the right 26,” he says.

With that as a starting point, here’s our roster projections:

The program’s most accomplished and capable player has had an uneven season at AC Milan and hasn’t scored for the national team since November 2024. Nonetheless, at 27 and in the prime of his sterling career, this is his team and his moment. If he’s on, the U.S. could go places.

McKennie’s versatility for Juventus — he seems to have played every position except goalkeeper and center back — offers Pochettino a wealth of options. On top of that, the 27-year-old Texan has been in terrific form in both Serie A and the Champions League as a scorer and provider.

The Crystal Palace center back is the I-beam of an otherwise suspect U.S. defense, providing Premier League wherewithal and aerial power. Given the pressure the U.S. could fall under, especially in knockout matches, you could make the case Richards is the one guy Pochettino cannot do without.

Few things lift a coach’s spirits more before the World Cup than a striker in sensational scoring form. That’s Balogun, the Monaco ace whose Ligue 1 and Champions League production has solidified his place as Pochettino’s first-choice striker and taken some scoring responsibility off Pulisic.

Because of injuries and the birth of a child, the 2022 World Cup captain has not played for the national team since September. His importance, however, hasn’t diminished. Pochettino will need the Bournemouth defensive midfielder to set the tone and guide a team under pressure to win at home.

6. Matt Freese, Goalkeeper, NYCFC

Since bursting onto the scene before last summer’s Gold Cup, the New York City FC goalkeeper has been Pochettino’s starter for almost every match. Even with no tournament experience beyond the Gold Cup, Freese seems to have won the trust of both Pochettino and his defenders.

Because of knee issues that surfaced in 2024, there were times “Jedi” wasn’t sure he would make it to another World Cup. But after returning to regular duty for Fulham — though not as a full-time starter — the left back ended a long U.S. layoff in March and regained his place in the lineup.

Like McKennie, Weah could end up in any number of roles for Pochettino. At Olympique Marseille, he typically starts at right back or right wing. His instincts take him forward and, as he demonstrated from an advanced position in the 2022 opener, he is more than capable of finishing chances.

9. Sergiño Dest, Defender, PSV Eindhoven

The key word with Dest is “if.” If he returns from a hamstring injury before the end of PSV Eindhoven’s season and regains full fitness and form, he could profoundly impact Pochettino’s plans at right back or wing back.

Pochettino typically plays with two defensive midfielders, and with Adams presumably one, Tessmann is a strong candidate for the other slot. An on-and-off starter for Lyon, the 2024 Olympic captain has started the first U.S. friendly in each of the past three windows. He’s also an option at center back.

Though relegated to a sub’s role at Bayer Leverkusen, the 23-year-old attacking midfielder figures to remain in Pochettino’s plans after being one of five players to start both March friendlies. He also showed commitment and quality in the 2025 Gold Cup with three goals and two assists.

12. Haji Wright, Forward, Coventry City

It’s been a complete season for the 6-foot-4 striker, who, with 17 goals in the second-flight English Championship, bolstered Coventry City’s promotion to the Premier League for the first time in 25 years. He scored twice vs. Australia in October and brings the experience of scoring in the 2022 World Cup.

13. Ricardo Pepi, Forward, PSV Eindhoven

Despite multiple injury spells and just 13 starts, the PSV Eindhoven striker has recorded 13 league goals for the Dutch Eredivisie champions. On Thursday, he scored twice on headers. He also had three goals as a Champions League sub. He and Wright will vie to back up Balogun.

The 21-year-old right back/wing was a U.S. revelation last year with 10 starts and two-goal performance vs. Uruguay. A winter move to Villarreal from Orlando City might pay long-term dividends, but joining a strong Spanish club midseason resulted in a three-month wait for his first start Sunday.

The Celtic center back has made just two U.S. appearances in 2025-26 — and six overall — but with Pochettino lacking depth at that position, he could end up in the lineup. Trusty played well in his starting assignment against Uruguay last fall and returned to the back line against Portugal in March.

A workhorse through U.S. transition and World Cup preparation, the 38-year-old center back is showing signs of decline both with the U.S. and Charlotte FC, having also missed the past 2½ MLS matches with a groin injury. Nonetheless, leadership and experience get him on the roster.

Another center back competing to partner with Richards, McKenzie has not produced a shining performance for Pochettino. But in two seasons for Toulouse in France’s Ligue 1, he has started more than 60 matches across all competitions and is comfortable playing in a three-man alignment.

After starting one of the past six U.S. matches and logging just 11 minutes in the March friendlies, the 25-year-old attacking midfielder might not be on firm ground. However, he has added depth in two World Cup cycles, starts regularly in the Premier League and leads Leeds United in assists.

If Freese gets hurt or suspended — or has a performance that necessitates change — Pochettino will tap into Turner’s World Cup experience. The New England Revolution netminder has enjoyed a strong start to the Major League Soccer season with numerous outstanding saves.

A fierce competitor and set-piece specialist with soccer smarts, the Vancouver Whitecaps’ star midfielder has received regular call-ups from Pochettino since debuting in the Gold Cup last summer. He, too, is off to a smashing start in MLS with three goals and six assists in nine matches.

21. Max Arfsten, Defender, Columbus Crew

In Robinson’s absence, the Columbus Crew left back and winger broke through last summer and finished the year tied with Freese for most starts (13) and third in minutes played. That experience has positioned him well to provide cover this summer. In MLS, he has three goals and three assists.

Given his place as a part-time starter for Champions League semifinalist Atlético Madrid, the 24-year-old defensive midfielder should be a U.S. mainstay. But he has never had a breakout performance and doesn’t always look comfortable in U.S. colors. By a whisker, he makes the cut.

He doesn’t play much for Mönchengladbach, but because Pochettino calls him a “special player” with the capacity to impact a match and because, amid his German bench-warming, he was called up for last month’s friendlies, Reyna looks as though he’s going to make it.

Real Salt Lake’s star midfielder plays with the ambition and passion Pochettino covets. Last year, he led the U.S. in appearances and finished second in both goals and assists before missing the March window after recovering from a knee injury.

Pochettino has stressed the importance of culture and leadership, and no one embodies that better than the Seattle Sounders defensive midfielder, a 2025 MLS Best XI selection in top form again this spring before suffering a head injury last week.

26. Chris Brady, Goalkeeper, Chicago Fire

Almost certain not to play, the third goalkeeper must be happy in that role. A youth national team graduate, the 22-year-old Brady is in his fourth season as the Chicago Fire’s starter and on the right path with the U.S. senior squad.

Still in the mix

Aidan Morris, Midfielder, Middlesbrough

Middlesbrough’s defensive midfielder has been, from an analytics perspective, the second-best player for a club hunting for Premier League promotion. He started once in each of the past three U.S. camps.

Alex Zendejas, Midfielder, Club América

A small, unpredictable winger enjoying another quality season for Mexico’s Club América, Zendejas would bring a different dynamic to the World Cup effort and add flank danger. He didn’t receive a March call-up, however.

Joe Scally, Defender, Borussia Mönchengladbach

A 2022 World Cup member, Mönchengladbach’s starting right wing offers the versatility of also playing right back in a four-man formation and center back in a three-man set-up.

Miles Robinson, Defender, FC Cincinnati

The FC Cincinnati center back started three of the past four U.S. matches in the fall but hasn’t performed well in MLS this spring and missed the March friendlies with a groin injury.

Tristan Blackmon, Defender, Vancouver Whitecaps

The 2025 MLS defender of the year made his U.S. debut in September with back-to-back starts before a knee injury sidelined him for two months. A calf ailment ruled the Vancouver center back out of the March friendlies.