Everyone has an opinion on who should be on the US men's soccer roster, but honestly, most of the "expert" projections you're reading right now are probably missing the mark. We are officially in 2026. The World Cup is literally months away.
The vibes in the USMNT camp have shifted completely since Mauricio Pochettino took the wheel. This isn't the same squad that slogged through the 2024 Copa América. Poch isn't just looking for the most talented names on paper; he’s looking for guys who can survive his notoriously brutal "high-press" system without gasping for air by the 60th minute.
The Pochettino Effect on the US Men's Soccer Roster
If you’ve followed Pochettino’s career at Spurs or Chelsea, you know he loves a project. But he also loves a "warrior." That’s why the US men's soccer roster looks a bit different than what we expected a year ago.
Take a look at the center-back situation. For a long time, it was Chris Richards and "everyone else." Now? Tim Ream—who is basically the evergreen grandfather of American soccer at this point—is still a locked-in starter. Why? Because the man doesn't panic. Pochettino values that calmness when the team is trying to play out of the back under pressure.
But it's not all about the old guard.
Breakout players like Alex Freeman and Max Arfsten have turned the fullback depth chart upside down. Arfsten, in particular, has been a revelation for the Columbus Crew and translated that form straight into the national team. He actually led the USMNT in assists throughout 2025. If you had told a casual fan two years ago that Max Arfsten would be pushing Antonee "Jedi" Robinson for minutes, they would have asked who you were talking about.
The Midfield Meat-Grinder
This is where things get kinda messy. The "MMA" midfield (McKennie, Musah, Adams) was the heart of the 2022 cycle.
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In 2026, it's more of a rotation.
Tyler Adams has been battling the injury bug again, which is frankly exhausting for everyone involved. He's still the captain when he's on the pitch, but Tanner Tessmann has stepped up in a way that makes the "No Adams, No Party" mantra feel a little outdated. Tessmann’s move to Lyon (and his subsequent form) has given the US men's soccer roster a physical presence in the six-role that we haven't seen in a decade.
Then there’s Weston McKennie.
You've probably seen the highlights of him scoring headers for Juventus. He is fitter than he’s ever been. Poch has him playing as a sort of hybrid "8" who can crash the box. Honestly, a fit and motivated McKennie is the most important player on this team, arguably even more than Christian Pulisic.
Current Midfield Hierarchy
- The Locks: Weston McKennie, Yunus Musah, Malik Tillman.
- The "If Healthy" Tier: Tyler Adams, Gio Reyna.
- The Rising Stars: Tanner Tessmann, Aidan Morris, Sebastian Berhalter.
Malik Tillman's ascent at Bayer Leverkusen has changed the tactical geometry for the US. He’s not a "super-sub" anymore. He’s a starter. He provides the final-third quality that takes the pressure off Pulisic to do everything himself.
The Striker Battle Nobody Can Call
Who is the starting number nine? If you ask three different fans, you’ll get four different answers.
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Folarin Balogun is the guy right now. He’s been scoring for fun lately, including that massive winner against Paraguay. But Ricardo Pepi—"The Pepi-man"—just refuses to go away. Even when he’s not starting every game for PSV, he comes into camp and finds the back of the net.
And don't sleep on Haji Wright.
He’s been a beast in the English Championship/Premier League orbit. He offers a physical profile that neither Balogun nor Pepi has. If the US is chasing a game in the 80th minute against a low block, Haji is the guy you want on the end of a cross.
Josh Sargent is the outlier here. He’s had a rough run with the national team lately. He hasn't scored for the US in what feels like forever (actually several years), and in a Pochettino system, you cannot afford to be a passenger. If he doesn't find his scoring boots in the next few months, he might be the biggest name left off the final 26-man US men's soccer roster.
Goalkeeper: A Surprising Shakeup
For years, we just assumed Matt Turner was the guy. He was the hero of the last cycle.
But things change fast in soccer.
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Matt Freese has entered the chat. The NYCFC keeper has been arguably the best shot-stopper in MLS for two seasons straight. More importantly for Poch, Freese is much better with his feet than Turner. If the US wants to build from the back, Freese might actually be the starter when the World Cup kicks off.
Patrick Schulte is also right there in the mix. The Columbus Crew keeper has a high ceiling and already has some big-game experience. It’s a weirdly competitive position for a spot that usually has a clear "Number One."
What Really Matters for the 2026 World Cup
The US men's soccer roster is deeper than it has ever been. That’s a fact. But depth doesn't win games—execution does.
Pochettino is trying to instill a "club mentality." He wants the players to feel like every training session is a trial for their lives. This is a massive departure from the previous era, which felt a bit more like a "brotherhood." While the brotherhood was great for chemistry, it sometimes led to complacency.
You can see the difference in the way players like Gio Reyna are being handled. Reyna is arguably the most talented player in the pool, but he’s had to earn his way back into the good graces of the coaching staff by showing defensive work rate. If you don't run, you don't play. It's basically that simple now.
Critical Roster Decisions for the Next 90 Days
- Fullback Depth: Deciding between the experience of Joe Scally and the raw upside of Alex Freeman.
- The "Adams" Contingency: Finalizing the tactical plan if Tyler Adams isn't 100% fit for the group stage.
- The 26th Man: Choosing between a veteran leader like Walker Zimmerman or a "wildcard" youngster like Diego Luna.
Actionable Steps for Fans Following the USMNT
If you want to stay ahead of the curve on the US men's soccer roster developments, you need to look beyond the box scores.
- Watch the Minutes: Keep a close eye on the "bubble" players in Europe. If guys like Johnny Cardoso or Brenden Aaronson aren't getting 60+ minutes a week for their clubs by March, their spots are in serious jeopardy.
- Monitor the MLS Start: The 2026 MLS season will be the most important one in history for domestic USMNT players. Watch how Matt Freese and Miles Robinson start their campaigns.
- Follow the "Poch" Quotes: Pay attention to how the manager talks about individual work rates. He often drops hints about who is "impressing in training," which usually translates to starts in the next window.
The road to the 2026 World Cup is paved with tough cuts and surprise inclusions. This roster is a living organism, and by the time June rolls around, we might see a name or two that wasn't even on the radar today. That’s the beauty of the sport.
Stay focused on the fitness of the core—Pulisic, McKennie, and Richards. If those three stay healthy, the rest of the US men's soccer roster will fall into place around them. The talent is there; the system is being refined; now it’s just about who can handle the heat of the world's biggest stage.