The vibe around the squad is different now. You can feel it. With the 2026 World Cup basically on the doorstep, Mauricio Pochettino isn’t just looking for "talent" anymore; he’s looking for guys who can survive the pressure cooker of a home tournament.
Gone are the days when we just hoped Christian Pulisic would pull a rabbit out of a hat. Now, the conversation is about whether the supporting cast has actually grown up. Honestly, some of the usual suspects are fighting for their lives to keep a spot, while a few new faces are making it impossible to bench them.
The Locks: The Core US National Soccer Team Players
Look, if the tournament started tomorrow, there are five or six names you’d bet your house on. Christian Pulisic is the obvious one. He’s the 2025 U.S. Soccer Male Player of the Year runner-up for a reason, still tearing it up at AC Milan and carrying that "Captain America" weight without breaking. But the real engine room is Weston McKennie and Tyler Adams.
Adams has been battling injuries—specifically that nagging MCL issue at Bournemouth—but Pochettino treats him like the team’s heartbeat. If he’s even 80% fit, he’s the starting number six. McKennie, meanwhile, has transformed into this weirdly effective Swiss Army knife at Juventus. One day he’s a box-to-box eight, the next he’s drifting wide or even filling in at wingback.
Then there’s the backline. Chris Richards (the actual 2025 Player of the Year) has basically become the first name on the sheet for the defense. He’s calm. He’s playing regularly at Crystal Palace. He doesn't panic. Next to him, you’ve still got the veteran Tim Ream defying the laws of aging at 38. People keep trying to retire him, but the guy just keeps winning headers and passing out of the back like he’s in a Sunday league stroll.
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The Goalkeeper Chaos
The goalie situation is kinda messy. For years, Matt Turner was the undisputed guy. But 2025 was rough for him. He lost his rhythm, and Matt Freese capitalized on it big time. Freese has been the guy under Pochettino lately, looking incredibly solid for NYCFC and translated that to the national team.
But wait. There’s Patrick Schulte. He’s arguably the best with his feet in the entire pool. If Pochettino wants to play out of the back—which he does—Schulte is the tactical favorite. It’s a three-way toss-up that probably won't be settled until the June friendlies against Germany.
The Breakout Stars Forcing Their Way In
You’ve probably noticed some names that weren’t even on the radar two years ago. Alex Freeman is the big one. The kid went from "who?" to "starter?" after a massive performance against Uruguay. He’s a two-way monster at right-back, and with Sergiño Dest sometimes being used further up the pitch as a winger, Freeman has a massive chance to own that defensive slot.
Then you have Diego Luna. Pochettino seems to adore him. He’s got that "low center of gravity" style that makes him a nightmare to tackle. He finished 2025 with eight international goal contributions. That’s not a fluke. He’s pushing Gio Reyna for that creative playmaker role.
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- Tanner Tessmann: Thriving at Lyon, he’s the physical presence we need if Adams isn't 100%.
- Max Arfsten: The Columbus Crew product is the perfect deputy for Antonee "Jedi" Robinson on the left.
- Malik Tillman: Now at Bayer Leverkusen, he’s finally showing the goal-scoring touch we saw in the Eredivisie.
The Number 9 Dilemma
Who actually scores the goals? Folarin Balogun is the incumbent, and he’s been finding the net for Monaco, but Ricardo Pepi is breathing down his neck. Pepi’s been clinical at PSV, scoring 10 goals across all competitions so far this season.
It’s a classic battle of styles. Balogun wants to run the channels and use his pace. Pepi is more of a traditional "right place, right time" poacher. And don't forget Haji Wright, who’s been lighting up the Championship with Coventry City. He brings a physical profile that the other two just don't have.
Tactically, What is Pochettino Doing?
The rumors of a three-man backline aren't just rumors. We saw it in the late 2025 windows. A trio of Ream, Richards, and Miles Robinson (or even Auston Trusty) allows the wingbacks—likely Jedi Robinson and Dest—to basically act as wingers.
This creates a massive problem for opponents because it lets Pulisic and Tim Weah (now at Marseille) tuck inside and cause chaos in the half-spaces. It’s aggressive. It’s risky. But honestly, it’s the most talent-dense way to get all the best us national soccer team players on the field at once.
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We saw a glimpse of this against Paraguay in November. The ball movement was quicker. The pressing was more organized. It feels less like "vibes and individual brilliance" and more like a European club system.
What Most People Get Wrong About This Roster
The biggest misconception is that the "Golden Generation" has already peaked. People see the struggles at the 2024 Copa America and think the ceiling is low. That’s a mistake. Most of these guys are just now hitting their prime years (24–27).
Another myth? That the MLS-based players can't compete for starting spots. Just look at Sebastian Berhalter. His set-piece delivery is arguably the best in the pool right now. In a tight World Cup knockout game, that one curling corner could be the difference between a quarterfinal run and a flight home.
The depth is real. For the first time, leaving a guy like Josh Sargent or Brenden Aaronson off the roster isn't a disaster—it's a tactical choice.
To stay ahead of the curve as we approach the March friendlies against Belgium and Portugal, you should keep a close eye on the weekly minutes for the "bubble" players. Specifically, watch if Johnny Cardoso can regain his form at Atletico Madrid and if Benjamin Cremaschi (the 2025 Young Player of the Year) gets a senior call-up.
The final 26-man roster will likely be finalized after the "Send-Off" match against Germany on June 6th. Until then, every club match is an audition.