USMNT 2026 World Cup roster projection: Christian Pulisic is in, but some familiar faces may be in big trouble

The international break of the summer was a strange for the USMNT. From drama about why players were and were not at the Concacaf Gold Cup to one Disappointingly show in the final against MexicoThere is room for improvement prior to the World Cup 2026. Mauricio Pochettino was given time to see more of his team in competitive matches, which could lead to more players from Major League Soccer making their way in the last team.

Taking a playing time can still be a problem, but there must also be a balance between that and talent. It is something that must be evaluated on a case -by -case basis, but the more players regularly take action, the better. Let’s look at predicting the schedule, because we are less than a year from the World Cup in the United States, Canada and Mexico:

Usmnt roster ditches

A section that has decreased because regression has hit the USMNT pool, this is a group of players who, if they are healthy, are still expected in the team and probably start matches.

• Sergino Dest (Defender)
• Weston McKennie (Midfielder)
• Christian Pulisic (Vooruit)
• Tyler Adams (Midfielder)
• Antonee Robinson (defender)
• Folarin Balogun (Vooruit)
• Chris Richards (defender)

One thing that quickly notices is that there is no keeper in this group. That is because of the design because Matt Turner still has to find a consistent playing time. There may be a situation in which he is the number one in the team or not included in the Pochettino team at all. It says a ton about the state of the goalkeeper position, but both that and the defense are nowadays in a terrible street.

Sergino Dest can also be a piece as a lock in the defense because so far he does not appear in a match under Pochettino during his term of office, but another has not benefited back, so the season starts with full health, it will be difficult to say that Dest is not the best option to lead the USMNT.

This shows how open things are for the USMNT, with only two attackers, three defenders and two midfielders belong to this group of players. Malik Tillman is probably almost a lock in the team, but if he somehow plays on playing time after moving to Bayer Leverkusen, that could endanger his world cup place. Tim Ream is probably also a lock, but at 37 he cannot be officially placed in this category until the team is mentioned.

Looking at somewhere like the midfield, it seemed that the trio was set up for this upcoming world cup such as Yunus Musah, Adams and McKennie surprised at the World Cup 2022But as things have changed, Musah struggles in Milan and can completely miss the World Cup in 2026.

Players on the bubble, such as Malik Tillman

• Luca de la Torre (midfielder): De La Torre has had a roller coaster trip with the national team and falls from the fight when his playing time fell with Celta Vigo, but now back in MLS, he is flourishing. It is a great thing how a return to MLS does not spelled Doom for someone’s career. It feels like De La Torre is in direct competition with Yunus Musah for a place in the national team, but currently only one starts.
• Matt Turner (goalkeeper): The playing time again raises its head. Turner is linked to a move to France With Lyon, but if that doesn’t happen, he has to play somewhere to keep the number one role in the setup.
• Miles Robinson (defender): Robinson is missing the World Cup 2022 at Walker Zimmerman, returned to the fold under Pochettino. This is a place where he may not play much during a World Cup, but experienced defenders will be needed to close matches.
• Malik Tillman (Midfielder): On the back of his best camp in a USMNT shirt, Tillman has now taken an important step in his career by joining Bayer Leverkusen as their replacement for Florian Wirtz. On paper, Tillman is ready to insist on a starting role with the USMNT in the World Cup, but it is also a situation in which becoming a member of a new team can see him on the couch if things do not land correctly.
• Patrick Agiemang (Vooruit): Agyemang broke out under Pochettino and was not close to the World Cup team before he was called in the January camp and now he gets the chance to show what he can do in the English championship after a move to Derby County. This is another movement that is accompanied by risks, but it is also a step that you want an attacker to make a tournament like this. Success can lead to him taking the starting role at Striker for the USMNT.
• Matt Freese (keeper): A new penalty hero has emerged. Even if Freese does not start for the USMNT, his shootout -heroism have done enough to earn him a place in the team, and depending on how things break between now and next summer, he could become the number one.

• Ricardo Pepi (Vooruit): With the number nine this season it is a big one for Pepi. Things are not even near the USMNT at the forward positions, and with the start for PSV he can show why he should start for the USMNT. It is an important season for everyone on the USMNT, but Pepi is someone who can win the most when things go well.

• Joe Scally (defender): Initially, Scally seemed someone who was excess to the requirements for the USMNT, but he was able to show what he can do without Sergino Dest. In these small squadrons, positional versatility is important and Scally can play both sides of the defense and in the middle in a rear three.
• Haji Wright (Vooruit): Wright has taken a step back under Pochettino, but because he can appear on the wing or if a nine, he will get a chance at the World Cup team, because this is where things start thinly in the team.

• Max Arfsten (Defender): It can still be seen how Pochettino is brought a lot in the future while he is also suspected, it is still to be seen. But with the defender who starts all the USMNT matches at the Gold Cup, it is also clear that his shape in the team is rising.
• Johnny Cardoso (Midfielder): With another movement under his belt, this time to Atletico Madrid, Cardoso is in a great place to grow as a player. That still has to translate to the USMNT, but you can’t leave Cardoso in a thin midfield.

• Patrick Schulte (goalkeeper): Probably the best current keeper in the pool with the ball at his feet. If Schulte is not injured for the Gold Cup, Freese may never get his shot to start before the USMNT. With a strong season, Schulte could be the starter in the net.
• John Tolkin (defender): It feels like there are too many outdoor ridges in the team, but if you look around, there are no middle backs who have shown that they should be at the USMNT. Since Scally can be an emergency center and Arfsten can be an emergency, that leaves room to take interpreter.
• Diego Luna (Midfielder): Luna becomes the right hand of Pochettino and has every occasion that he has handed in to impress. He will be in this team and who knows Luna could play in Europe before the World Cup rolls.
• Tim Ream (defender): With Ream in the team you would think that he might come as an experienced player, but instead the need for a starting center is back. Others got their chance, but nobody has shown Pochettino that someone other than Ream should start. The Charlotte FCman must be given credit for its lifespan, but Center Back is a great concern for this team.
• Tim Weah (forward): WEAH is struggling with Juventus for playing time and is someone else who could agree on the outside and looks at the World Cup team if things do not change earlier instead of later. Weah has the talent to be one of the top members of this team, but if he doesn’t start for his club, it’s hard to take him.
• Sebastian Haalter (midfielder): The man from Vancouver WhiteCaps quickly became one of the best players in the team in delivering set -teal pieces. His game on the field must be improved to really be at a USMNT level at the World Cup, but if someone has to deliver a free kick or an angle to change the outcome of a game, there are worse options.

Will Gio Reyna make the schedule? What about Yunus Musah?

Here is a look at those who missed the cut in this projection:

• Brenden Aaronson (midfielder): It is passed on for other options, it feels like injuries are the only way to get Aaronson to the World Cup.
• Yunus -Midfielder: Does playing time and a new house need in the worst way. Still didn’t get it.
• Gio Reyna (Midfielder): Just like the situation of Musah, but even worse, Reyna has to go somewhere else than Dortmund and fast.
• Josh Sargent (Vooruit): The rise of Agaremang feels like it correlates with Sargent’s exclusion from the team. Things can change with a hot line, but it will be a tough climb.
• Zack Steffen (goalkeeper): Another player where if he was not injured in the Gold Cup, things can be different, but Steffen will probably get more opportunities in the future.

2026 STAY PROJECTION

Goalkeepers (3): Matt Freese (New York City FC), Matt Turner (Crystal Palace), Patrick Schulte (Columbus Crew).

Defenders (8): Sergino Dest (PSV), Antonee Robinson (Fulham), Miles Robinson (FC Cincinnati), Chris Richards (Crystal Palace), Tim Ream (Fulham), Joe Scally (Borussia Monchengladbach), Max Arfsten (Columbus), John Tolkin (Holstein).

Midfielders (7): Weston Mckennie (Juventus), Tyler Adams (Bournemouth), Diego Luna (Real Salt Lake), Luca de la Torre (San Diego FC), Sebastian Beralter (Vancouver Whitecaps), Malik Tillman (Real Betis), Johnny Leverkusen).

Forward (6): Christian Pulisic (Milan), Folangin Balogun (Monaco), Ricardo Pepi (PSV), Team Weah (Juventus), Patrick Agyemang (Derby County), Haji Wright (Coventry City).