Updated USMNT Roster Projection for the 2026 FIFA World Cup
The next time the United States plays an official match, it will be at the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
Not a dress rehearsal. Not a friendly. The actual tournament.
The Gold Cup provided a bounce-back opportunity for the U.S. after disappointment in the Concacaf Nations League, and the team seized it. It may have lost the final 2-1 to Mexico Sunday night, but depth was discovered and added options to head coach Mauricio Pochettino's planning for next year's tournament.
The USMNT manager has had time to work through the players he feels work in his system, those he still needs to see a bit more from in the fall friendly matches and decide on his final list before the deadline in the spring of 2026.
Before then, B/R projects the squad for the second time this year and selects a starting XI to take on that opening-match opponent.
While teams were able to take 26 players to Qatar, preparation for that World Cup was marked by the COVID-19 pandemic. The squad limit for the 2023 Women’s World Cup was reinstated at 23, and the regulations for ongoing qualification matches permit 23 players on the starting list for each game.
That could change, and managers will hope to secure another three slots. For now, though, we're keeping our list to 23.
Goalkeepers
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Matt Freese, Matt Turner, Patrick Schulte
Out from last projection: Zack Steffen
This is how you make the most of an opportunity. With Matt Turner not in game rhythm and having struggled in a pre-tournament friendly, Pochettino turned to NYCFC standout Matt Freese.
The 26-year-old looks to have won the starting job, for now. Despite conceding on a miscommunication with Tim Ream in the final group game against Haiti, Freese kept Pochettino's trust and repaid that faith with a stunning shootout performance against Costa Rica to push the U.S. into the semifinals of the tournament.
Turner is still on the roster, and despite missing the Gold Cup because of an injury, we also have Columbus Crew shot-stopper Patrick Schulte keeping his place.
The 24-year-old is more seasoned than current No. 3 Chris Brady, who is on the outside looking in along with Steffen, Ethan Horvath and even younger "goalkeeper of the future" candidate Diego Kochen of Barcelona B.
Defenders
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Chris Richards, Tim Ream, Sergino Dest, Antonee Robinson, Mark McKenzie, Alex Freeman, Walker Zimmerman
Out from last projection: Joe Scally, Jackson Ragen
Richards' presence and the absence of Dest and Robinson reinforced two things this tournament: The Crystal Palace center back is the most important defender for the U.S. at the moment, with his aerial prowess and threat from set pieces. And the starting fullbacks should be Dest and Robinson.
The drop-off from Robinson to Gold Cup deputies Max Arfsten and John Tolkin is stark, and it showed in the tournament. On the other side, Freeman looks like a capable back-up, bursting onto the scene with Orlando City this year and providing reliable if innocuous play on the right side.
Midfielders
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Tyler Adams, Weston McKennie, Johnny Cardoso, Luca de la Torre, Yunus Musah
Out from last projection: Tanner Tessmann
Adams not only showed up for the team in the midfield this summer, but he is also more and more the leader of the next generation. He will make the squad as long as he can stay fit; something that isn't always a given, but that he managed to do this summer.
McKennie keeps his spot, spending the summer with Juventus in the Club World Cup but knowing he is secure in his place in the national team thanks to past performances and continued quality showings with his club.
The change in midfield is with De La Torre, who became a consistent starter for Pochettino in the Gold Cup, providing not only decent defensive cover but also several final-third entry passes and spotting when it was wise to launch a long ball over the top.
While he had a solid tournament, the Johnny breakout didn't come as hoped. The midfielder dealt with bumps and bruises during the Gold Cup and did not deliver any memorable performances for the U.S. As a deal to join Atletico Madrid draws closer, though, it feels impossible that he would be left off the roster, even without a signature game for the national team.
While his club situation is pointing up, Musah needs to land well and play. His versatility makes him a near-lock for next year, but the midfield is looking crowded.
Forwards
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Forwards: Christian Pulisic, Malik Tillman, Diego Luna, Tim Weah, Folarin Balogun, Ricardo Pepi, Patrick Agyemang
Out from last projection: Gio Reyna, Brandon Vazquez
Pulisic is good enough and important enough that he can skip a tournament like the Gold Cup and will still be the first name on the squad list. Yet, he is getting company when it comes to creative players, which is a great thing for the U.S.
Luna made our last list after his gutsy showing in the third-place Concacaf Nations League defeat against Canada, but Tillman was on the outside looking in. No longer. After his goals, creation and willingness to work, his place in the World Cup team now looks extremely secure.
Up top, Agyemang did not impress in the tournament despite two goals in the group stage. Yet, Pochettino stuck with the Charlotte FC forward, leading to the idea that he will strongly consider him for the summer.
It likely would be only as the third forward, though, provided Balogun and Pepi are able to recover well from the injuries that kept them out of the Gold Cup.
Agyemang also must fend off competition from Josh Sargent—who may be heading to the Premier League or Bundesliga—Haji Wright, Damion Downs, Vazquez and Brian White among others.
Is it harsh to leave Reyna off the list? His only crime in recent months was missing the Gold Cup because he was in Borussia Dortmund's Club World Cup squad. Yet, so far he's played just a dozen minutes through four matches in that tournament.
The 22-year-old needs to find a new club where he's getting consistent playing time. If not, it will be tough to impress Pochettino and the coaching staff in the time he has left to stake a claim to a World Cup place.
Starting XI on June 12, 2026
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The Americans' next official match is the big one. Well, the first of at least three big ones, and ideally more for the host nation.
The XI has shifted since March's Nations League failure, when the U.S. finished last. Though even after Luna's standout showings in the Gold Cup, he lost the place we gave him in the XI, potentially a good sign for the competition for places up front.
Our biggest changes, though, come at the back, where we have a new goalkeeper and where Tim Ream looks to be holding off competition for the starting left center back role. Mark McKenzie looked to have become a Pochettino favorite, but he played just 16 minutes at the Gold Cup after struggling during the pre-tournament friendly matches.
And, as we wrote after the group stage, Malik Tillman is a starter. Little seems likely to change that, especially as he prepares to level up with a move to Bundesliga club Bayer Leverkusen.
The fall friendlies will be a chance to see him work with Pulisic and likely wing starter Weah, plus USMNT fans pray for a fit Balogun up top.
Goalkeeper: Matt Freese
Defense: Sergino Dest, Chris Richards, Tim Ream, Antonee Robinson
Midfield: Johnny Cardoso, Tyler Adams, Tim Weah, Malik Tillman, Christian Pulisic
Forward: Folarin Balogun
