The U.S. males’s nationwide workforce loved loads of optimistic moments in 2025 and with the FIFA World Cup lower than six months away from kicking off, head coach Mauricio Pochettino might be hoping related success can happen within the new 12 months.
Pochettino helped the squad shut 2025 on a serious excessive be aware, particularly given the truth that they didn’t raise two trophies alongside the best way. A fourth-place end within the CONCACAF Nations League paired with a slim Gold Cup finals loss to Mexico had USMNT followers anxious heading into the autumn, however a five-match unbeaten run to finish the 12 months definitely boosted spirits.
Many gamers impressed in the course of the 12 months for membership and nation, taking key steps ahead of their improvement. Key veterans additionally excelled over the previous 12 months, changing into ever extra necessary in this system’s quest to ship a powerful World Cup run subsequent summer time.
As we shut the guide on 2025, right here’s what you have to be waiting for in 2026 for the USMNT:
World Cup on residence soil with golden technology serving as leaders
The USMNT did properly to achieve the Spherical of 16 on the 2022 FIFA World Cup, however Mauricio Pochettino might be hoping his squad can attain new heights in 2026.
With most of the program’s star gamers within the prime of their membership careers, there may be zero motive why the USMNT shouldn’t have aspirations of successful the competitors on residence soil. Christian Pulisic, Weston McKennie, and Chris Richards are among the many standout performers of the present European season and might be anticipated to cleared the path subsequent summer time in america.
Sprinkle in gamers equivalent to Antonee Robinson, Sergino Dest, Tim Weah, and others, and you’ve got a USMNT squad that brings loads of aptitude and pleasure.
This can definitely go down because the USMNT’s most-talented workforce when it comes to individuality, however they are going to want everybody to work collectively in the event that they need to make a serious splash on the World Cup.
The ever-changing No. 9 race
Much like 2022, the USMNT are nonetheless looking for for somebody to seize the beginning No. 9 position.
Folarin Balogun, Ricardo Pepi, Haji Wright, and Patrick Agyemang are No. 1-4 on my present depth chart, primarily based off their 2025’s for membership and nation and their potential for additional success in 2026.
Baogun chipped in 4 objectives in 2025 for the USMNT, scoring in each of the October and November home windows. The Monaco ahead has additionally discovered the again of the online seven occasions at membership degree this season, bouncing again from a troublesome second half final spring.
When it comes to total final-third skills, Balogun is the entire package deal and may have the leg up heading into the brand new 12 months.
Pepi leads the best way when it comes to membership objectives this season with 10, persevering with to be a constant menace for Dutch membership PSV. Regardless of serving to Peter Bosz’s squad raise the Dutch Tremendous Cup final August and grabbing the highest spot within the present Eredivisie marketing campaign, Pepi solely featured as soon as for the USMNT in 2025, lacking on a golden alternative in opposition to Paraguay final month.
He nonetheless has loads to supply the squad, however in the end has to remain wholesome and keep amongst the objectives in Holland.
Haji Wright and Patrick Agyemang are each preventing for the job as properly, however might want to do loads over the subsequent six months to overhaul Balogun and/or Pepi.
Wright began the EFL Championship marketing campaign in blistering type, scoring 9 objectives within the opening two months for Coventry Metropolis. Nonetheless, the veteran ahead has been unable to seek out the again of the online since October 4, inflicting concern for Sky Blues and USMNT followers alike.
He did rating three objectives for the USMNT this 12 months, which is a optimistic, however might be anticipated to supply extra at membership degree in the course of the second half of the season.
Agyemang has been one in every of Derby County’s higher performers in the course of the first half of the season. The previous Charlotte FC man has contributed six objectives and three assists for the Rams, stepping up for the injured Carlton Morris.
As well as, Agyemang led the USMNT with 5 objectives in 2025, with majority of these coming on the Gold Cup. He’s essentially the most bodily out of the strikers within the pool and will very properly power his method into the combo over the subsequent few months.
Josh Sargent and Brian White are on the surface wanting in, however will want a miracle to really be within the combine by June.
Gio Reyna, Yunus Musah’s membership roles
Two gamers that USMNT followers might be hoping propel themselves again into the combo in 2026 are Gio Reyna and Yunus Musah.
Reyna and Musah are two of the extra proficient midfielders within the participant pool, however have discovered it robust to play persistently for this system this 12 months.
Reyna earned three caps in 2025, scoring one aim and registering one help. The Borussia Dortmund loanee delivered a stellar aim in opposition to Paraguay earlier than teeing up Tanner Tessmann for his first worldwide aim in opposition to Uruguay.
A transfer to Borussia Moenchengladbach on mortgage has helped Reyna in his quest to play extra at membership degree, one thing that each him and Pochettino will hope continues in 2026.
As for Musah, he’s in a worrying spot in Bergamo. Musah has made 13 appearances for Atalanta throughout all competitions, however has solely earned two begins over that span. His position with the USMNT has been restricted over the previous 12 months, making simply two appearances again within the Nations League Remaining 4.
There’s nonetheless loads of long-term potential with Musah as he’s solely 23-years-old, however his alternatives to impress Pochettino earlier than June’s ultimate camp are operating out.
Antonee Robinson, Sergino Dest staying wholesome and impactful
The USMNT might have among the best 1-2 punches in the case of fullbacks, however that’s when each are wholesome and on the sector.
Antonee Robinson and Sergino Dest are more likely to be Pochettino’s beginning left and proper wingbacks subsequent summer time, bearing a serious change. Robinson is again to full health for English Premier League membership Fulham and taking part in recurrently throughout a busy vacation schedule.
The veteran left again has began every of the final 4 matches in Marco Silva’s squad, aiding as soon as in EFL Cup play and likewise coming near including to his numbers in three EPL appearances.
Robinson’s absence from the USMNT this 12 months allowed Max Arfsten to power his method into the image, giving Pochettino loads to think about heading into March’s camp. Nonetheless, when each are wholesome, it’s very robust to see Robinson not being within the beginning lineup once more.
As for Dest, he’s rapidly gotten again to his greatest at PSV this season.
After an injury-plagued 2024-25 marketing campaign, Dest has contributed two objectives and 5 assists in 23 appearances for the Dutch leaders. Most significantly, Dest has had minimal absences this fall/winter, a testomony to his work price off the sector to remain wholesome and match.
Dest earned 4 caps for the USMNT this 12 months, shining within the ultimate window in opposition to Paraguay and Uruguay. Though Alex Freeman impressed in Dest’s absences and Joe Scally stays an choice too, Dest needs to be one of many first names on Pochettino’s workforce sheet if wholesome.
Adams, McKennie apart, who will step up in midfield?
Pochettino’s hardest choices come subsequent June may very properly come within the USMNT’s midfield.
Tyler Adams is at the moment sidelined as a consequence of a torn MCL, forcing him out of motion for Bournemouth till not less than March. He needs to be again for the World Cup, and bearing a set again, I count on him to be there and be wholesome.
Weston McKennie is having fun with among the best seasons overseas with Juventus, scoring two objectives and including two assists in 27 appearances. The veteran midfielder has performed ample minutes in Turin this fall/winter and appears set to reclaim his USMNT spot come March.
Outdoors of these two gamers, there are many choices for Pochettino to think about.
Brenden Aaronson is taking part in week in and week out for Leeds United and will function for the USMNT in a sophisticated position. Aidan Morris not too long ago made his return for Middlesbrough after a one-month harm layoff whereas Tanner Tessmann did the identical for Lyon after lacking time to a respective harm of his personal.
Johnny Cardoso’s taking part in time has been restricted with Atletico Madrid this marketing campaign, however nonetheless has just a few months to get again on monitor. Malik Tillman, Cristian Roldan, Diego Luna and Sebastian Berhalter all delivered optimistic performances at occasions for the USMNT in 2025 and certainly boosted their shares to be within the combine for the March camp.
James Sands and Luca De La Torre are on the surface wanting in, hoping that they will impress at membership degree over the subsequent few months.
It’s a optimistic factor that Pochettino has loads of choices to select from, however I believe in some unspecified time in the future, he’s going to wish to trim that checklist all the way down to get some familiarity and chemistry going.
What is going to you be monitoring in 2026? Are there any positions you can be holding a more in-depth eye on? Do you see anybody successful their roster spot in March? What number of roster spots do you suppose are locked up at the moment?
Share your ideas beneath.