USMNT 2026 World Cup squad projection: Pochettino's depth chart by position

New York Times

2 days ago

The central focus coming out of the U.S. men's national team's embarrassing 4-0 loss to Switzerland on Tuesday in Nashville was, understandably, on the depth of the team's player pool.
For years now we have heard about the potential of a 'golden generation' of American soccer players. Top young players were succeeding overseas with bigger clubs and at younger ages than any American men's national team before them.
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But as some of those stars plateaued or fell off, and with need to fortify the squad in the absence of those regular starters, the lack of reliable options behind the starting group has started to show.
One year out from the 2026 World Cup, it's an appropriate landmark to assess and project what the World Cup team could look like when the U.S. walks out of the SoFi Stadium tunnel for its tournament opener. The thought exercise showed that there are plenty of jobs still to be won, with plenty of depth spots — and a few starting jobs, too — up for grabs.
It's a perilous ask to make predictions even a year out. Consider that only 14 of the USMNT's 23-man roster at the 2021 Concacaf Nations League finals were on the 26-man roster for Qatar. Among those who went from off-the-team to starting games at the last World Cup were Matt Turner, Cameron Carter-Vickers, Walker Zimmerman, Jesus Ferreira and Haji Wright. In other words, no matter how things look now, they will change.
That being said, with one year to go, here is our projection for the USMNT squad if the 2026 World Cup started today, with another eye cast on the depth – or lack thereof – at each position. We went with a more traditional 23-man team but included a bonus trio if FIFA opts for 26-man squads again this time around.
Formerly the undeniable strong suit of this program for decades, this position has become an open competition following the 2022 World Cup.
Turner's dream move to Europe has become a stale nightmare, with the 30-year-old struggling to consistently get meaningful games since joining Arsenal in 2022. He's joining Lyon and could immediately be in another competition for time should incumbent starter Lucas Perri remain. Steffen and Schulte start regularly in MLS, but Steffen's shot-stopping has often been suspect in recent years, and he was forced to leave camp with a knee injury. Schulte, meanwhile, missed a chance to cement his standing at the Gold Cup with an injury (oblique) of his own.
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Such is the dire state of the position that anyone able to play regularly at a high enough level will likely stay in the mix for call-ups between now and next summer. Matt Freese (NYCFC), Chris Brady (Chicago Fire) and Ethan Horvath (Cardiff City) have benefitted from their clubs' trust, while younger prospects Diego Kochen (Barcelona) and Gabriel Slonina (Chelsea) could rapidly rise if their development is far enough along.
Absence makes the heart grow fonder, right? Dest, for all of his trickery and occasional attacking endeavors that leave the U.S. open in transition, is far and away the best right back in the pool. Missing him for the past year has emphasized just how much Dest adds to what the rest of the team does, and the imbalance in the team when he's not starting.
Freeman, the 20-year-old from Orlando City, has a legitimate shot to break into the national team, in part because Scally just doesn't add anything going forward. Replacing Dest with Scally highlights how important it is to have the fullbacks providing width and, occasionally, verticality. Freeman could be the answer for that.
The weakness of the fullback depth chart, though, and Scally's ability to play on both the right and left side – and his relative defensive steadiness – secures him a spot on this roster. If you need to dig into the depth chart at the World Cup, you have to pick players who can handle the world-class wingers you'll face. Scally, a regular Bundesliga starter, checks that box.
Much like the last World Cup cycle, the current center back hierarchy is largely unsettled. Richards finally earned regular starts in the role with Crystal Palace last year, and he may need to assume a role as this team's defensive anchor. McKenzie had a steady debut season at Toulouse, while Zimmerman and Miles Robinson (FC Cincinnati) remain in contention as leading defenders in MLS.
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Ream made just one qualifying window last cycle but has arguably been the USMNT's most consistent center back since the start of the 2022 World Cup. Although he'll be 38 next summer, he may again be needed to steady the backline. Auston Trusty and Cameron Carter-Vickers start alongside each other at Celtic but haven't looked the part with the national team. George Campbell is the sole viable prospect, but the 23-year-old toils on rudderless CF Montréal.
The Fulham left back has become arguably the most indispensable player in the squad. There simply isn't a like-for-like replacement on the team, and neither Max Arfsten (Columbus Crew) nor John Tolkin (Holstein Kiel) has yet proved capable of handling World Cup-level duties.
If Robinson is out, Dest becomes the starting left back. If Dest goes down, Scally moves over to the left. That's where Freeman's emergence at right back becomes an important development during this summer's Gold Cup.
One potential late-emerging player to keep an eye on: Peyton Miller. Could the New England Revolution teenager prove enough over the next year, and maybe with a January move to Europe, to fight his way into the picture?
On paper, this may be the pool's strongest group. Adams raised AFC Bournemouth's level when he returned from his year of injuries. Cardoso started throughout Real Betis' run to the UEFA Europa Conference League final, while Tessmann made 25 league appearances in his first year with Lyon.
Adams' considerable injury history always looms over projections like these, especially after Cardoso's all-timer of a blunder against Turkey last week. Despite his steady play in La Liga – and links to a lucrative Atlético Madrid transfer – the 23-year-old has been shaky with the USMNT, which could lead Tessmann to earn a greater role after captaining the Olympic team last summer. Otherwise, Tessmann can play in a more advanced role within the engine room.
McKennie just capped possibly the finest season of his career to date, but he has made just four appearances under Pochettino. Given his versatility and his prominence within this team, he'll need to quickly study up on his role. Musah was a starter in Qatar, but his development has stagnated in two seasons with AC Milan. A reported move to Napoli could provide a chance to get back on track, although he may again be a rotational piece for the defending Serie A champion.
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As for alternatives beyond the Italy-based duo, Luca de la Torre has impressed on a loan with San Diego FC and is a 2022 World Cup veteran. Jack McGlynn has an important role with the Houston Dynamo and has shown flashes under Pochettino, scoring a pair of great goals, while Aidan Morris had a fine first season with Middlesbrough.
Another area with a concerning lack of depth. Unlike other spots, however, there are clear starters of undeniable international caliber. The lack of evolution across the squad means that Pulisic and Weah's form will have an outsized impact on the USMNT's hopes of advancing to the knockout stage. The wing duo scored the team's only two goals in the last World Cup group stage. All eyes will be on how Weah handles his first tournament action after his inexplicable red card against Panama that doomed the team's Copa América hopes.
Alejandro Zendejas has not been involved with the USMNT since November, but his form for Club América warrants a re-examination of his fit under Pochettino.
If we made a list of players for whom the Gold Cup is most important, Tillman might top it. Here's the reality: Gio Reyna has played a total of 1,929 league minutes since his age 17 season in 2020-21. The idea that he can be counted on to be at the World Cup is just people clinging on to the hope of what a teenaged prospect could become.
That makes Tillman's emergence all the more important. He has 21 goals and 12 assists across the last two Eredivisie seasons with PSV. He had three goals and two assists in Champions League play. That club form hasn't yet carried over to the national team, but the U.S. needs Tillman to become a key figure for this team. Right now, it feels like it's the mental and emotional side of the international game that he's missing the most — maybe he can tap a bit into his time in Scotland to add more urgency and physicality to the finesse of his game.
Luna, meanwhile, has become the emotional example that Pochettino holds up for the rest of the group. His willingness to stay in a friendly with a broken nose — and then assist a goal — stuck with the coach. Right now, the U.S. needs more of Luna's mentality and desire in the group. It's tough to see a World Cup squad without Luna in it for that reason only.
The door isn't closed on Reyna, by the way. If he makes a club move from Dortmund, plays consistently and produces, he'll be on the squad.
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This, along with goalkeeper, feels like the most wide-open race on the World Cup squad. Balogun has hardly been available for Pochettino, but has the best skill set of any of the strikers in the pool. He can run in behind, is dangerous in the box and has been a consistent goal-scoring threat when on the field for the U.S.
Pepi was in blazing-hot form for PSV this season before a knee injury ended his year. How he returns from that injury will go a long way in determining his place. Pepi was probably the biggest snub on the 2022 roster, an absence that felt significant when Josh Sargent (Norwich City) went down with an injury at the end of the group stage. Could next summer be his redemption?
Haji Wright was a shock pick for the 2022 World Cup team, but Gregg Berhalter clearly wanted a different profile of striker to pair with Jesus Ferreira and Sargent. Wright ended up scoring a fluky goal vs. the Netherlands in the last 16, but it's his ability to provide depth up top and on the wings that earns him a spot on the roster.
There are plenty of other candidates who could fight their way into the team, though. Sargent started in the last tournament and was arguably the best forward in the English Championship this season. That form just hasn't translated to the U.S. team; he, incredibly, hasn't scored internationally since 2019. Pochettino seems to really like Agyemang (Charlotte FC) and his profile, but could someone like Damion Downs (Köln) or even the injury-plagued Daryl Dike (West Brom) get hot at the club level and surge to a spot?
Agyemang, Downs and Brian White (Vancouver Whitecaps) will get a chance to make their arguments this summer.
GOALKEEPER (3): Schulte, Steffen, Turner
DEFENDERS (8): Dest, Freeman, Scally; McKenzie, T. Ream, Richards, W. Zimmerman; A. Robinson
MIDFIELDERS (7): Adams, Cardoso; McKennie, Musah, Tessmann; Luna, Tillman
FORWARDS (5): Balogun, Pepi, Pulisic, Weah, Wright
TENORIO: Miles Robinson, Josh Sargent, Alejandro Zendejas
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If I get three extra players, I'm definitely adding center back depth, and Miles Robinson sneaks onto the team. I initially had him in my 23, so this is a good way to get him back in the mix.
Despite not scoring, Sargent showed his quality in big games at Qatar 2022. He's probably my favorite forward of the bunch – just not sure Pochettino sees it that way.
Lastly, winger depth on the team is atrocious, and Zendejas gives that a boost.
RUETER: Aidan Morris, Patrick Agyemang, Alejandro Zendejas
With a paucity of viable alternatives in defense — four center backs is fine by me given Pochettino's team shape — this trio brings greater versatility in midfield and the attack.
Morris is a tidy passer with defensive chops, logging an impressive 64.7% 'true' tackle win-rate across 2,920 minutes. The 23-year-old also displayed strong ball progression — leading all qualified Championship midfielders with 74.6% passing accuracy for attempts traveling 35 yards or further — and savvy tactical fouling. He can fill any role in an engine room.
Agyemang is a great reader of space with blistering pace, a skill set that allows him to shake up a game from the bench. With Agyemang as the third striker, Wright can primarily factor as the backup left winger with Zendejas deputizing on the right.