Weston McKennie has told GOAL what leadership means to him, as a captaincy candidate with Juventus and the USMNT, while discussing the kind of characters that he likes to work alongside. The all-action midfielder is enjoying a productive 2026, with a new contract being signed in Turin, and is counting down the days to a home World Cup on American soil.
Weston McKennie admits that the USMNT will be under “pressure” to deliver at a home World Cup, but considers that level of expectation to bring with it “extra motivation”. The United States is counting down the days to another major tournament on American soil, with McKennie explaining to GOAL how Mauricio Pochettino’s squad will handle the demands of heat and travel.
USMNT star Weston McKennie was bizarrely slapped by his own manager after seeing Juventus score a goal in their 4-0 victory over Pisa. The United States international midfielder played the full 90 minutes of that contest, having lined up at wing-back, but may have been left sporting a sore head afterwards after being clipped on the cheek by Luciano Spalletti.
MLS has been told why retaining home-grown stars such as Christian Pulisic and Weston McKennie will remain impossible in the foreseeable future, with “real football” being played in Europe. Giuseppe Rossi - who spent time in England, Italy, Spain and the United States during his playing career - has told GOAL why top American talent will continue to fly the domestic nest.
The United States has been warned that talk of the USMNT winning a home World Cup in 2026 “won’t be fair at all”, with a more realistic example of “huge success” being pointed out. Giuseppe Rossi, who qualified to represent the land of his birth but opted to play for Italy, has - while filling a role as vice-chairman and head of soccer at the New York Cosmos - given GOAL his assessment of the so-called ‘Golden Generation’.
Weston McKennie isn’t going anywhere.
After months of renewed speculation, the U.S. men’s national team midfielder has signed a new four-year contract with Juventus, committing to the Serie A side through 2030. McKennie had been set to become a free agent this summer, with interest building as his form surged, but Juventus have now moved decisively to secure one of their most versatile contributors for the long term.
The former United States head coach Gregg Berhalter has heaped praise upon Weston McKennie after the Juventus midfielder continued his resurgence in Italy. The former Schalke player has been reborn this season and become integral to a new look Juventus side, even filling in as a makeshift centre-forward to great effect for the Old Lady at times this campaign.
Weston McKennie was at the center of Juventus' three-goal comeback on Wednesday, scoring the third goal of that comeback against Galatasaray. McKennie's late finish leveled the aggregate scoreline of Wednesday's second leg of the Champions League's play-off round, but it wasn't enough as Galatasaray wrestled control back in extra time.
USMNT star Weston McKennie has, according to reports in Italy, finally agreed a new contract with Juventus. Fresh terms will bring transfer talk to the close, as the United States international has been heading towards free agency. It is claimed that the versatile midfielder’s new deal will see him become one of the top earners with Serie A heavyweights.
Christian Pulisic is hunting for fitness for Milan, and Folarin Balogun could deliver a big three points for his team if he continues his current form.
Weston McKennie endured a tough time when suffering relegation out of the Premier League during a forgettable loan spell with Leeds in 2023, but the United States international may not be finished with the English top-flight. Former USMNT star Tab Ramos has told GOAL why the versatile Juventus midfielder would “make any team better” ahead of potentially hitting free agency this summer.
Weston McKennie has transformed from a transfer-listed outcast into an indispensable pillar of the Juventus midfield, but his long-term future in Turin now hangs by a thread. While the 27-year-old Texan has voiced his desire to remain with the Bianconeri, negotiations have hit a significant roadblock. His representatives are playing hardball, demanding a salary that reflects his status as one of Serie A's most consistent performers, leading to a high-stakes standoff at the Allianz Stadium.
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