USMNT roster power rankings: Who will make Gregg Berhalter's 2024 Copa America and 2026 World Cup squads?

Pulisic's move to AC Milan lit a fire under him as he has been spectacular for club and country. Having scored plenty for the Serie A giants already, Pulisic remains the USMNT's top dog as he continues to be the flag-bearer at home and abroad.

He's back to playing a big role at Juventus, which is good news for both McKennie and the U.S. The midfielder has been key for Juve all season long, and is arguably having the best campaign of any player at the club so far.

For the U.S., he remains essentially undroppable no matter how the U.S. midfield shakes out going forward.

Reyna's career is in a weird spot right now. Despite his lack of club minutes, he's shining every time he takes the field for the USMNT and, because of that, it's hard to see how the U.S. can go forward without him starting.

Can he get something, anything, out of this Nottingham Forest loan? If he can, he'll basically be a locked-in starter in time for the Copa.

You could genuinely argue that Robinson has been the Premier League's best left-back this season, that's how well he is playing.

He's the USMNT's unquestioned starter on the left of the defense, too, and there really isn't anyone in a position to unseat him any time soon. It seems his career is only on the rise as the fullback continues to be linked with big clubs in Europe.

Captain America is back. A hamstring injury suffered late last season ruled Adams out for the entire summer and much of the Premier League season. He returned briefly for Bournemouth, but reaggravated the injury almost immediately to send him back to the sidelines.

The U.S. did fairly well without Adams, but don't let that make you forget how important he is to this team when healthy. His stunning goal against Mexico was a true 'welcome back' moment for a player that slots right back into the midfield.

The third member of the USMNT's 'MMA' midfield is Musah, a player who has a bright, bright future. He's building that future at AC Milan, having joined Pulisic at the Serie A club last summer.

It took him a bit of time to get into the swing of things, but he's now playing regularly for the Rossoneri and evolving into a more well-rounded midfielder. Musah is clearly here to stay through 2026 and beyond.

Weah is playing as a left-wing-back at Juventus, but that isn't stopping him from contributing as a winger for the USMNT. He scored the opener against Uzbekistan in September, striking the ball with power to get on the scoresheet, and was also phenomenal against Ghana in October, as he ran circles around their backline all throughout the first half.

For Weah, the key is to simply lock down a role at Juve. He's come off the bench for much of the second half of the Serie A season, and it would be a big lift for the U.S. if he can get back to playing starting minutes. If he does that, it'll be good news for Gregg Berhalter.

It's been a difficult year for Balogun. He hasn't quite taken off at Monaco, making his USMNT starting spot a little bit less solid than it was before.

In truth, the U.S. still hasn't quite figured out how to get the best out of Balogun, but the hope is that will come in time as the striker has the potential to be a legitimate force in a national-team jersey.

In the fall, we saw the best and worst of Dest. The best came against Ghana, when he had an unstoppable attacking performance that left the Black Stars chasing shadows. The worst? His ridiculous sending-off against Trinidad & Tobago.

Can he be the starting right-back in big games? It's a question that remains heading towards the Copa America, but he went some way to answering it with a great performance against Mexico in the CONCACAF Nations League final.

The unquestioned USMNT No.1., but his spot isn't totally secure long-term due to his lack of minutes at Nottingham Forest. The good news for Turner is that, short-term, no one is in a position to challenge him as he looks set to be the starter for the Copa.

Sargent is the largest riser on this list, and he wasn't even in the most recent USMNT camp. The striker has been an unstoppable force in the Championship, making him the USMNT's most in-form player. An injury ruled the Norwich star out of March camp, though, robbing him of a chance to solidify his place.

If he keeps scoring, there will be no keeping him out for the Copa, despite him missing that chance to impress. Right now, Sargent is the USMNT's hot hand.

For some time, USMNT fans have wanted to see what a healthy Richards can do. Thankfully, they now have an answer.

Richards has solidified a more regular place at Crystal Palace and now seems ready to seize his spot as starting centerback on the international stage. He'll have to continue living up to that billing at club level, but Richards seems like he's all the way into the USMNT XI.

He isn't a regular in the USMNT team, but he continues to impress in La Liga. De la Torre has become a regular for Celta Vigo, where his silky smooth game is continuing to develop. It'll be tough for him to crack the USMNT starting XI when full-strength, but there's no doubt that there's big value in what the 24-year-old midfielder has to offer.

That was on display in his appearance against Uzbekistan, which was, unfortunately, cut short due to injury. His performance against Germany wasn't great, but even so, he remains a good backup option for the U.S at the moment.

Another possible answer at No.6, Cardoso has dazzled since making his move to Real Betis in January. You can't write off a player playing at that type of level, even if it will be hard for him to usurp Adams as the starting No.6.

Either way, it's nice to finally have a reliable backup for Adams, particularly given his injury history.

The train was derailed for a bit, but it's going full steam ahead now. Pepi scored six goals in his first six USMNT games in 2023, pushing himself right back into competition with Balogun. Since missing out on the World Cup, Pepi has been on fire, which is fantastic for the USMNT.

Can he surpass Balogun? It's not out of the question, despite him having been stuck in something of a super-sub role for club and country. Even if he is thriving in that role, he'll probably need to break into the XI at PSV if he hopes to really push to be the USMNT's starting No.9.

It's hard to imagine Ream still playing at his current level in 2026, but, given what we've seen, it really does feel possible! The veteran defender has found another gear as he's helped lift Fulham in the Premier League. It all comes after a dazzling World Cup, where Ream was a standout performer after being Berhalter's most surprising selection.

Ream says he hopes to have another few years in him, adding that he has more he wants to accomplish. That'll keep him around for a bit, but we'll have to see how long he can keep this going. At this point, he seems a lock for the Copa America and, after that, maybe it'll be time to reassess.

The FC Cincinnati star should have been in Qatar, but the soccer gods are cruel. His Achilles injury kept him out of the World Cup, where he would have been an unquestioned starter.

Robinson, though, is now all the way back. He pulled double duty in the summer with the Nations League and Gold Cup to get reps and, as things stand, may very well be a starter by the time the Copa America kicks off. That will depend on how he does in Cincy, though, as he turned down Europe for the stability of MLS. Could that decision come back to bite him at international level?

The only USMNT striker to actually score a goal in Qatar, Wright's effort against the Netherlands was something of a fluke, but you'll take that kind of luck as a striker. He came out of nowhere to end up actually playing a key role at the World Cup, where his hold-up play proved invaluable.

Like Sargent, he's also scoring for fun in the Championship, with that form carrying over to the USMNT. His two goals against Jamaica in the CONCACAF Nations League semifinal were massive, and they could give Wright an inside track for a spot on the Copa roster.

The third PSV star on this list, Tillman has been fantastic for during his loan spell in Eindhoven, showing encouraging signs as he grows into a dynamic attacking-midfield option for the U.S. The problem is that he remains behind Reyna in the pecking order, who is the go-to No.10 for this team.

Even so, Tillman is a valuable option, one who definitely could be an impact player for the U.S. going forward.

He has the 2022 World Cup experience under his belt, even if he didn't feature, and Scally seems destined to play at one of these tournaments eventually.

Scally, though, has struggled a bit in his most recent USMNT performances, and those struggles won't usurp Dest as the starting rightback. Still, he's a young defender who has done very, very well in the Bundesliga, so he'll probably be just fine long-term.

The 24-year-old center-back is a regular with Genk in the Belgian top-flight and already has solid experience with the national team. He won at both the senior and U20 level for the U.S. and was right on the fringes of the squad heading towards Qatar. He's been in and around the squad ever since.

The USMNT has tons of options at centerback, but, having made the CONCACAF Nations League squad, it seems McKenzie is among the preferred options.

He was something of a surprise call-up for Qatar, but Carter-Vickers has grown into arguably the best defender in the Scottish Premiership. He has been a rock since joining Celtic, concluding his seemingly never-ending series of loans away from Tottenham.

It's great to see the 25-year-old defender getting a legitimate opportunity to shine after spending so long in limbo at club level, and he's certainly making the most of it. Injuries have robbed him of some USMNT chances over the last year, but he's still very much in the mix.

All energy, all the time, but there's still a lot of growing to do. Aaronson struggled to really adapt to the Premier League and didn't play a huge role for Leeds down the stretch last season as his side were relegated. His move to Union Berlin has been tough, too, although he has played much better in recent weeks.

Still, he'll need to add more in the attacking end and grow a bunch physically if he's to truly threaten for a starting role with the U.S.

The former Arsenal player was one of the best defenders in the Championship last season, earning a Premier League move to Sheffield United. Trusty made the most of his time at Birmingham City, pushing him right back into the USMNT picture and into the English top-flight. He got his first cap against Grenada in March 2023, putting in a good shift in a lopsided win.

He hasn't really gotten a chance since, despite being an every-game starter for Sheffield United. The Blades have struggled in the Premier League, but Trusty has done well enough to earn another chance at some point.

Horvath remains the USMNT's primary backup goalkeeper and now has a club situation that's allowing him to build some confidence. He's been playing regularly for Cardiff City, which will only help keep him in the USMNT picture.

Horvath's club career has rarely been stable, but if he can stick it out for a while in Wales, he'll remain a regular in this group.

Lund vaulted himself right into the mix after joining the USMNT in 2023. He filed his one-time switch to commit himself to the U.S., and first games were good, as he looked solid both defensively and in support of Pulisic going forward.

Lund is still very new, but as things stand, he seems to have earned that backup left-back spot.

Another American in the Bundesliga, Paredes is already making waves at Wolfsburg. He's found a role with the team on the left, and his versatility could be key for both club and country in the years to come. He can play anywhere down the left side, from left-wing to left-back, and has even moonlighted as a central player at times.

The big question is where Paredes actually ends up positionally, as being a jack of all trades can only take you so far. If he can lock down consistent minutes as a left-back, it'll bode well for the USMNT. This summer, though, he looks bound for the Olympic squad, where he'll be a menace wherever he starts on that left-had side.

Callender's growth with Inter Miami has been fun to watch, as Lionel Messi's arrival has only spotlighted how good the goalkeeper is and can be. The 25-year-old has come into his own in Miami, and his unexpected rise earned him his first USMNT call-up in September. He hasn't gotten that first cap yet, and those are hard to come by for goalkeepers, but it seems he's in the mix.

With several of the 'keepers above him struggling for game time, Callender is definitely someone who can push for a roster spot.

If what we've seen so far is anything to go by, Cowell's breakout is underway. The 20-year-old attacker has incredible physical gifts, having been blessed with ridiculous pace.

He turned heads at the U20 World Cup this summer as one of the most menacing and chaotic attackers at the tournament, and while his move to Chivas has had highs and lows, it appears Cowell will be one to watch as a potential breakout star at the upcoming Olympics.

Slonina will almost certainly be on the 2026 roster. To be fair, he was close to being in the 2022 squad. The question is if he will have developed enough to be the starter in such a short amount of time.

Slonina is still just a teenager, despite all of the professional experience he racked up with the Chicago Fire. He's now at Chelsea, but has gone out on loan to Eupen to gain experience after starring at the U20 World Cup earlier this summer.

Slonina is perhaps the world's most promising young goalkeeper and, despite his age, has already shown incredible maturity. Let's see where he is in a few years, but all signs point to him being the go-to goalkeeper at one point or another.

Another rising full-back, Jones has certainly looked the part so far with the USMNT. He was excellent in the Gold Cup, picking up a few assists and, as a late call-up for September, he stepped in and set up another goal.

Jones is doing everything right and is on track for more chances going forward, even if he seems to be third or fourth on the depth chart for that leftback spot right now.

Vazquez is balling out at Monterrey, but are there too many strikers in front of him to surpass? That's the big question for the 25-year-old, who can only keep his head down and continue scoring. Playing up front is all about form, after all, and if he keeps his, the U.S. can't keep him out forever.

A lack of playing time proved to be his undoing during the buildup to Qatar, but Steffen is now back on the field. His move to the Colorado Rapids gives him a real chance to play, something he's lacked since making his big switch to Manchester City years ago.

If he's in form, you can't look past him, so we'll have to see how this MLS season goes.

Maloney earned his first senior cap against Ghana in October. after he proved himself as a regular starter for Heidenheim. Maloney is one of the most active players in the Bundesliga, among the league-leaders in distance covered, giving him a potential place in the USMNT as a midfield destroyer.

It's all about how he builds on those first caps now, though, as he seems to be a bit further down the depth chart at the moment.

To put it lightly, Dike has awful, awful luck. The striker suffered another disastrous Achilles injury in February, one which will keep him out until 2025. When healthy, he's an interesting option stylistically for the USMNT, particularly off the bench. The key, though, is keeping him healthy.

Right now, the U.S. will be in 'wait-and-see' mode with Dike as he battles back from another injury.

Zendejas' stock took a hit this summer as he couldn't make any real impact at the Gold Cup. He was brought in to be the star of that team; instead, he never really got going as the U.S. crashed out in the semifinals.

Don't write him off yet, though. There's talent there, and Zendejas is still young enough to improve. He may never unseat Pulisic or Weah, but there's still a place in the pool for Zendejas if he can bounce back in his next USMNT run.

Just a few years ago, Reynolds was seen as the USMNT rightback of the future. And now, despite being just 22, he has already faced a whole bunch of adversity. He was bought by Roma and never really fit in, prompting two loan spells to the Belgian league. With Westerlo, he's gotten consistent minutes, which at this point in his career is all that matters for a player whose talent simply needs a bit more time to shine through on the field.

The point is this: it would be silly to write off a 22-year-old defender that many once viewed so highly. 'Big Bad Bryan' impressed during his games this past summer, so he could very well push his way into a crowded race at rightback after an Olympic run.

Zimmerman was the USMNT's Mr. Reliable throughout the 2022 cycle, and aside from that one blemish against Wales in Qatar, he was rock-solid. His future will depend on the growth of other players in the pool, but you know what you're going to get with Zimmerman.

The Nashville SC defender is a player you can lean on for stability and leadership, which is always helpful. Still, it feels like others have passed him by.

He fell way down the pecking order, but Busio is now balling for Venezia. That process began this summer with some solid showings in the Gold Cup, which offered a look into how Busio has grown during his difficult moments in Italian soccer. He's been much better this season, too, which could have him back in the senior picture post-Olympics.

Booth broke through with Utrecht in 2022-23 after leaving Bayern Munich, earning the Eredivisie Player of the Month award last November. The switch to the Netherlands gave Booth the opportunity he never got at Bayern and, at least to start with, he ran with it. This season has been more up-and-down, but it seems he's turned the corner after a few goals to start 2024.

The midfielder earned his first USMNT caps in the 2023 Nations League and looked like a crossing machine. He didn't feature in the semi-final or final and hasn't yet been called-up since, but he could be key for the Olympic team going forward.

Ferreira got himself a new nickname this summer: The Pirate of the Caribbean. His Gold Cup exploits made a statement, but Ferreira is likely too far down the depth chart to make the Copa squad.

Ferreira has a lot of developing to do, but his skillset is different from any of the strikers in the pool, which makes him an intriguing option if he does make a move to Europe down the line.

The younger Aaronson may have even more upside than his brother. He made his move to Eintracht Frankfurt last January, making him the latest American to choose the Bundesliga to further his development. A loan to the Eredivisie with Vitesse has given him much-needed playing time this season, too.

The 19-year-old is still pretty raw, but after making his USMNT debut in January 2023, it seems he's on his way toward joining his older brother as a national-team regular, especially if he can break out at Eintracht. A runout with the U23s will help as he builds towards the senior team.

Tessman was thrown right into the fire against Uzbekistan in Septemer due to De la Torre's injury and, at least at the start, he struggled a bit. However, he did get better as the game wore on, which was good to see from the young midfielder.

Just 22, Tessman already has nearly 90 appearances in Italy's top two divisions under his belt. He's clearly still learning, but he also has plenty of time to grow for both club and country, especially after a stint with the U23s.

Orlando City star McGuire has had a rapid rise, one that nearly got him a move to England in January before his switch to Blackburn Rovers fell apart in the final hours of the transfer window.

It's not only clubs overseas that are noticing the striker, and McGuire got his first USMNT look in January, with it looking likely that he will be the starting No.9 at the Olympics this summer. If he shines in Paris, he'll rocket up this list.

A rising star at centerback, Neal has a bright future. The 20-year-old defender was very good at the Gold Cup, playing way better than most would have expected. He still has so much learning to do, but it's clear that he's already playing at a very high level.

A run with the Olympic team would be great for Neal, who could climb this list quickly in the coming years.

An Inter Miami star, Cremaschi's path is a little less certain. He earned his first USMNT cap against Oman in September, but there's still a recruiting battle to play out here. The midfielder is also eligible for Argentina and, with Inter Miami team-mate Lionel Messi in both his ear and the federation's, who knows how that turns out?

In the here and now, though, Cremaschi is a talented young midfielder and, at 18, he's definitely one for the future if he opts to stick around. An injury has ruled him out to start the MLS season, so we'll have to see how he fares once he's back on the field.

Tolkin has become a regular with the New York Red Bulls and, at some point relatively soon, will be moving on to Europe. He's confident, smooth and certainly unwilling to back down, all good traits for a young fullback.

He got his first taste of the national team just before the World Cup as a guest player and then earned his first cap in January 2023. He was in the Gold Cup squad, too, and, while he didn't quite set the world alight, he seems to be on his way with the U23s, where he could be a breakout player at the Olympics.

A run to the MLS Cup put Schulte on the radar. The Columbus Crew shot-stopper is one heck of a player, one that could contend for a goalkeeper spot for years to come.

He's still young, and his professional career is just getting started. Even so, though, he's one to watch going forward.

Another Columbus Crew starlet, Morris has had a few cracks at the USMNT level. He hasn't quite stolen the show, but it's been easy to see that his game has continued to grow in MLS.

Just 22, the Crew midfielder has an incredible engine and arguably forms MLS' best midfield next to the legendary Darlington Nagbe. If he keeps developing, he's clearly a player for the future.

A huge wildcard, but Buck is a player that could have a USMNT future if he wants it. The New England Revolution starlet has been called up to England's U19s and admitted that the Three Lions program has shown more love to him than the U.S. Soccer so far. That said, he has spoken to Berhalter, who told the media that the midfielder could be part of the World Cup in 2026 if he keeps developing.

It seems the advantage goes to England for now, and he'd have to file a one-time switch to feature for the U.S. down the road, but Buck is definitely one to watch.