From Folarin Balogun’s push to lead the line to Tyler Adams’ potential midfield partner, GOAL breaks down the USMNT battles that could shape this summer.
The Belgian striker has pulled out of the friendly matches and is back in training to make a full recovery and get back to full fitness as soon as possible.
United States men’s national team head coach Mauricio Pochettino has dropped a significant hint regarding a future return to the Premier League. The Argentine, who enjoyed five years in north London at Tottenham, confessed his deep affection for the English game and revealed that Spurs previously attempted to re-hire him during his tenure at Paris Saint-Germain.
Brazil legend Romario has demanded that Carlo Ancelotti "pay attention" following Neymar's omission from the latest Selecao squad. Romario insisted that the Santos forward remains an indispensable asset for the national team as they ramp up their preparations for the 2026 World Cup.
Arsenal defender Gabriel Magalhaes has been forced to withdraw from the Brazil squad after sustaining a knee injury during the Gunners' Carabao Cup final defeat to Manchester City. Despite completing the full 90 minutes at Wembley, the 28-year-old reported significant discomfort shortly after the final whistle. This development leaves the Gunners facing a growing defensive crisis as they prepare for a pivotal run-in following the international break.
Manchester United duo Benjamin Sesko and Bryan Mbeumo have withdrawn from international duty with injuries, the club has confirmed. The pair have been crucial to the Red Devils' recent turnaround, helping to fire Michael Carrick's side up to third in the Premier League, but will now spend the March break at home rather than represent Slovenia and Cameroon respectively.
Arsenal defender William Saliba has officially withdrawn from the France squad for their upcoming friendly fixtures in the United States. The 24-year-old was forced to pull out just 24 hours after playing the full 90 minutes in the Gunners' Carabao Cup final defeat at Wembley. Consequently, Crystal Palace centre-back Maxence Lacroix has been handed his maiden senior call-up to replace the injured star.
Arsenal's Ben White has been added to the England squad for the upcoming March friendlies against Uruguay and Japan. The defender, and Newcastle winger Harvey Barnes, will replace Eberechi Eze and Jarell Quansah, who have both had to pull out after sustaining recent injuries. White last played for the Three Lions in 2022 and was included in that year's World Cup squad but left Qatar for personal reasons.
Wayne Rooney has expressed his shock after Trent Alexander-Arnold was omitted from Thomas Tuchel’s latest 35-man England squad. The Real Madrid defender is a high-profile absentee for the upcoming friendlies against Uruguay and Japan, leading the former Manchester United captain to suggest a deeper issue. Rooney sparked controversy by questioning if the snub is a tactical move to dismantle a perceived "clique" involving Jude Bellingham.
Cristiano Ronaldo maintains an unbreakable bond with his roots, returning to the island of Madeira to escape top-level competition. The 41-year-old brought his fiancee Georgina Rodriguez and their children to this corner of the Atlantic, which they have identified as their favourite vacation spot for 2026, to spend time with family.
Leroy Sané has regained his place in national team manager Julian Nagelsmann’s squad and stands a good chance of making the World Cup squad. Dietmar Hamann takes a very critical view of this.
Liverpool will be without the services of Alisson Becker for Saturday’s early kick-off against Brighton. The 33-year-old shot-stopper did not travel with the rest of the Reds squad to the South Coast, dealing a significant blow to Arne Slot’s plans as they look to keep up their pursuit of Champions League qualification.
Arsenal defender Cristhian Mosquera has been called up to the Spain squad for the first time ahead of their international friendlies against Serbia and Egypt. Luis de la Fuente has also called Barcelona goalkeeper Joan Garcia into his squad ahead of his potential debut, as Spain ramp up preparations for the 2026 World Cup.
Roberto Martinez has named a Portugal squad missing the iconic duo of Cristiano Ronaldo and Bernardo Silva for the upcoming international fixtures. The Selecao boss has opted for a mix of caution and experimentation as he prepares his side for the road to the 2026 World Cup.
England manager Thomas Tuchel has surprised everyone with an XXL squad for the training camp in March. However, there was no place for a Real Madrid superstar.
Deniz Undav made headlines in the run-up to the DFB squad announcement. Contact with Julian Nagelsmann had recently been deliberately kept to a minimum.
For Julian Nagelsmann, the World Cup squad is not yet set in stone, even after the March selection. Nevertheless, it will be difficult for VfB Stuttgart midfielder Angelo Stiller – who has once again been left out – to get back in the running.
Despite a long spell on the sidelines due to injury, Jamal Musiala is one of the DFB team’s main hopes for the World Cup. However, he is now set to miss some key friendlies.
Mauricio Pochettino has named a 27-player U.S. men's national team roster ahead of upcoming friendlies against Belgium and Portugal. The Argentine manager's selections offer insight into what a World Cup squad could look like, as these two matches will be the final games before he selects his final team for this summer's tournament.
Neymar has expressed his deep disappointment after being left out of Carlo Ancelotti’s latest Brazil squad. Although he recently managed to play the full 90 minutes for Santos, the legendary forward faces a race against time to prove his fitness for the 2026 World Cup.
Brazil have officially unveiled a revolutionary partnership with Jordan Brand, marking the first time the iconic 'Jumpman logo will appear on a national team football kit. The historic threads are set for a high-profile debut at the end of March in a glamour friendly in the build-up to the 2026 World Cup.
Germany head coach Julian Nagelsmann has sent a clear warning to his squad ahead of the 2026 World Cup, suggesting that high-profile names could be left out of his final selection. As the nation prepares for upcoming friendlies against Switzerland and Ghana later this month, Nagelsmann has indicated that club status will not guarantee a seat on the plane to North America, emphasising that team chemistry and specific tactical profiles will take precedence over reputation.
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