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Malik Tillman, Folarin Balogun, Tanner TessmannGetty/GOAL
Ryan Tolmich

Folarin Balogun, Tanner Tessmann, Malik Tillman all impress, appear to secure spots as Mauricio Pochettino narrows his focus: USMNT roster projection for 2026 World Cup

With the World Cup just eight months away, GOAL looks at how the U.S. squad might look next summer

COMMERCE CITY, Colo. - With a 2-1 comeback win over Australia, the U.S. men's national team concluded their November camp in style. That's three unbeaten now against three World Cup-quality opponents and, for the first time in months, there seems to be some wind in the USMNT's sails. Momentum is building and vibes are relatively high.

It's not a coincidence. Now just more than a year into his tenure as coach, Mauricio Pochettino is truly settling in. He's narrowing down his squads into a list of players he can count on - and they're delivering. It's not the finished product by any stretch, but it's possible to really start envisioning what this could look like next summer.

Narrowing down the player pool to 26 won't be easy and, in truth, it can't be done now. Injuries and form will certainly inform next summer's roster. But if all goes well, Pochettino surely has something of an idea of what the squad could look like. Pochettino's principles and values are clearly shining through heading into the final camps before he winnows things down.

So who's in and who's out? What are the tough calls Pochettino will have to make? GOAL takes a look.

  • Matt Freese USMNTGetty Images

    GOALKEEPERS

    GOAL's picks: Matt Freese, Patrick Schulte, Matt Turner

    In the mix: Chris Brady, Roman Celentano, Ethan Horvath, Jonathan Klinsmann, Diego Kochen, Zack Steffen

    Two of the goalkeepers are obvious. Either Freese or Turner will almost certainly be the starter next summer. At the moment, it's the former, who continues to start every match - 10 straight - after emerging as the No. 1 at the Gold Cup. Might that change with Turner back playing with the New England Revolution? Perhaps. But either way, those two are 1A and 1B.

    As for the third, there are several ways Pochettino can go. He name-dropped several goalkeepers when asked about the position on Tuesday, indicating  there's still competition for spots. Does he go with a talented veteran such as Steffen? An up-and-coming MLS player such as Brady or Schulte? Or does he hand the keys to Kochen in an effort to give the young Barcelona keeper a kickstart ahead of the 2030 tournament?

    Ultimately, that choice shouldn't be consequential on the field. But it is an interesting one for team dynamics.

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  • Saudi Arabia v United States - Gold Cup 2025Getty Images Sport

    DEFENDERS

    GOAL's picks: Noahkai Banks, Sergino Dest, Alex Freeman, Mark McKenzie, Tim Ream, Chris Richards, Antonee Robinson, Miles Robinson

    In the mix: Max Arfsten, Tristan Blackmon, Cameron Carter-Vickers, Joe Scally, John Tolkin, Auston Trusty, Walker Zimmerman

    Starting with the centerbacks, two of the three central spots seem locked down by Richards and Ream. Even after October camp, it doesn't seem we're any closer to figuring out the third.

    Could it be Miles Robinson, who started the recent games against Ecuador and Australia, and has both the athleticism and experience to play in this three-back? Could it be McKenzie, who also regularly plays in this system at the club level? Could it possibly be Banks, who has incredible upside and could very well be a Bundesliga starter by the end of the season?

    We'll find out where everyone stands in November but, even now, that third central defender remains something of a mystery.

    As for fullback, in a nice problem to have, there's almost too much depth. On the left, Antonee Robinson is unquestioned. On the right, it seems a battle could be brewing between Dest and Tim Weah. Both Weah and Dest provide depth on that left-hand side, which means it could come down to one of Freeman, Arfsten and Scally making the team. For now, we'll give it to Freeman due to his upside, athleticism and attacking ability.

  • Weston McKennie USMNTGetty Images

    MIDFIELDERS

    GOAL's picks: Brenden Aaronson, Tyler Adams, Johnny Cardoso, Diego Luna, Weston McKennie, Aidan Morris, Cristian Roldan, Tanner Tessmann, Malik Tillman

    In the mix: Paxten Aaronson, Sebastian Berhalter, Gianluca Busio, Luca de la Torre, Jack McGlynn, Yunus Musah, Gio Reyna

    We can put the midfielders, essentially, into two categories: the two deeper and the two attacking midfielders.

    Starting with the deep-lying options, Adams is in and the battle continues for the spot next to him. Both Tessmann and Morris made their case and, at the moment, there's a path for both to the World Cup. Same for the 30-year-old Roldan, who has clearly impressed Pochettino.

    With 26 players on the roster, it makes sense to bring a player such as Roldan, who offers veteran experience, good vibes and - as his two assists against Australia demonstrated - a bit of bite and creativity, too.

    There are some questions, though, and Cardoso is probably the biggest. Here is an Atletico Madrid player, one of the biggest teams in the world. Here is also a player who has never impressed for the USMNT. Can he fix that in time for the World Cup? The other big question mark? Musah. So much will depend on how he acclimates in Atalanta, and whether he proves he can defend or attack at a higher level than we've seen.

    For the attacking midfielders, Christian Pulisic is one, but who starts next to him: Tillman or McKennie? It may be situational, in truth, but, at the moment, it seems as if McKennie is competing more for that spot than the one next to Adams. As for the others, Luna's heart, fire and creativity continue to make an impression, while Brenden Aaronson's versatility and ability to serve as something of a late-game closer keep him in the mix.

  • Luna, Balogun, USMNTImagn

    FORWARDS

    GOAL's picks: Folarin Balogun, Ricardo Pepi, Christian Pulisic, Tim Weah, Haji Wright, Alejandro Zendejas

    In the mix: Patrick Agyemang, Damion Downs, Brian Gutierrez, Kevin Paredes, Josh Sargent, Brian White

    Pulisic and Weah have been noted at other positions. Pulisic is one of the attacking midfielders or, perhaps, a second striker. Weah, meanwhile, can play as a winger if the U.S. does go back to a four-at-the-back system, and can also offer depth at both wingback positions. Zendejas rounds out the attacking midfield options while also having the ability to play out wide.

    The striker position is the fun one. Balogun is locked in after scoring in back-to-back games against Japan and Ecuador, not that there was much doubt there. Pepi, meanwhile, has been out for nearly a year, but is too talented to leave behind when he does get back to full fitness. For that third spot, it appears Wright is in pole position after his brace against Australia.

    But don't write off any of the other contenders, just yet. They could still play their way in with a good run of form.