'My most important goal' - USMNT's Gaga Slonina sets sights on World Cup starting spot as Mauricio Pochettino reportedly to coach

For years, Slonina has been hailed as one of the brightest young goalkeepers in the world, which is what prompted Chelsea to sign him following his breakthrough with the Chicago Fire. Slonian is currently on loan at League One side Barnsley, having spent last season adjusting to European soccer while on loan with Eupen in Belgium.

Slonina has starred for the U.S. youth teams and has earned one cap with the senior team but, with the World Cup less than two years away, Slonina's main goal is to take a major leap up the depth chart. The 20-year-old goalkeeper wants to compete with the rest of the pool to take the starting spot, which has been held by Matt Turner.

"For the 2026 World Cup, I think every goalkeeper has the goal to be the starter for that," Slonina said on the CBS Sports Golazo Network. "So that's definitely my goal, and what I'm going to be working towards until that moment. That's the most important personal goal."

The USMNT is reportedly set to enter a new era under Mauricio Pochettino, and Slonina may begin with a leg up. He has previously played under Pochettino, albeit briefly before Chelsea loaned him to Eupen last summer.

There's a familiarity there, and Slonina knows what to expect under the Argentinian manager.

"Camps are going to be tough for sure, because he's a guy that pushes his players to work off the field," Slonina said. "How you train is how you play, and I think that's the mindset he goes into it.

"He's a very tactical-minded coach, so I think it's going to be difficult to adapt to that and everything, but the players will take it on. There are class players with the U.S. men's national team. So it's going to be a change for sure, but one that we will be able to adapt to."

The U.S. is set to play a pair of friendlies in September, their first since this summer's Copa America disappointment. Up first will be a match with Canada on Sept. 7 before they face New Zealand three days later.