Chris Richards and Tyler Adams begin their Premier League campaigns, while Weston McKennie, Johnny Cardoso and Alex Freeman face intriguing tests elsewhere.
Folarin Balogun and Christian Pulisic dominated headlines as the USMNT enjoyed a dream start to their 2026 World Cup campaign, but who are the unsung heroes in Mauricio Pochettino’s team? In conversation with GOAL, former keeper Kasey Keller has picked out three players that have a crucial role to play for the co-hosts at FIFA’s flagship event.
Former USMNT boss Bob Bradley speaks to GOAL about the Americans’ World Cup-opening win, his bond with Mo Salah, 2010 memories and his desire to coach again.
The USMNT’s 4-1 World Cup-opening win over Paraguay drew 15.986 million viewers across FOX, FOX One and Tubi, making it the most-watched USMNT telecast ever and another major sign of soccer’s growing pull in the United States. The broadcast peaked at 18.86 million viewers, while the match also became the most-streamed English-language USMNT game on record.
In March, after the U.S. men's national team suffered back-to-back humblings at the hands of Belgium and Portugal, Mauricio Pochettino wondered aloud about the players he had at his disposal. Whether that vocal wondering came from a place of honesty or from a place of motivation, only Pochettino knows. The only certainty was that his assessment was blunt: his team, man for man, wasn't as good as the elite.
Fresh off a win over Senegal, the USMNT face their toughest pre-World Cup test yet against Jamal Musiala, Kai Havertz and Germany. GOAL breaks down five key storylines.
Brad Friedel has - during an exclusive interview with GOAL - sought to play down expectations around “poster boy” Christian Pulisic, but considers four other players to sit alongside ‘Captain America’ in the USMNT’s “undroppable” pool. The United States are considered to be working with a ‘Golden Generation’ of talent as a home World Cup is taken in.
USMNT fans exploded online after the leaked World Cup roster surfaced, with Diego Luna’s omission and Gio Reyna’s inclusion fueling intense debate ahead of Mauricio Pochettino’s official squad announcement.
Mauricio Pochettino’s USMNT World Cup squad is set, and GOAL breaks down the key takeaways, including major trust in Tyler Adams and Weston McKennie, and one lingering goalkeeper question.
Weston McKennie soared at Juventus, Christian Pulisic faded late at AC Milan and Gio Reyna endured another frustrating club season as GOAL ranks the USMNT’s top European-based players.
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