USMNT 2026 World Cup roster Big Board: Which Gold Cup players made their case?

HOUSTON — Malik Tillman hunched over. Chris Richards sank toward Earth. Tyler Adams stood, alone, as jubilant Mexican players began their party. Matt Freese sat down and turned away. They, the U.S. men’s national team, were spent, and “disappointed,” after falling in Sunday’s Gold Cup final. They ripped off their silver medals. “I threw my medal away,” Richards said.

But they were also proud of the “culture” they built. And “the other huge positive,” captain Tim Ream said, was that “guys have stepped up who have maybe taken a backseat previously.” Leaders emerged, and made this Gold Cup worthwhile, even if it ended in defeat.

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From the very beginning, with several starters absent, this pre-World Cup summer was framed as an “opportunity.” An opportunity for fringe players to establish themselves. An opportunity for newbies to play their way onto the USMNT roster for 2026.

And a few did that. Most didn’t. But Richards solidified his place in the starting 11, and “stepped up in more of a vocal role,” Ream said. Diego Luna further endeared himself to head coach Mauricio Pochettino. Tillman earned at least a longer look as a playmaker, either off the bench or in the starting 11.

So, where does the U.S. roster stand with 11 months to go?

“All the American players have the possibility [to be included],” Pochettino said Sunday.

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And he meant it. In many ways, his USMNT depth chart seems more unsettled than it was in the fall, or even way back in 2023.

The following — our third edition of the World Cup Big Board — is an attempt to assess it, and rank dozens of players based on the likelihood that they make the 26-man World Cup squad next summer.

World Cup roster locks*

*In Pochettino’s eyes, or at least according to his public words, there is no such thing as a roster lock. We’ll take those words with a proverbial grain of salt, but ever since the USMNT flopped in March, his words have seemed to carry more weight. So, we’ve trimmed down our list of locks. And as always, the mere concept comes with caveats. Injuries, off-field troubles and a variety of other issues could still derail careers between now and next summer. That said …

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1. Chris Richards, defender, Crystal Palace (+9)

Richards was the best U.S. player at the Gold Cup. More broadly, he’s the only U.S. player with undisputed first-11 quality who performed well at the Gold Cup, and rode with Pochettino from start to finish this summer. He also found his voice, “making sure guys are doing the right things, making sure guys are in the right positions,” Ream, his center back partner, observed. Assuming health, there’s no chance he’s not in the squad next summer.

2. Antonee Robinson, defender, Fulham

His offseason knee surgery gives a bit of pause, but it was “minor” and most likely a medium-term positive.

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Robinson opted for that surgery over the Gold Cup, which also gives a bit of pause; but Pochettino and the American public didn’t frown upon his decision as much as they did Pulisic’s.

3. Tyler Adams, midfielder, Bournemouth

Adams wasn’t great at the Gold Cup. He was hampered by multiple ailments. When I asked him Sunday night to assess his tournament, he acknowledged: “Listen, I think for me, the biggest thing was coming out of it healthy.”

And in Pochettino’s eyes, the biggest thing was probably his presence. “At the end of the season, to be quite fair, I was drained,” Adams said. “But mentally, I wanted to grind and be a role model for so many of the guys here. Because I love playing for this team and this country.”

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That alone counts for something.

4. Tim Weah, forward, Juventus (+1)

The USMNT’s single biggest problem this past month was its lack of a vertical winger. With Tillman and Luna, two No. 10s, jammed into nominally wide roles — and with fullbacks or even Sebastian Berhalter relied upon for width — the U.S. posed very little direct threat. This allowed opponents, like Mexico, to squeeze the midfield. Every aimless pass and dead-end possession reinforced Weah’s importance.

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5. Christian Pulisic, forward, AC Milan (-5)

Look, Pulisic is probably a lock. He’s the best player this country has ever produced. He’s in his prime. With a full offseason to recharge, he should shine in 2025-26.

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But there’s a chance, albeit a slim one, that Pochettino was so put off or even offended by Pulisic’s decision to opt out of the Gold Cup that he banishes his star from the squad. (Pulisic’s subsequent comments that he “didn’t understand” Pochettino’s decision to not let him play in pre-Gold Cup friendlies probably didn’t help, either!)

6. Weston McKennie, midfielder, Juventus (-2)

McKennie, fairly or unfairly, has been cast as the face of the crew who don’t take national duty seriously enough. The onus is now on him to prove otherwise. And although his Gold Cup absence was out of his control — he was with Juve at the Club World Cup — he is much more replaceable than Pulisic. If Poch really wanted to send a message, dropping McKennie could do the trick. (But it wouldn’t be smart; when lights are bright, McKennie is a top-three player in this pool.)

7. Tim Ream, defender, Charlotte (+11)

At 37, Ream is clearly beginning to slow. Multiple strikers exposed his vulnerability at the Gold Cup. But Pochettino gave him the captain’s armband, and stuck with him through the tournament. Even if he doesn’t start next June, he’ll almost certainly make the squad as a leader and veteran presence.

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8. Sergiño Dest, defender, PSV (+1)

Dest reported to Chicago for summer camp, then departed before the Gold Cup. Pochettino said in a statement through a spokesman at the time that his staff had “done a series of evaluations this week on all the players in camp, and in the case of Sergiño, we determined the best decision is for the player to have an individualized training program for the summer so he can focus on being fully recovered and ready to perform next season.”

As long as that happens, Dest is a lock. The USMNT has missed his ball progression and sizzle.

9. Yunus Musah, midfielder, AC Milan (-3)

Musah missed the Gold Cup for “personal reasons.” He hasn’t said what those reasons were. But he has reported to AC Milan for preseason, amid reports that he’s wanted by the Serie A champions, Napoli. We’ll assume he’s in good standing with everyone who matters.

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10. Malik Tillman, midfielder, PSV/Bayer Leverkusen? (+4)

There have been a wide variety of reactions to Tillman’s Gold Cup. He was excellent against Costa Rica and lesser opponents. He mostly disappeared against Mexico. So, as he (likely) moves from PSV to Bayer Leverkusen, there are legitimate questions about the viability and sustainability of his playmaking at the highest level.

But there’s one uncontested takeaway: For the first time, Tillman performed for the national team. No matter the level of opposition, that’s significant, and bodes well for his prospects under Pochettino going forward.

11. Matt Turner, goalkeeper, Nottingham Forest/Lyon? (-4)

Turner lost the U.S. starting gig to Matt Freese. Pochettino, though, repeatedly clarified that this was largely, if not solely, because Turner has hardly played competitive soccer games since last summer. He’s still the most accomplished goalkeeper in the pool. And in his stead, Freese didn’t exactly excel. Turner, therefore, remains a pretty safe bet for the World Cup roster, even if he’s not the No. 1.

12. Diego Luna, midfielder, Real Salt Lake (+13)

Pochettino adores him. (America does, too.) Critics argue he wasn’t actually that effective this summer, outside of the two goals against Guatemala. But only one of those opinions matters. Even if Poch comes to the realization Luna can’t hang at the highest levels, he’d probably go to the World Cup as a manifestation of “attitude, hunger, desire … That,” Pochettino said last week, “is what we want.”

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13. Folarin Balogun, forward, Monaco (-5)

Balo missed October, November, March and June with injuries. He still hasn’t played for Pochettino. But, in his absence …

• Ricardo Pepi, the main man capable of stealing his starting spot, has also been injured.

• Josh Sargent, perhaps the best striker in the English Championship, struggled in March and was omitted from the Gold Cup squad for “football” reasons.

• Patrick Agyemang tried hard, really hard, but clearly doesn’t have the technical or tactical ability to lead a line at the World Cup.

So, Balogun will surely be in September camp if he’s healthy, and probably has to be in the World Cup squad if the USMNT is to hit its ceiling.

14. Ricardo Pepi, forward, PSV Eindhoven (-1)

Much of the above applies to Pepi as well. The main difference: Balogun has proven, at least in spurts, that he can score at a Big Five level. Pepi hasn’t done much outside CONCACAF and the notoriously soft Dutch league.

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15. Matt Freese, goalkeeper, New York City FC (+)

Freese got his first USMNT starts, and … looked rather shaky throughout the tournament. But he met his biggest moment, the penalty shootout against Costa Rica. Pochettino also loved his willingness to run the length of the field to join a 20-player skirmish.

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Overall, Freese made a positive impression — or at least positive enough to earn more call-ups. But let’s not get carried away; if everyone is healthy and starting for their clubs, Pochettino’s three keepers could end up being Turner, Zack Steffen and Patrick Schulte. (The latter two missed the Gold Cup due to injury.)

16. Joe Scally, defender, Borussia Mönchengladbach (-5)

Scally was an unexplained omission from the Gold Cup roster. Most would assume he’ll be back in camp come the fall, but … perhaps Pochettino just doesn’t rate him?

Even if he’s not good enough on the ball to start for the U.S., though, he profiles as a valuable backup who can be thrown on for the final 15 minutes to defend a lead.

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17. Johnny Cardoso, midfielder, Real Betis/Atlético Madrid? (-5)

For about 20 minutes last month, Johnny was the patrolling defensive midfielder that he is in Spain, the one apparently worth over $30 million to Atlético Madrid, the one from USMNT supporter dreams. Then he carelessly gifted a goal to Türkiye. He spiraled, and regressed into the sloppy, slow-thinking player he’s been for the U.S. So he returned to Pochettino’s bench. He then spent the final week of the tournament working through an ankle injury. How Poch views him is anybody’s guess.

18. Josh Sargent, forward, Norwich City (-2)

Of all the Gold Cup absences, Sargent’s — a “football decision” made by Pochettino — could prove the most consequential. This summer, against the likes of Haiti and Costa Rica, would’ve been the perfect opportunity for the 25-year-old to score his first national team goal(s) since 2019.

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It’s a remarkable drought that makes Sargent borderline unplayable in meaningful matches until it’s broken in a friendly or low-pressure game. Why Poch brought Brian White to camp this summer instead of Sargent is baffling.

19. Mark McKenzie, defender, Toulouse (+1)

McKenzie started one of eight games this summer — the 4-0 loss to Switzerland. He didn’t play a single consequential minute during the Gold Cup. He entered the summer in an apparent competition with Ream for the second center back spot. He left as a distant third on the depth chart at best.

20. Haji Wright, forward, Coventry City (-3)

Wright departed USMNT camp with an Achilles injury. His absence was felt, especially against Mexico.

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His track record suggests he should be on the right side of the roster bubble, but he hasn’t proven anything directly, up close and personally, to Pochettino.

21. Tanner Tessman, midfielder, Lyon (-2)

Tessmann, another victim of Pochettino’s vague “football decisions,” is a mysterious case. He was a surprise starter in March, then a surprise omission in May. He’s been rising at Lyon in France, but has no obvious place in this USMNT. How does Poch rate him? (Insert shrug emoji here.)

22. Gio Reyna, midfielder, Borussia Dortmund (-7)

The frustrating narrative is that Reyna missed the Gold Cup to play all of 12 minutes for Dortmund at the Club World Cup. The provocative narrative is: Would Pochettino have even called him in if available?

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Reyna desperately needs to find a new club to revive his still-young career. He probably needs to accept a step down, find a coach who’ll give him a chance, and seize that chance. Then, and only then, will we find out if Pochettino will tolerate his languidness. (Unfortunately for Reyna, languidness seems to be the bane of Pochettino’s existence.)

23. Alex Freeman, defender, Orlando City (+)

Freeman was solid for most of the tournament against MLS-esque opposition. He was then at fault on both Mexico goals. He’s likable and pliable, eager to learn, but … is he ready for the international level?

It’s very difficult to make the case that he’s more ready than Scally (who, by the way, is only two years older than Freeman).

24. Max Arfsten, defender?, Columbus Crew (+11)

Oh, Max Arfsten. What a player. The 24-year-old Californian is an audacious dribbler and a confident, two-footed attacker who, for some reason, fits Pochettino’s description of a left back. (Which is significantly different from the wingback position he plays in Columbus.)

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The Costa Rica game epitomized Arfsten. He clumsily conceded a penalty. He responded with an assist. He scored a go-ahead goal with a well-timed run and weak-foot finish. Then he looked like a training dummy as Costa Rica equalized. USMNT fans are already (rightly) distrustful of his defending against CONCACAF foes, to say nothing of potential World Cup foes. But he might just be the second-choice left back.

25. Patrick Agyemang, forward, Charlotte FC/Derby County? (+5)

Agyemang has become the USMNT’s most polarizing player, a physical striker who makes things happen, and also makes attacking moves go awry. He started all six games of the Gold Cup. He was strong with his back to goal, and a menace running the channels. But when running toward goal, with or without the ball, he was shoddy.

So, is he a World Cup candidate? Yes, but far from a sure thing. He’s probably fourth on the depth chart, but with an asterisk: his hold-up play is better than that of any striker above him. If Poch wants a change of pace instead of a third goalscorer — or if one of the three above Agyemang is injured — he’s the next line.

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A mooted move to Derby County in the English Championship could change that, for better or worse.

26. Zack Steffen, goalkeeper, Colorado Rapids (-2)

Steffen experienced something of a late-20s renaissance, and looked like a challenger to Turner. But his injury — a recurring theme — forced him to relinquish his chance to Freese. It’s unclear if, or when, his second chance might come.

27. Patrick Schulte, goalkeeper, Columbus Crew (-4)

For a while, Schulte looked like the primary challenger to Turner in net. But a fluky late-May oblique injury, suffered in pregame warmups, robbed him of the chance to challenge this summer.

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So, his situation is similar to Steffen’s. The goalkeeper position is wide open.

28. Sebastian Berhalter, midfielder, Vancouver Whitecaps (+)

Berhalter got to U.S. camp last month and instantly knew what it took — and what it meant — to play for the national team.

He had an inherent advantage, of course; his dad used to play for and coach the team; Sebastian had watched obsessively for years.

But that doesn’t take anything away from how he grasped the responsibility, and showed the required intensity. He embraced the confrontational grit of CONCACAF. He played like he belonged — even when his natural ability suggested he didn’t — and put in an application for a World Cup ticket as a so-called “vibes guy,” the type of role that his dad gave to Cristian Roldan in 2022.

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29. Cameron Carter-Vickers, defender, Celtic (-8)

His one and only USMNT game over the past 12 months was the deflating 2-1 loss to Canada in March. Will Carter-Vickers get another shot?

He certainly seems to be out of contention for the starting spot next to Richards.

30. Aidan Morris, midfielder, Middlesbrough (-3)

Did he just need a rest? Or is Morris firmly on the outside looking in after failing to impress Pochettino in the coach’s first camp last October?

We could find out in the fall.

31. Miles Robinson, defender, FC Cincinnati (+3)

32. Auston Trusty, defender, Celtic (-10)

33. Walker Zimmerman, defender, Nashville SC (+)

At least one of these three or Carter-Vickers has to go to the World Cup. (And if McKenzie doesn’t go, two have to go.)

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Pochettino stuck with Richards and Ream throughout the tournament, so we got no hints about who he favors among the reserves.

Center back depth continues to be a concern.

34. Jack McGlynn, midfielder, Houston Dynamo (-3)

At the beginning of camp, he was starting on the right wing, and pinging a first-minute goal past Turkey. By the end, he was on the bench, and ineffective whenever he came off it as a substitute. Pochettino seemed to realize that McGlynn’s slowness and slenderness made him a poor fit for the international game — and, therefore, a longshot for the World Cup roster.

35. Brenden Aaronson, midfielder, Leeds United (-9)

He does the one thing Poch seems to value more than anything else — run — but not much else. That he could hardly get off the B-team’s bench is an indictment of his standing with the national team.

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36. Luca de la Torre, midfielder, San Diego FC (+)

Luca is what he is at this point: a tidy midfielder with little upside to become much more. He was serviceable at the Gold Cup, but there’s probably no room for him in the U.S. midfield at the World Cup.

37. Damion Downs, forward, FC Köln/Southampton? (+)

He’s probably fifth on the striker depth chart, and didn’t do anything at the Gold Cup to change that.

Also on the fringes: DeJuan Jones, Auston Trusty, John Tolkin, Cristian Roldan, Kevin Paredes, Chris Brady, Paxten Aaronson, Brian White, Marlon Fossey, Alex Zendejas, Gianluca Busio, Quinn Sullivan, Sean Zawadzki and Daryl Dike.