The final days of 2025 are upon us meaning the margin of error for many U.S. men’s national team hopefuls is very thin.

Many players boosted their stock in Mauricio Pochettino’s squad in 2025, giving themselves a good chance of making the Argentine’s final World Cup roster next summer. From Alex Freeman to Max Arfsten to Sebastian Berhalter, plenty of players did a stellar job in making their opportunities count.

Others such as Gio Reyna, Yunus Musah, and Auston Trusty may have had a tough time earning consistent playing at club level, but remain viable options for Pochettino to consider during the March window and beyond.

With the USMNT only having one window left before the World Dup begins, here are five players that can boost their stocks with a strong run this winter:

---

Gio Reyna

---

A productive November USMNT window has certainly helped Gio Reyna get back on track.

Reyna scored one goal and added one assist in two USMNT caps last month, reminding fans just what he is capable of in the final third. Despite a dry run of goal contributions at Borussia Moenchengladbach, Reyna has remained a consistent starter in the Bundesliga over recent weeks, earning the trust of manager Eugen Polanski.

Reyna has put his head down and worked hard this season, making 12 appearances to date, including four-consecutive starts in league play.

His World Cup spot isn’t guaranteed just yet, but a strong winter and a productive March window could be what makes or break his chances.

---

Yunus Musah

---

Atalanta manager Raffaele Palladino rewarded Yunus Musah with his first club start since September on Sunday, a moment which could serve as a springboard for Musah’s time in Bergamo.

Musah has found starts hard to come by since joining on loan from AC Milan, making just one in the past three months across all competitions. However, a strong 90-minute outing in a 1-0 victory over Genoa could do wonders for the 23-year-old’s chances of getting back to playing regularly.

Musah was reduced to only two caps for the USMNT this year, last featuring in the CONCACAF Nations League Final Four last March. Despite making 41 appearances for the Rossoneri last campaign, Musah had to sit on the outside of Pochettino’s squad during the Gold Cup and fall friendlies.

With Atalanta remaining in multiple competitions this winter, Musah will have zero shortage of chances to become a regular starter again.

---

Auston Trusty

---

Auston Trusty was serving as Celtic’s No. 3-choice centerback until a serious injury to fellow American defender Cameron Carter-Vickers opened the door for him to play regularly.

Since then, Trusty has went the distance in all 14 of his club appearances, earning the trust of new manager Wilfried Nancy. The former MLS homegrown most recently helped Celtic earn a 3-1 win over Aberdeen on Sunday, a result that the club and Nancy desperately needed heading into Christmas.

Trusty’s lone USMNT appearance came in the 5-1 thrashing of Uruguay last month, a result that certainly ended the program’s schedule on a high note. With Carter-Vickers set to miss the most of the second half of the season, Trusty could grab his World Cup spot with a strong run in the Celtic squad in 2026.

---

Joe Scally

---

The productive 2025’s for Alex Freeman and Max Arfsten has not only done the MLS pair a world of good but has also limited the opportunities for veteran Joe Scally.

Scally made just three USMNT appearances in 2025, watching as both Freeman and Arfsten boosted their stocks with the program over the calendar year. However, despite his limited opportunities under Mauricio Pochettino, Scally has played in 16 matches for Borussia Moenchengladbach this season, and still has a winter and spring schedule to look forward to.

Antonee Robinson and Sergino Dest remain the USMNT’s top fullbacks when healthy, while Tim Weah could also operate in a right wing back role if needed. With Freeman and Arfsten both pressing to lock down their spots in the coming months, Scally could be the odd-man out if he doesn’t get himself into the March window.

---

Patrick Agyemang

---

Folarin Bologun and Ricardo Pepi are the USMNT’s top-two striking options at this moment in time, but the No. 3 spot remains very much open heading into 2026.

Haji Wright has cooled off big time since his fast start for Coventry City, while Josh Sargent needs a miracle to get back into the USMNT picture next year. Enter Patrick Agyemang.

Agyemang earned 12 caps for the USMNT in 2025, scoring a program-high five goals over that span.

His move to EFL Championship club Derby County has been positive to start, with Agyemang scoring five goals and adding three assists in all competitions. While Wright is a more versatile option than Agyemang, the former Charlotte FC striker brings more physicality to the mix, which could be what gets him over the line.

---

What are your thoughts on these five players? How many do you have on your final World Cup roster?

Share your thoughts below.