The U.S. men’s national team’s penultimate window before the FIFA World Cup begins is in 12 days.
European heavyweights Belgium and Portugal will oppose Mauricio Pochettino’s squad at Mercedes-Benz Stadium, providing two very good tests for the USMNT ahead of the summer.
While Pochettino should have most of his first-choice players available, there are plenty of roles and spots still up for grabs. Folarin Balogun and Haji Wright will jostle for the No. 9 role, Antonee Robinson aims to return to the left back position, and who will be among the final defenders called in?
Sergino Dest’s recent injury could force Alex Freeman or Joe Scally to step in at right back. Who will join Weston McKennie and Tyler Adams in midfield? Will Pochettino call in all four of his top strikers for March’s camp?
With all that in mind, here is a projected 26-player roster we could see in two weeks time in Atlanta:
Goalkeepers
Matt Freese, Matt Turner, Jonathan Klinsmann
Matt Freese played the No. 1 goalkeeper role in 2025 and I see zero reason for that to change in the first camp of 2026. Freese delivered several top performances for the USMNT last year, most notably in the CONCACAF Gold Cup.
I don’t see Matt Freese, Jonathan Klinsmann, or anyone else overtaking Freese at this time.
Centerbacks
Chris Richards, Auston Trusty, Miles Robinson, Tim Ream, Mark McKenzie.
If the World Cup started tomorrow, Chris Richards and Tim Ream would be Pochettino’s No. 1-2 options at centerback. The question is though, who will join them?
Mark McKenzie, Miles Robinson, and Auston Trusty all featured in 2025 for the USMNT and remain consistent players at club level. McKenzie has continued to play week in week out for Toulouse, while Trusty stepped in for the injured Cameron Carter-Vickers at Celtic and hasn’t looked back.
Robinson has remained a stalwart for FC Cincinnati in MLS and brings veteran experience to the mix.
Noahkai Banks is a young, rising talent and deserved another call-up before the World Cup. However, his recent comments about keeping Germany open as a potential option could end his chances of being called in to Pochettino’s roster this month and going forward.
Fullbacks/Wingbacks
Antonee Robinson, Max Arfsten, Alex Freeman, Joe Scally, Tim Weah
Sergino Dest’s recent injury opens the door at right back/right wing back. Enter Alex Freeman and Joe Scally.
Freeman took major steps with the USMNT in 2025 and has since moved to La Liga club Villarreal. Although playing time has been tough early for the versatile defender, Freeman still has a bright future ahead of him.
Scally brings more experience to the fold than Freeman and has continued to play regularly for Borussia Moenchengladbach. Whether it remains to be seen if Pochettino wants to use Scally as a third centerback in his formation, it’s hard to not take Scally at this stage given Dest’s fitness/injury issues.
On the left side, Antonee Robinson should be back in the fold this camp.
Robinson’s playing time has been sporadic in 2026, with Ryan Sessegnon jostling with him for minutes at Fulham. Still, it’s hard to keep Robinson out of the USMNT picture given his strong defensive abilities and pace on the flanks.
Max Arfsten is No. 2 on the left back depth chart right now after delivering a stellar 2025 for club and country. He could feature in one of these matches, if Pochettino doesn’t want to risk Robinson in both fixtures.
Tim Weah, who can also feature as a forward, is also an option as a wingback. Weah has played as a right back/wing back for Marseille this season and could also be used there under Pochettino, like we’ve seen in the past.
Central Midfielders
Tyler Adams, Aidan Morris, Tanner Tessmann, Cristian Roldan, Sebastian Berhalter, Johnny Cardoso.
Pochettino will once again have several tough decisions in regard to his midfield.
Tyler Adams being back healthy and playing for Bournemouth is key.
Adams will be the USMNT’s engine in midfield, allowing for others to spring attacks upfield. His range, aggressiveness, and strong work rate will be key on whether or not the USMNT can make a deep run this summer.
Whether Adams can stay healthy over the final few months of the EPL season will be something to watch.
Aidan Morris and Tanner Tessmann have both delivered impressive club seasons to date, especially Morris who has helped Middlesbrough stay in the automatic promotion race in England’s second-tier. Despite missing time during the fall, Morris has returned for Boro and hasn’t missed a beat.
Tessmann continues to jump in and out of the squad as French club Lyon remains in multiple competitions. He also provides a strong defensive presence while also making smart decisions in possession.
Johnny Cardoso’s recent resurgence with Atlético Madrid warrants him a return to action, especially with only minimal chances left before the World Cup. Cardoso looks to be playing confidently, which is a great sign going forward.
Sebastian Berhalter and Cristian Roldan are still in the early stages of their club seasons in MLS, but remain important to the USMNT mix. Roldan brings veteran experience to the midfield and can play a number of roles for Pochettino.
Berhalter impressed last year with his corner kick and free kick service, something that I imagine will continue going forward. He may not be a starter, but could be an impact option off of the bench.
Attacking Midfielders
Christian Pulisic, Weston McKennie, Malik Tillman, Brenden Aaronson
It may not be Christian Pulisic’s best run of form heading into a USMNT window, but he remains just as important now as he has before.
Pulisic dropping back into an attacking midfield role for the USMNT could be what gets him back on track, especially against top opposition. Playing Pulisic alongside Weston McKennie gives the USMNT their best duo among attacking midfield options, a theme that could continue into the summer.
McKennie is enjoying his best club season to date and should slot right back into the midfield. It will be interesting to see how much free rein Pochettino gives McKennie, but I expect to see him running freely against Belgium and Portugal.
Malik Tillman and Brenden Aaronson will also fight for opportunities, whether it’s in the starting lineup or off of the bench. Tillman’s form has dipped a bit at Bayer Leverkusen this winter but he did just return to action last weekend.
Aaronson’s goal contributions have dried up a bit as well for Leeds United, but his defensive work rate remains impressive regardless. Both Tillman and Aaronson could be starters, but could also be key bench threats.
Strikers
Haji Wright, Folarin Balogun, Patrick Agyemang, Ricardo Pepi.
Mauricio Pochettino has four good options to call in for the No. 9 race and I expect all four to see minutes this month.
Folarin Balogun leads the way after a good run of form with AS Monaco in France. Balogun has 13 goals this season across all competitions, with a handful of them coming in the last three weeks.
Right now the No. 9 role is Balogun’s job to lose, especially given the way he ended 2025 with the USMNT.
Haji Wright would be No. 2 on my pecking order, given his blistering run with Coventry City. After struggling to score goals in November and December, Wright has scored eight goals in 2026, with three coming in consecutive appearances for the EFL Championship’s league leaders.
It’s hard to rule Wright out, unless an unforeseen injury occurs.
Ricardo Pepi is back amongst the goals for PSV as well, sitting third on my list for the striker position. Although Pepi missed time this new year due to a broken arm, he is back playing for PSV and adding goals to his name.
Out of the strikers on this list, Pepi featured the least amount of time for the USMNT in 2025, but still deserves one final chance to pad his stock.
Patrick Agyemang’s goals may have dried up a bit for Derby County, but he brings a different sense of physicality to the mix compared to Balogun, Wright, and Pepi. Agyemang scored five goals for the USMNT in 2025 and is a great option to have off of the bench.
It’s unsure if Pochettino will take four strikers, but it’s hard to argue against it with all four having good club seasons.
What do you think of this roster projection? Who is on the squad that you are happy to see included? Who is the one player you would add to the team that isn’t among our 26?
Who isn’t listed on any of the above lists that you feel absolutely should be mentioned? (We will be adjusting the list to include any players we may have accidentally left off).
Share your thoughts below.
I suspect he will call in people on the bubble and play them at the expense of people he has already selected if not injured. I think that will include Agyeman, Pepi, Zendejas, B Aaronson, Roldan, A Morris, Cordosa, Berhalter, ARob, Scalley, Lund, Trusty, Ream, T Tillman, Freeman. Don’t expect him to call in Pulisic, Reyna, Balogan, McKennie, M Tillman but I expect those five to be on the WC roster barring injury.
Pochettino declared “The World Cup starts in March.” So that does not sound like March will be a “tryou” camp with “locks” left home.
JR, He did, but he has said a lot of things that didn’t prove to be true. We will know soon. I forgot Musah on the list of people I think get called in.
Touché.
Tele57,
That’s possible.
Or the USMNT could use this time vs some top teams to “fine tune” his best 11 and the 5-8 most likely subs. The “Collective” need the practice with whatever tactics the management staff are planning on using. Many of the people you mentioned are already “on” the team barring unforeseen circumstances.
That makes more sense to me.
Why waste games against tough teams just to determine the fate of a handful of fringe players who, if they make it, for the most part, are probably not going to get more than a few minutes of playing time? Or maybe none.
And for the those whose spot is truly up for grabs the only way to resolve it is to show how you look with the starters. For example if the last striker spot is between Pepi or Patrick you absolutely need to see how they work with Pulisic, Weston, Weah, etc. anyway.
After all this time , the primary including or excluding factor is going to be injury/health.
it’s kind of telling the folks getting on me for saying we need to trial some backs, then turn around and say dump turner on recent form grounds and write some dude’s name in at GK with zero senior caps.
personally the GK position should be opened up, call about 4 guys this window, give them each a half game, and evaluate what you see. the fixtures will be rough so they will be busy all game — this isn’t playing antigua in gold cup.
personally i’d like to see celentano see the field. his numbers are consistently good. some of the johnny come latelys being proposed are off 3 games this season, and were like 2 GAA guys last year. plus celentano has been repeatedly in camp before just not used.
to be blunt, a lot of this would be solved by using players other than the 1, or even 2, ever, before we get to the last window. win jobs on performance, establish an earned hierarchy, do it well before now, and then you just tweak the order if someone comes out of the MLS gate awful, gets hurt, whatever. the problem is if you never put the work in, and then, oh crap, turner is sucking, dest is hurt, “what now.” the idea is to have an answer before now.
but, failing that, use march to come up with some answer. and you don’t get that answer playing freese or freeman 180 mins/180 possible.
fwiw kid klinsi’s recent candidacy just feels like straight eurosnobbery. he’s serie B not serie A, and his numbers there are mediocre, like 1.5 GAA. i don’t think klinsi finally finding a job and doing ok there makes him a top 3 US keeper or better option than top MLS keepers.
same league as busio and novakovich.
IV,
Such hypocrisy.
Serie B , a defensive league, is not far off of BL 2 and you’d squeal with delight if they called in Julian Green.
As of March 2026, he has played 29 matches this season.
Goals Prevented (xG vs. Conceded): In the 2025/26 season, Klinsmann has faced an Expected Goals on Target (xGOT) of approximately 39.57 but has conceded 41 goals.
Shot Stopping: 74 saves this season, 1 penalty save out of 4 faced.
Serie B Impact: He was named the Serie B Goalkeeper of the Year for 2025.
Jonathan played 17 games for the LA Galaxy and 17 games for the LA Galaxy2 . So he has experience in Europe and MLS. And, FWIW, he has been around high level soccer all of his life. He’s even played college soccer. JK may not better than Freese right now but at 28 he’s at the right age for a keeper to begin trending upward.
What’s noteworthy is they have called him into 2 camps which tells you that they see him as a positive for the collective.
And that matters very much with this edition of the USMNT. The #3 slot is probably between Schulte, JK and Ethan.
IV: to add a little bit to Vacqui’s post, Cesena and JK Jr started off well this season, staying in the top 4 until January. The team and Jonathan have struggled the last month elevating his GAA from 1.25 to 1.40.
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Celentano has a rep of over his career giving up almost identical goals to his xGot faced. Which tells you he’s not an elite shot stopper. Which when you also consider he isn’t a great passer, you aren’t going to change your whole style of play for just a slightly above average shot stopper. Celentano was a 1.33 GAA last year and 1.36 in 2024 (Klinsmann this season 1.41 and 1.11 last year)
IV,
“personally the GK position should be opened up, call about 4 guys this window, give them each a half game, and evaluate what you see. the fixtures will be rough so they will be busy all game — this isn’t playing antigua in gold cup.”
Each of these guys get 45 minutes? As JR said, the USMNT have either got plenty of game video of these guys or have spent a ton of time scouting them in person, watching their games and talking to their coaches and teams.
Your idea is a complete waste of time, time that this staff will not have.
It’s like writing a word document and then checking the spelling by manually going through your hand held dictionary. It’s 2026 not 2006.
This the USMNT not high school. No unlimited substitution.
No Horvath in the first half followed by Keeper X or whoever in the second half. You’re wasting practice time on a situation that is not likely to happen in a real game.
For professional, international and club team Keepers the game is 90 minutes of required 100% concentration. That’s why Keepers they get evaluated over 90 minutes or until the whistle blows. Keepers are different from outfield players.
There is a lot more to goal keeping than shot stopping and distribution. A Keeper’s mental makeup is very important and you can’t evaluate that over just a 45 minute half. The Keeper has to be at maximum concentration for 90 minutes or until the whistle blows.
There are plenty of games where a keeper does almost nothing in the first half and then it all goes to hell in the second half. Do you think it is easy to stay focused in bad weather if you stand there and do nothing until the 80th minute and then all of sudden you have to do deal with a breakaway and then the other team subsequently gets five corners in a row?
Or how about dealing with a goal being scored in the first minute so now you either have to try and hold that lead for 89 minutes or , if the score is against you, you have to hold the fort until your team scores two to take the lead?
If you’re the poor schmuck who is particpating in your hare brained 45 minute dysfunctional trial shit show and you are the first half guy, and nothing happens in the first half, you are not going to be able to show what you can do during the pressurized late stages of the second half when a lot of modern professional games are actually decided.
If Schulte stands around for the first half and because nothing is happening and does nada but then the second half heats up and Brady has a ton of shots and set pieces to deal with WTF does that prove?
At this point it’s pretty clear that the USMNT has a bunch of keepers that have been/are mediocre from a career standpoint.
BUT, it is only 8 games to get into the final. In a playoff situation, it’s up to the keepers to stand on their head.
They can do it; whether they will is anyone’s guess.
Man I got catfished the glare on my tablet made it hard to see this is the projected and not the roster lol.
And at this point I would even call up Andrew Thomas Seattle’s starting GK over Turner. Turner has been on a slide for 2 years, but nobody wanted to face that.
Since he came back to MLS last year, Turner’s g+/96 has been better than any other goalkeeper with at least as many minutes. And not just like a little better. Much better. He has the unfortunate circumstance of playing for a terrible team that gives up very xG shooting opportunities. But he’s still the most valuable gk in MLS in terms of preventing goals for his team.
Gaga Slonina needs to come back to MLS.
Diego Kochen needs to seriously weigh up his options in the summer. He probably wont beat put incumbent Joan Garcia who is young at 24 years old. Needs to go on loan or leave Barcelona if he wants to fulfill that potential.
You clearly missed my joke about Poch taking Kochen with him to get him ready for Spurs, but yes if the choice is Kochen or Ferree? It’s not a hard decision. I’m taking the 3rd string keeper at Barcelona over the 3rd stringer from San Diego.
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“ Turner has been on a slide for 2 years, but nobody wanted to face that.” Turner had a 3.9 goals prevented in just 10 matches last season, would have been 6th in the league his saves per game was 4th but he wasn’t eligible for season stats because he came in August.
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Andrew Thomas, the guy that’s been the backup to Frei for 10 years? Hmm clean sheets against Colorado and St Louis (sensing a pattern with good performances against them), but a stinker vs RSL who has some weapons in attack.
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The season is 3 weeks old talk to me about your new shiny toys in a month.
JR, nkh, 2tone,
Turner will be on the roster because:
1) He’s still a very good shot stopper
2) He’s a World Cup vet who did well in Qatar
For now Freese is #1 but the fact remains he’s never played in a game that will be as big as the World Cup games.
So if Freese falters at all or gets hurt, Turner is the only logical alternative. He sucks with his feet but Freese was/is not a whole lot better so the stylistic transition should be seamless.
FYI, Feree has taken over the #1 slot at San Diego and now played 6 games. He has given up 3 goals, 2 on penalty kicks and 1 to Pumas on their field. I had my doubts when they started him (out of necessity due to injury and red card for the #2 GK), but he has answered the call. He is only 19 so I don’t think you take him to the WC, but he certainly should get consideration in the future if his performance continues.
Gary Page,
Regarding Feree…great!…if warranted, he’ll get consideration for the USMNT roster for the 2034 World Cup roster.
The idea that anyone would suggest he be considered for this March camp, let alone for the 2026 World Cup roster, based on starting 6 games in <MLS and CONCACAF Champions League is ridiculous.
The person that suggested that idea continues to exhibit clown behavior by suggesting absurd ideas.
JR,
If you buy Turner as the #2. the # 3 slot sounds like 6 of one, half a dozen of the other.
I know Horvath and JK have something of a reputation as penalty specialists.
What about the other guys?
I’m not sure I’m buying Turner, I just know I trust him more than an 18 yr old with 3 MLS starts against KC, StL, and Montreal. Not exactly the group of death.
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Freese is the PK specialist so I’m not sure you need to bring another PK specialist (IV trigger warning). I think they’ll go with the three they think are the best you can’t go by form on MLS on 2 or 3 games. Turner had one non-optimal game against Nashville, Horvath had one bad game against Montreal, Schulte has had 2 stinkers and one good one against Chicago, Celentano has given up 2g in 3 matches but both have been nearly unstoppable in their placement. Gregg’s staff and now Poch’s don’t seem to rate him though. Brady has 2 clean sheets and one stinker against Houston. Maybe Poch goes back to Kochen as his third to kick the tires and see if he wants him with him at Spurs next fall.
So a starter for San Diego doesnt make the team, but Kochen does? Make that make sense to me? Oh it doesnt make sense.
If you added Trusty, Zendejas, and McGlynn that would give you an even 30 (Larry I count 27 on your list not 26). I don’t know that Poch wants that many.
Don’t think McGlynn is in.
I think with Luna and Gio probably not healthy Zendejas may get in.
Also think with Dest out he still doesn’t bring Scally, with Freeman able to play 2 spots I bet Banks gets a call
My 2 cents
Probably not but McGlynn missed October and November with injury so maybe Poch might want one last look.
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And why doesn’t anyone listen Freeman doesn’t play two spots! Freeman and Joe play RB, when we have the ball they slide inward to create passing angles for build out while the LB pushes up into the attacking line creating a 3-2-4-1 in attack, but defending in a 4-4-2.
Johnnyrazor,
Technically, Freeman has played two positions…RWB and RCB.
For the most part you are accurate…in possession, Freeman tucked in to play as the RCB and Tolkin got far up the field on the left…out of possession, Freeman morphed into a RB in a 4-4-2. That was prevalent in the Uruguay game.
The exception is when he lined up as a RCB vs Ecuador this past October, albeit as a sub, when he came on in the 63rd’ for Miles Robinson and it was a straightforward sub. The USMNT had the bulk of the possession in that game and for the first 10 minutes that he was on the field, he played as a true RCB, even out of possession. Once Balogun scored, the team morphed into the 4-4-2 that you reference when they were defending.
On a side note, Zendejas has earned the opportunity to get called into the March camp. For context, if Tillman is getting called in, Zendejas has earned it, as well.
Yes you are right I forgot he did replace MRob for ten minutes before they subbed McKenzie for Weah and pushed Freeman wide. I don’t think that’s what people are referring to though.
Johnnyrazor,
63′ – Luna ( not McKenzie ) came on for McKennie.
73′ – McKenzie for Ream.
After the subs, when out of possession, Arfsten dropped into a more traditional LB spot and Freeman pushed out wide to RB.
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“I don’t think that’s what people are referring to though.”
Then what are people referring to?
Papi, they look at the USA in possession and see him in a line of 3 with Richards and the other CB and say he’s a CB. Then ignore when we don’t have the ball and Max drops into the backline and we defend in clear lines of 4-4-2 with Freeman as the outside back on the right. Primarily against Uruguay people ignored that Dest was playing as a wing not as a FB.
Johnnyrazor,
Noted, and thanks.
JR delivers the goods as usual, might want to listen to him
Im sorry I just don’t see Matt Turner as the #2. For me Chris Brady is. The Revs are bad and that includes Turner.
I would even day Duran Ferree a 19 year old is over Turner.
You’re confusing teams with player performance. Ferree has faced 1.00 xGot total in 3 matches. That means his team isn’t allowing much to even get to him. Turner has given up 5, but has prevented 1.39 in their 2 matches.
Goals prevented per 90
Turner .69
Brady .51
Ferree .34
Celentano .54
Schulte .20 (oof)
Freese .11 (even oofier!, but hasn’t faced many quality shots)
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There’s no way Ferree gets called in. I don’t know if Turner makes it or not but I’m nearly positive the 3rd string keeper from last falls U20 WC isn’t.
JR,
Jonathan Klinsmann seems to be playing well
V,
On the season JK Jr. has conceded 41g compared to 39.6 xGot. So he’s given up 1.4 more goals than he should have. In his last 10 matches he’s underperformed the xGot in 7 of them (given up more than predicted based on the shots he’s seen). He’s a little over -4.00 goals prevented over that period. Cesena is 2-2-6 in that time, they’ve dropped from 4th to 8th. The good news for them is a lot of the teams 9-12 are also struggling currently. So I’d say Jonathan had good matches 2 of the last 3 but was down right awful in January and February.
JR,
If you buy Turner as the #2. the # 3 slot sounds like 6 of one, half a dozen of the other.
I know Horvath and JK have something of a reputation as penalty specialists.
What about the other guys?
Ferree is better. Better with his feet and better shot stopper when facing the shots that do come. Facing more shots will inevitably make stats look different. It dies not equate to be being a better shot stopper.
2tone go watch all 7 saves Ferree has made. Maybe one is a difficult save, but it’s from a tight angle. It’s good positioning but it’s literally the only spot Jovalich could have put it on frame. He spills one of them against St Louis but his defender clears it off the line. There’s another cross from StL that Ferree is unable to do anything with but the attacker just grazes it and it goes well wide.
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Kochen was the starter for the U20s, when he was recalled they didn’t go with Ferree they went with Beaudry, even when he struggled mightily against South Africa. That’s not even counting Julian Eyestone and Andrew Rick who weren’t released. He’s the 6th keeper in his age group.
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Ferree only started week 1 because Dos Santos is still recovering from breaking his face and Sisneiga was suspended for the first match. Sisneiga has been starting the Champions Cup matches. Varas has said he’s “going to keep going with him while he’s playing well”, but he’s their third choice. He’s played well enough against 3 terrible MLS teams, but that’s it. He should have a fairly easy time with Dallas this weekend, but then the competition gets tougher.
By that logic Carles Gil is pretty shit.