Mauricio Pochettino is preparing to unveil his 2026 World Cup squad on May 26, and the 54-year-old coach has some big calls to make.
It’s probably fair to say the majority of the 26 selected players are already known to him, but it will be intriguing to see if Gio Reyna makes the cut after being called up during the March international break.
Atlético Madrid midfielder Johnny Cardoso’s absence with an ankle injury is a big blow, but Bournemouth’s Tyler Adams is fit and set to be integral if the USMNT are to win their group and target an ambitious quarter-final run… or better.
I spoke with the gregarious Pochettino last November and he was crystal clear: there is no point entering a World Cup unless you think you can win it.
Don’t Sweat the Friendlies
Friendly results aren’t always strong indicators of form or progress, but there was no doubt the USMNT were outplayed by both Belgium (5-2) and Portugal (2-0). There wasn’t always a gulf in class, but both sides played a more complete game across 90 minutes.
Senegal and Germany are the USMNT’s final two warm-up games and although Pochettino is well within his rights to dismiss suggestions a result is needed, a victory against one of these two stern opponents would calm some of the external noise.
In both March defeats, there were still some promising spells, just sandwiched between defensive frailties at one end and missed chances at the other.
On paper, the USMNT should get out of their group, and will no doubt be targeting winning it. Paraguay, Australia and Turkey stand in their way. The draw could have been far worse in my view.
USMNT Defensive Options
A lot has been made of the attacking options at Pochettino’s disposal, but the starting point should be finding a way to keep clean sheets. This has happened just once in the past 12 games.
It begs the question whether the USMNT boss should include an extra centre-back. Crystal Palace’s Chris Richards is a sure starter, but it’s unclear who (or how many) will partner him.
Tim Ream offers leadership and is still an imposing figure on his day, but his form has blown hot and cold with Charlotte this campaign.
Mark McKenzie, Auston Trusty and Miles Robinson haven’t locked down a starting spot this year, while Tristan Blackmon has suffered an injury-hit season.
A back-five could also get the best out of Fulham’s Antonee Robinson, who thrives as an overlapping full-back.
USMNT Midfield View
In midfield, the USMNT need multiple players capable of offering goal contributions to alleviate the burden on Folarin Balogun.
Captain Christian Pulisic has 10 goals in all competitions for Milan this season, yet he hasn’t scored for the USMNT since November 2024 in a 4-2 CONCACAF Nations League win over Jamaica. That’s still only an eight-game dry spell, but his confidence would have been boosted had he taken his chances against Belgium.
Pulisic has repeatedly insisted he doesn’t feel the pressure of a home World Cup, and speaking to him I have never sensed this is just a media trained take. He genuinely seems immune to pressure. If he can migrate this calmness in front of goal then the USMNT become a whole new threat.
Weston McKennie – who did score against Belgium – has had an impressive season with Juventus, scoring nine times and adding eight assists. Pochettino must decide what kind of role to give him, and with how much freedom. McKennie loves playing in a more advanced position, but he could also be tasked with partnering Adams a little further back.
Front, Back & Bench
There’s no real debate over who the No.9 is. Former Arsenal striker Balogun has 19 goals this season for Monaco and is a player who fits Pochettino’s system.
Balogun is not only a clinical scorer, but capable of dropping deeper to link up play. His dynamism and intelligent movement give the USMNT a real focal point.
At the other end, Pochettino knows his starting keeper will be a ‘Matt’ but is yet to decide between Freese and Turner. Neither really solidified their spot in March despite each being given a start.
My sense is that Pochettino does know most of his squad, and has done for quite some time, but that doesn’t mean he’s yet settled on his best XI.
I have so much respect for Pochettino as a coach, and he’ll be tactically flexible if that’s what is required. In my opinion, it also benefits the USMNT that, as it stands, the Argentine coach has got one World Cup to leave a lasting impact with his contract up this summer.
The former Spurs and Chelsea boss revealed to us in March in Atlanta that he would be open to discussing an extension despite an aspiration to return to the Premier League one day. He’ll be extra incentivised to either earn that new deal or bow out on a high.
USMNT Players on the Bubble
Coming back to the peripheral players who’ll be waiting by the phone come May 26, Reyna is obviously the most fascinating case.
In theory he’s a secret weapon, but in practice he hasn’t played 90 minutes all season for Borussia Monchengladbach – nor did he make an especially strong case for selection in March.
The choice is likely between Reyna – a ‘Hail Mary’-type player, capable of the sublime – Alejandro Zendejas, who has 12 goals and seven assists for Club America this season, or Real Salt Lake’s Diego Luna.
USMNT Needs Impact Players
Whoever Pochettino picks, the USMNT need a difference-maker, and maybe one of those three players will grab the limelight.
Alternatively, perhaps Pulisic simply steps up. Maybe McKennie is given freedom to be the heartbeat of the team. Or it could be that Adams’ destroyer tendencies allow for more damage to be done in transition.
But, above all else, the USMNT need to be solid defensively to avoid getting into too many ‘shootout’ style games. That’s where Richards could prove the real unsung hero of this World Cup. If leads by example at the back, it might provide the foundations for the USMNT to go on a deep run.
In this 48-team expanded World Cup, just getting out of the group isn’t as big an achievement as it was in the old format. After all, eight third-placed finishers will qualify.
That arguably means a shifting of goals. Pochettino will rightly talk up his side’s chances. It’s not in his nature to assume big guns like his native Argentina, Spain, England or France are impossible to beat.
Yet getting to the round of 16 surely a bare minimum. And if the USMNT reach the quarter-finals or beyond, they will have done themselves very proud this summer.
