USMNT World Cup roster prediction: Who’s in, out and on the bubble for 2026?

The U.S. men’s national team closed 2025 on a high, generating some real optimism that it could make some noise at a home World Cup next summer.

Mauricio Pochettino’s side had been muddling through the year as the calendar turned toward fall, but the Argentine seems to have unlocked something in his team that has it finally looking like a potential world-beater.

The USMNT ended the year on a five-game unbeaten run against World Cup-bound teams, winning four of those matches. The coup de grâce was a stunning 5-1 thrashing of a strong Uruguay team on Tuesday.

Suddenly, anything seems possible for the USMNT as the calendar turns toward 2026.

One of the keys to the USMNT’s turnaround was Pochettino’s decision to move the team into a three-man back line. That tweak also changes how Pochettino will view the 26 players he’ll select for the World Cup roster.

With that in mind, here are the 26 players we see Pochettino taking to the World Cup next summer.

Goalkeepers: Matt Freese, Matt Turner, Patrick Schulte

In the mix: Ethan Horvath, Chris Brady, Diego Kochen, Roman Celentano, Jonathan Klinsmann, Zack Steffen

As 2025 comes to an end, it’s clear that Pochettino has cast his lot with Freese. The New York City FC goalkeeper had no caps entering June of this year, but has now started the past 12 games for the USMNT. Barring anything unforeseen, Freese is the team’s World Cup starter.

Freese’s rise has come at the expense of Turner, who has lost his starting role and may even be worried about his World Cup place after being omitted from two of three fall rosters. But the New England Revolution shot-stopper has quality and World Cup experience, and should get the call as a backup.

That leaves a scramble for the third goalkeeper job, with a number of names in the mix. Schulte may have the edge for now as he has been named to most of Pochettino’s rosters this year.

Defenders: Max Arfsten, Alex Freeman, Sergiño Dest, Antonee Robinson, Tim Ream, Chris Richards, Mark McKenzie, Joe Scally, Miles Robinson

In the mix: Kristoffer Lund, Tristan Blackmon, Cameron Carter-Vickers, Caleb Wiley, Nathan Harriel, Walker Zimmerman, Noahkai Banks, Auston Trusty, Marlon Fossey, John Tolkin

Richards is a lock and will anchor the USMNT back line if healthy, while Ream appears to be nearly a lock despite recently turning 38. If Pochettino plays a three-man back line, that pair looks likely to start with the third spot up for grabs. Will the coach go with a fullback option like Freeman or Scally, or a more natural center back like McKenzie or Robinson?

Either way, Freeman looks like a lock after his tremendous showing against Uruguay. McKenzie and Robinson have also slightly separated from the pack at center back, especially with Carter-Vickers suffering a torn Achilles in October.

Banks is a tremendous prospect and the 18-year-old can’t be ruled out if he can impress in a run of starts at Augsburg.

Robinson is likely to start at left wingback if healthy but his problematic knee is an increasing concern. Arfsten has showed the ability to deputize effectively in the Fulham man’s absence.

Dest looks like an ideal fit for the right wingback role, which suits his attacking instincts perfectly.

Midfielders: Tyler Adams, Sebastian Berhalter, Diego Luna, Malik Tillman, Weston McKennie, Gio Reyna, Cristian Roldan, Tanner Tessmann

In the mix: Yunus Musah, Gianluca Busio, Aidan Morris, James Sands, Johnny Cardoso, Jack McGlynn, Luca de la Torre, Sean Zawadzki, Timmy Tillman

The USMNT’s deepest position is where Pochettino may have the biggest selection headaches, as the coach will almost certainly leave deserving midfielders off his squad.

It’s hard to call many players locks at midfield, though Adams is likely one of them and McKennie should be another despite being omitted from two of the three fall rosters.

Tillman has proven his ability to translate his club form to the national team and his attacking talent is too strong to ignore. Reyna is back on the right side of the bubble after revitalizing his fortunes in November, but form and fitness are a constant concern.

Luna and Berhalter have similar profiles: high-energy MLS midfielders who have endeared themselves to Pochettino with their grit and ability in 2025. Their spots are tenuous but secure — for now.

Despite only returning to the fray in September, Roldan looks like a lock due to his aggression and leadership. Pochettino said last month that the Sounders midfielder ‘is an example of how you want to build your perfect player. He has a little bit of everything.’

Musah was a starter on the 2022 World Cup team but his stalled development and inconsistent playing time on loan at Atalanta could doom his hopes this time around. Time is also against Cardoso, who is at a massive club in Atlético Madrid but has been injured lately and hasn’t made the most of his USMNT chances when healthy.

Morris, De la Torre, Sands and Tillman have been involved in the fall but may simply be victims of a numbers game.

Forwards: Christian Pulisic, Tim Weah, Folarin Balogun, Ricardo Pepi, Haji Wright, Brenden Aaronson

In the mix: Josh Sargent, Alex Zendejas, Patrick Agyemang, Brian White, Damion Downs

The starting forward line looks more settled than any other position at the moment. Pulisic is the team’s best attacking player and is a must-start as long as he’s fit. Weah brings dynamism, experience and finishing chops at the other wide forward position and Balogun has put himself ahead of the pack in the race for the striker job.

Wright and Pepi look to be locked in a battle to back up Balogun at the No. 9 position. Wright scored a brace in October against Australia and has been red hot for Coventry. Pepi looked like a challenger to start ahead of Balogun, but hasn’t been starting at PSV. His scoring ability off the bench should keep him on the roster regardless.

The 6-foot-4 Agyemang is in the mix as a potential late-game option if the USMNT needs a goal. His form at Derby will be worth watching.

Sargent may have already missed his shot to make a second straight World Cup roster. The striker didn’t make an impact in September and is suffering through a lengthy scoring slump at Norwich.

The last attacking spot may be down to Zendejas or Aaronson. The race is close right now but we give Aaronson the nod after Zendejas has dealt with injuries over the past two months.