Kansas City
Malik Tillman heads goal class, Robinson struggles: USMNT Tracker pre-FIFA World Cup 2026
Attacking midfielder Malik Tillman scored three, while Patrick Agyemang and Weston McKennie found goal. Antonee Robinson struggled.
Attacking midfielder Malik Tillman scored a brace midweek and added a single tally on the weekend for Bayer Leverkusen, while Patrick Agyemang remained hot for Derby County and Weston McKennie scored to stay in-form for Juventus in matches involving the top candidates for the U.S. Men’s National Team roster for the 2026 FIFA World Cup this summer. On the flip side, left wing back Antonee “Jedi” Robinson was a target for Manchester United all match in wild loss for Fulham. Along the way, 16 players started and 18 players saw time for their European clubs.
The first match of the FIFA World Cup on June 12 is approaching somewhat rapidly for the U.S. Men’s National Team. A strong showing as one of the three host countries with Mexico and Canada is a must. Anything else is unacceptable. Coach Mauricio Pochettino will be faced with whittling the roster down to 23-26 players for the three group stage matches… and beyond. Maybe, just maybe, the USMNT will end up in Kansas City for a quarterfinal.
Thus, we will be following the top players (at the moment) who are the strongest candidates for the final roster per the latest callups and history. Who fits the 3-4-2-1 formation Pochettino seems to now favor? How much playing time is each seeing? Are they being productive? Will a strong show of form mean a surprise addition, and subsequent subtraction, from the roster?
Consider this weekly column your reference, understanding that Major League Soccer clubs are in preseason and those players are not detailed for now.
as of Sunday, February 1, 2026
Strikers –Â
Folarin Balogun, F, 24, AS Monaco: Started and went 56 minutes – gaining an assist – in a 4-0 win over Rennes on January 31, 2026. Started and went 90 in a nil-nil draw v Juventus, January 28 in Champions League. Monaco will now face Paris Saint-Germain in the Champions League playoffs mid-February. Next match: v RC Strasbourg Alsace on Thursday, February 5, 2026.
Haji Wright, F, 27, Coventry City: Came on in the 71st minute in 2-1 loss to Queens Park Rangers on January 31st. Next match: v Oxford United, Saturday, February 7, 2026.
Patrick Agyemang, 25, Derby County: Started, scored, and went 70 minutes January 30 in 5-0 win over Bristol City. Next match: Saturday, February 7 v Ipswich Town.
Ricardo Pepi, F, 23, PSV Eindhoven: broke his arm when he tumbled after scoring during the first half of a 5-1 win over Excelsior on Saturday, January 10, 2026. It was the fifth league game in a row in which Pepi had scored. Pepi left the match in the 26th minute and is expected to be out two months.
Attacking Midfielders
Christian Pulisic, F, 27, AC Milan: came off the bench in the 67th minute in a 1-1 draw with AC Roma on Sunday, January 25. Next match Tuesday, February 3rd at Bologna.
Gio Reyna, MF, 23, Borussia Monchengladbach: Not in the squad due to “muscular problems” in 1-1 draw with Werder Bremen on Saturday, January 31. Next match: Saturday, February 7 v Bayer Leverkusen.
Weston McKennie, MF, 27, Juventus:  Started and scored 2nd goal in 5-1 win over Parma on Sunday, February 1. Started and went 90 in 0-0 draw with Monaco in Champions League, January 28. Next match: Thursday, February 5 v Atalanta in Coppa Italia.Â
Brenden Aaronson, MF, 25, Leeds United: Started and went 71 minutes in 4-0 loss to Arsenal on January 31, 2026. Next match: February 6 v Nottingham Forest.
Malik Tillman, 23, Bayer Leverkusen, Started, scored, and went 82 minutes in 3-1 victory over Eintracht Frankfurt on January 31, 2026. Started and scored a brace in 3-0 win over Villareal, January 28, in Champions League. Will now face Olympiacos in playoffs. Next match: v Borussia Monchengladbach on Saturday, February 7.
Wing backs
Tim Weah, MF, 25, Marseille (on loan from Juventus): Started and went 80 minutes in 2-2 draw with Paris FC Saturday, January 30. Started and went 90 in 3-0 loss to Club Brugge, January 28, in Champions League. Next match: Tuesday, February 3 v Rennes.Â
Sergino Dest, D/MF, 25, PSV Eindhoven: Started and went 73 minutes in 3-0 win over Feyenoord on Sunday, February 1, 2026. Started and went all 90 in 2-1 loss January 28 v Bayern Munich in Champions League. Next match: Wednesday, February 4 v SC Heerenveen.Â
Antonee Robinson, D, 28, Fulham: Started and went 71 minutes while struggling in defense as the Reds challenged him repeatedly in 3-2 loss to Manchester United, Sunday, February 1, 2026. Next match: v Everton, Saturday, February 7.
John Tolkin, D, 23, Holstein Kiel: Started and went 90 in 2-1 loss to SPVGG Greuther Furth, Saturday, January 31. Next match: Sunday, February 8 v Hannover 96.
Breaking news on 21-year-old Alex Freeman of Orlando City. The wing back has been transferred to Villarreal for a base of 4 million dollars, with add-ons that could reach 7 million.
Holding midfielders (one a 6 one an 8)
Tyler Adams, MF, 26, AFC Bournemouth: out with MCL tear. Expected back mid-February. Â
James Sands, MF, 25, FC St. Pauli: Started and went the full 90 in 2-1 loss to FC Augsburg on Saturday, January 31. Started and went 76 minutes in 1-1 draw with RB Leipzig on January 27. Next match: Tuesday, February 3, v Bayer Leverkusen in the quarterfinal of the DFB Cup.
Tanner Tessmann, MF, 24, Olympique Lyonnais: Started and went 90 in 1-0 win over LOSC on February 1. Went second 45 in 4-2 win over PAOK on January 29, 2026 in Europa League. Next match: Wednesday, February 4 v Stade Lavallois in French Cup.Â
Aidan Morris, MF, 24, Middlesbrough: Started and went 90 in 1-0 win over Norwich City, January 31. Next match: Monday, February 9 v Sheffield United. Â
Center Backs
Auston Trusty, D, 27, Celtic FC: Did not dress – due to seeing red in previous match – in Celtic’s 2-0 win over Falkirk on Sunday, February 1. Started and went 90 in Europa League 4-2 win over Utrecht on Thursday, January 29. Next match: v Aberdeen on Wednesday, February 4. Will face VfB Stuttgart in Europa League playoff round. Â
Joe Scally, D, 23, Borussia Monchengladbach: went 85 minutes in 1-1 draw with Werder Bremen on January 31st. Next match: Saturday, February 7 v Bayer Leverkusen.
Mark Mckenzie, D, 26, Toulouse FC: Went the full 90 in 0-0 draw with AJ Auxerre on Sunday, February 1. Next match: Wednesday, February 4 v Amiens in French Cup.
Chris Richards, D, 25, Crystal Palace: Went the full 90 in 1-1 draw with Nottingham Forest Sunday, February 1, 2026. Next match: Sunday, February 8 v Brighton adn Hove Albion.
Goalkeeper
See below…
Major League Soccer clubs have all reported to preseason in various locations. League matches begin Saturday, February 21, 2026.
Sebastian Berhalter, MF, 24, Vancouver Whitecaps
Cristian Roldan, MF, 30, Seattle Sounders
Timmy Tillman, MF, 27, LAFC
Diego Luna, MF/F, 22, RSL
Tim Ream, D, 38, Charlotte FC
Max Arfsten, D. 24, Columbus Crew
Miles Robinson, D, 28, FC Cincinnati
Roman Celentano, GK, 25, FC Cincinnati
Patrick Schulte, GK, 24, Columbus Crew
Matt Turner, GK, 31. New England Revolution (from Lyon)
Matt Freese, GK, 27, NYCFC
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I would love to see some of Aaronson’s tenacity run off on Robinson. Jedi is so naturally talented that it seems he doesn’t keep his head as firmly in the game as he should, particularly on defense.
Agreed, Questionmark