USMNT World Cup 2026 Tracker: McKennie on mark again! But not all good news…

Weston McKennie nodded home an impressive header in Juventus’ draw with Lazio and wing back Alex Freeman made his Villarreal debut. Yet, the biggest news may be the return of U.S. Men’s National Team stalwart Tyler Adams. Adams is back in training with Bournemouth and will hopefully see the pitch soon. Fourteen of the top candidates for the U.S. Men’s National Team roster for the 2026 FIFA World Cup this summer started for their clubs across and Europe with two others seeing time.

Not so good news came in both Christian Pulisic and Gio Reyna being held out through injury and Antonee “Jedi” Robinson not seeing a minute for Fulham.

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 Tuesday, February 10, 2026

Strikers – 

Folarin Balogun, F, 24, AS Monaco:  Went 90, rattling the crossbar in the 3rd minute, in a 0-0 draw with Nice, February 8. Came on in the 73rd minute in a 3-1 loss to RC Strasbourg Alsace in the French Cup on February 5, 2026. Next match: Friday, February 13 v FC Nantes.

Haji Wright, F, 27, Coventry City:  Went 90 in nil-nil draw with Oxford United, February 7, 2026. Next match: Monday, February 16, v Middlesbrough.

Patrick Agyemang, 25, Derby County: Went 90 in 2-1 loss to Ipswich Town., February 7.  Next match: Saturday, February 14, 2026 v Swansea City.

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: Did not dress for February 3rd, 3-0 win over Bologna reportedly due to bursitis near his hip. Next match: February 13 v Pisa.

Gio Reyna, MF, 23, Borussia Monchengladbach: Not in the squad due to illness and “muscular problems” in 1-1 draw February 7 v Bayer Leverkusen. Next match: at Eintracht Frankfurt, Saturday, February 14, 2026.

Weston McKennie, MF, 27, Juventus:  Scored and went 84 minutes in 2-2 draw with Lazio, Sunday, February 8. Started and went 90 in 3-0 loss to Atalanta in the quarterfinals of Coppa Italia. Next match: Saturday, February 14, v Internazionale.

Brenden Aaronson, MF, 25, Leeds United: Started and went 78 minutes in a 3-1 win over Nottingham Forest, February 6. Next match: Tuesday, February 10 at Chelsea, then Sunday, February 15 v Birmingham City in FA Cup.

Malik Tillman, 23, Bayer Leverkusen, Went 80 minutes in 1-1 draw with Borussia Monchengladbach on February 7. Next match: Saturday, February 14 v FC St. Pauli.

Wing backs

Tim Weah, MF, 25, Marseille (on loan from Juventus): Started and went 90 in 5-0 loss to PSG, February 8. Started and went 90 minutes in 3-0 win Tuesday, February 3 over Rennes in the French Cup, gaining a 7 rating much for his work rate from one source. Next match: v Strasbourg, Saturday, February 14.

Sergino Dest, D/MF, 25, PSV Eindhoven: Started and went 90 in 2-1 win over FC Croningen, February 8.  Started and went 74 minutes in 4-1 win over SC Heerenveen, February 4. Next match: Friday, February 13, v FC Volendam.

Antonee Robinson, D, 28, Fulham: Did not play in 2-1 loss to Everton, February 7. Next match: Wednesday, February 11 v Manchester City.

John Tolkin, D, 23, Holstein Kiel: Started and went 90 in 3-1 loss over Hannover 96, February 8. Next match: Sunday, February 15, 2026 v Schalke.

Alex Freeman, WB, 21, Villarreal, Came on in the 73rd minute to make his debut in 4-1 win over RCD Espanyol on February 9. Next match: Saturday, February 14, 2026 v Getafe.

Holding midfielders (one a 6 one an 8)

Tyler Adams, MF, 26, AFC Bournemouth: Back in training after MCL tear. Next match: Tuesday, February 10 v Everton.

James Sands, MF, 25, FC St. Pauli:  Started and went full 90 in 2-1 win over VfB Stuttgart on February 7. Next match: Saturday, February 14 v Bayer Leverkusen.

Tanner Tessmann, MF, 24, Olympique Lyonnais: Started and went all 90 in 1-0 win over FC Nantes on February 7. Played 11 minutes in 2-1 win over Stade Lavallois in French Cup on February 4. Next match: Sunday, February 15, 2026 v OGC Nice

Aidan Morris, MF, 24, Middlesbrough:  Went 87 minutes in 2-1 win over Sheffield United, February 9. Next match: v Coventry City, Monday, February 16, 2026.

Center Backs

Auston Trusty, D, 27, Celtic FC: Started and went all 90 in 2-1 win over Dundee United in Scottish Cup on February 7. The win secures a spot in quarterfinal. Celtic’s match v Aberdeen on February 4 was postponed due to a waterlogged pitch becuase of prolonged rains. Next match: Wednesday, February 11 v Livingston.

Joe Scally, D, 23, Borussia Monchengladbach: Entered in the 78th minute in 1-1 draw with Bayer Leverkusen on February 7. Next match: Saturday, February 14, v Eintracht Frankfurt.

Mark Mckenzie, D, 26, Toulouse FC:  Played the last 9 minutes in 1-0 loss to Angers on February 8. Went the full 90 in a 1-0 win over Amiens in French Cup, February 4. Next match: Sunday, February 15 v Le Havre.

Chris Richards, D, 25, Crystal Palace: Went full 90 in 1-0 win over Brighton and Hove Albion, February 8. Next match: Wednesday, February 11 v Burnley.

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