Wright gets three, Agyemang shines, & injury returns: USMNT Tracker FIFA World Cup 2026

Haji Wright got right! Wright was the star in a big win, finishing three for Coventry City as they took back the top spot in the table. Trying to keep pace, Patrick Agyemang scored his 10th of the season for Derby County in their 2-0 win over Swansea City, and Tyler Adams made the 18 in his next step towards the pitch for Bournemouth as his injury recovery speeds forward. Speaking of injury, Christian Pulisic played the last 13 minutes in AC Milan’s 2-1 win over Pisa after a short spell out due to bursitis. And, once again after his poor performance v Manchester United weeks ago, Antonee “Jedi” Robinson did not see the pitch in Fulham’s 3-0 loss to Man City, but he did play all 90 in a 2-1 win over Stoke in the FA Cup.

All in all, 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 Europe with six others seeing time. Lastly, Major League Soccer begins play this weekend, meaning 11 players in the mix will begin to make their claims for the U.S. Men’s National Team roster for the 2026 FIFA World Cup via club ball. Four of those players play midweek in CONCACAF Champions Cup.

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.

as of Monday, February 16, 2026

Strikers – 

Folarin Balogun, F, 24, AS Monaco:  Started, went 76 minutes, and came close in a 3-1 win over Nantes, February 13. Next match: Tuesday, February 17 v PSG in Champions League; then, Saturday, February 21, v Lens.

Haji Wright, F, 27, Coventry City: Scored a hat trick – tap in, strong route one finish, and a well-placed pen – and went 82 minutes in 3-1 win to overtake Middlesbrough atop the Championship table on February 16. Next match: Saturday, February 21 v West Bromwich Albion.

Patrick Agyemang, 25, Derby County: Started and scored his 10th of the season with a “towering” header in 2-0 win over Swansea City on February 14.  Next match: Saturday, February 21, v Watford.

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 bench and went 13 minutes in a 2-1 win over Pisa. Next match: Wednesday, February 18 v Como; then, Sunday, February 22 v Parma.

Gio Reyna, MF, 23, Borussia Monchengladbach: Not in the squad and now on “individual training program” for a 3-0 loss at Eintracht Frankfurt, February 14, 2026. Next match: Sunday, February 22, v Freiburg.

Weston McKennie, MF, 27, Juventus: Went 90 minutes in 3-2 loss, February 14, v Inter Milan. Next match: Tuesday, February 17 v Galatasaray in Champions League; then, Saturday, February 21 v Como.

Brenden Aaronson, MF, 25, Leeds United: Went 90+ in 2-2 draw with Chelsea on February 10. Came off the bench to play 22 minutes in 1-1 draw, February 15 v Birmingham City in FA Cup. Next match: Saturday, February 21, v Aston Villa.

Malik Tillman, 23, Bayer Leverkusen, Played the second 45 in a 4-0 win over FC St. Pauli on February 14. Next match: Wednesday, February 18 v Olympiacos in Champions League; then, Saturday, February 21 v Union Berlin.

Diego Luna, MF/F, 22, RSL: Next match: Saturday, February 21, v Vancouver Whitecaps.

Wing backs

Tim Weah, MF, 25, Marseille (on loan from Juventus): Went all 90 in 2-2 draw with Strasbourg, February 14. Next match: Friday, February 20 v Brest.

Sergino Dest, D/MF, 25, PSV Eindhoven: Started and went full 90 in 2-1 loss to FC Volendam, February 13. Next match: Saturday, February 21 v SC Heerenveen

Antonee Robinson, D, 28, Fulham: Remained on bench in 3-0 loss to Manchester City, February 11. Started and went 90 in 2-1 win over Stoke City in FA Cup. Next match: Sunday, February 22 v Sunderland.

John Tolkin, D, 23, Holstein Kiel: Clocked all 90 in 2-1 loss to Schalke 04, February 15. Next match: Saturday, February 21 v Karlsruher.

Alex Freeman, WB, 21, Villarreal, Came on for the last 12 minutes in 2-1 loss to Getafe, February 14. Next match: Wednesday, February 18 v Levante UD.

Max Arfsten, D. 24, Columbus Crew: Next match: Saturday, February 21, v Portland Timbers.

Holding midfielders (one a 6 one an 8)

Tyler Adams, MF, 26, AFC Bournemouth: Was in the 18 for first time since returning from injury for 2-1 loss February 10 v Everton. Next match: Saturday, February 21 v West Ham United.

James Sands, MF, 25, FC St. Pauli:  Started and went 69 minutes in 4-0 loss to Bayer Leverkusen on February 14. Next match: Sunday, February 22 v SV Werder Bremen.

Tanner Tessmann, MF, 24, Olympique Lyonnais:  Went 90 in 2-1 win over OGC Nice, February 15. Next match: Sunday, February 22 v Racing Club DE Strasbourg Alsace.

Aidan Morris, MF, 24, Middlesbrough:  Went 90 and was an integral part of almost all Middlesbrough did in a 3-1 loss to Coventry City, February 16, 2026. Next match: Saturday, February 21 v Oxford United.

Timmy Tillman, MF, 27, LAFC: Next match: Tuesday, February 17, v Real Espana in CONCACAF Champions Cup; then, Saturday, February 21, v Inter Miami.

Cristian Roldan, MF, 30, Seattle Sounders: Next match: Sunday, February 22, v Colorado Rapids.

Sebastian Berhalter, MF, 24, Vancouver Whitecaps: Next match: Wednesday, February 18, v CSC in CONCACAF Champions Cup; then, Saturday, February 21, v Real Salt Lake.

Center Backs

Auston Trusty, D, 27, Celtic FC: Started and went all 90 in 3-2 win over Kilmarnock, February 15. Also went all 90 in 2-1 win over Livingston, February 11. Next match: Thursday, February 19 v VfB Stuttgart in Europa League; then, Sunday, February 22 v Hibernian.

Joe Scally, D, 23, Borussia Monchengladbach: Entered in the 65th minute of a 3-0 loss at Eintracht Frankfurt, February 14, 2026. Next match: Sunday, February 22, v Freiburg.

Mark Mckenzie, D, 26, Toulouse FC: Started and went 90 in 2-1 loss to Le Havre on February 15 v Le Havre. Next match: Saturday, February 21 v Paris FC.

Chris Richards, D, 25, Crystal Palace: Went all 90 in 3-2 loss to Burnley, February 11. Next match: Thursday, February 19 v Zrinjski Mostar in UEFA Conference League; then, Sunday February 22 v Wolverhampton.

Miles Robinson, D, 28, FC Cincinnati: Next match: Wednesday, February 18, v OYM in CONCACAF Champions Cup; then, Saturday, February 21, v Atlanta United.

Tim Ream, D, 38, Charlotte FC: Next match: Saturday, February 21, v Charlotte FC.

Goalkeeper

Roman Celentano, GK, 25, FC Cincinnati: Next match: Wednesday, February 18, v OYM in CONCACAF Champions Cup; then, Saturday, February 21, v Atlanta United.

Patrick Schulte, GK, 24, Columbus Crew: Next match: Saturday, February 21, v Portland Timbers.

Matt Turner, GK, 31. New England Revolution (from Lyon): Next match: Saturday, February 21, v Nashville SC.

Matt Freese, GK, 27, NYCFC: Next match: Sunday, February 22, v Los Angeles Galaxy.