Over there, Over here: A week of glory, injury, rises and falls in the U.S. Men’s National Team tracker

The U.S. Men’s National Team tracker for FIFA World Cup 2026 had a week of glory, injury, and a few risings (matched with a few falls).

Lucky number 13 was put in by striker Folarin Balogun, while Ricardo Pepi struck for a match-winner, and Haji Wright celebrated a goal as well.

Wing backs saw the fall: “Sergino Dest injured”… are not two words we want to read regarding the top-rated wing back. “Antonee Robinson saw no time”… another two words that we disdain.

In the less glorified role of holding midfielder, Aidan Morris put in a ballyhooed performance for Middlesbrough in a 4-0 win, while just-above-Morris-in-the-rankings James Sands came off due to injury in St. Pauli’s weekend match.

Even though there are no changes in the positional rankings for our U.S. Men’s National Team tracker, there are micro-moves happening. Who will Mauricio Pochettino call in for the March 28^th and 31^st friendlies v Belgium and Portugal, respectively?

All in all, 27 of the 34 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 and Major League Soccer with one other seeing time.

And if you missed it… we had a very interesting and detailed talk on our new USNT podcast with KC/MLS/ soccer pioneer Diego Gutierrez. Hear it here. Check it out every week.

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 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 are 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 early evening, Tuesday, March 10, 2026

Strikers – 

1. Folarin Balogun, F, 24, AS Monaco: Scored, assisted, and went 81 minutes in a 3-1 win over PSG, March 6. The goal was Balogun’s 13^th in all competitions this season, extending his league match goal streak to three. Next match: Saturday, March 14, v Stade Brestois 29.
2. Haji Wright, F, 27, Coventry City: Scored the second and went 77 minutes in a 2-0 win over Bristol City, March 7. Next match: Wednesday, March 11, 2026, v Preston North End; then, Saturday, March 14, v Southampton
3. Patrick Agyemang, 25, Derby County: Started and went all 90 in 1-0 loss, March 10 v Millwall, missing a few chances. Started and went 74 in a 2-1 win over Sheffield Wednesday, March 7. Next match: Monday March 16, v Portsmouth.
4. Ricardo Pepi, F, 23, PSV Eindhoven: Scored the match winner and went 88 minutes in a 2-1 win over Alkmaar, March 7. Came on in the 66^th minute in 3-2 loss to Nijmegen in KVNB Cup, March 3. Next match: Saturday, March 14, v Nijmegen.

Attacking Midfielders

1. Christian Pulisic, F, 27, AC Milan: Started and was active in 83 minutes in 1-0 win over Inter Milan, March 8. Next match: Sunday, March 15, v Lazio.
2. Weston McKennie, MF, 27, Juventus: Started and went all 90 in 4-0 win over Pisa, March 7. Next match: Saturday, March 14, v Udinese.
3. Malik Tillman, 23, Bayer Leverkusen: Came on in the 66^th minute of a 3-3 draw with SC Freiburg, March 7. Came on in the 70^th minute of a 1-0 win over Hamburger SV, March 4. Next match: Wednesday, March 11 in Round of 16, first leg v Chelsea in Champions League; then Saturday, March 14 v Bayern Munich.
4. Brenden Aaronson, MF, 25, Leeds United: Was in matchday 20, but Aaronson did not see time in 3-0 win over Norwich City in FA Cup, March 8. Started and went 74 minutes in a 1-0 loss to Sunderland, March 3. Next match: Sunday, March 15 at Crystal Palace.
5. Gio Reyna, MF, 23, Borussia Monchengladbach: Was an unused sub in 4-1 loss at Bayern Munich, March 6. Next match: Friday, March 13, v St. Pauli.
6. Diego Luna, MF/F, 22, RSL:  Not in the 20 for a 3-2 win, March 7 at Atlanta United. Next match: Home to Austin FC, Saturday, March 14.

Wing backs

1. Sergino Dest, D/MF, 25, PSV Eindhoven: Started but was forced off due to an apparent hamstring injury after 57 minutes in a 2-1 win over Alkmaar, March 7. Started and went all 90 in 3-2 loss March 3, v Nijmegen in the KVNB Cup. Next match: Saturday, March 14, v Nijmegen.
2. Tim Weah, MF, 25, Marseille(on loan from Juventus): Started and went all 90 in 1-0 win over Toulouse in league play, March 7. Went all 90 as Marseille was eliminated from Coupe de France in penalties by Toulouse after 2-2 draw in regulation, March 4. Next match: Friday, March 13, v Auxerre.
3. Antonee Robinson, D, 28, Fulham: Was an unused sub for a 1-0 FA Cup loss to Southampton, Sunday, March 8. Went all 90 in 1-0 loss to West Ham, March 4. Next match: Sunday, March 15, v Nottingham Forest.
4. Max Arfsten, D. 24, Columbus Crew: Started and went all 90 in 0-0 draw with Chicago Fire, March 7, 2026. Next match: Saturday, March 14, v Nashville SC.
5. Alex Freeman, WB, 21, Villarreal: Was in the matchday 20 but did not see time for 2-1 win over Elche, March 8. Next match: Friday, March 13 v Deportivo Alaves.
6. John Tolkin, D, 23, Holstein Kiel: Started and went 90 in a 2-1 loss, March 7, v Darmstadt. Next match: Saturday, March 14, v Nuremberg.

Holding midfielders (one a 6 one an 8)

1. Tyler Adams, MF, 26, AFC Bournemouth: Went all 90 in 0-0 draw with Brentford, March 3. Next match: Saturday, March 14 v Burnley.
2. Tanner Tessmann, MF, 24, Olympique Lyonnais: Started and went 66 minutes in 1-1 draw with Paris FC, March 8. Was in matchday 20 but did not see the pitch in a 2-2 (4-5) draw with RC Lens, March 5, to be eliminated in French Cup quarterfinal. Next match: Thursday, March 12, 2026, v Celta Vigo in Europa League; then, Sunday, March 15, v Le Havre AC
3. James Sands, MF, 25, FC St. Pauli:  Started, but came off due to injury in the 81^st minute in nil-nil draw with Eintracht Frankfurt, March 8. Next match: Friday, March 13, v Borussia Monchengladbach.
4. Aidan Morris, MF, 24, Middlesbrough: Started and went all 90, while drawing rave reviews in 4-0 win over QPR, March 8. Started and went 90 in 3-1 over Birmingham City, March 2. Next match: Wednesday, March 11, 2026, v Charlton Athletic; then, Saturday, March 14, v Bristol City.
5. Timmy Tillman, MF, 27, LAFC:  Went 73 minutes in a 1-0 win over FC Dallas, March 7. Next match: Tuesday, March 10, v Alajuelense in CONCACAF Champions Cup; then, Saturday, March 14, v St. Louis City.
6. Cristian Roldan, MF, 30, Seattle Sounders: Played all 90 in 1-0 win over St. Louis City, March 7. Next match: Thursday, March 12, v Vancouver Whitecaps, in CONCACAF Champions Cup; then, Sunday, March 15, v San Jose Earthquakes.
7. Sebastian Berhalter, MF, 24, Vancouver Whitecaps: Scored and went all 90 in 4-1 over Portland Timbers, March 7. Next match: Thursday, March 12, v Seattle Sounders, in CONCACAF Champions Cup; then, Sunday, March 15, v Minnesota United.

Center Backs

1. Chris Richards, D, 25, Crystal Palace: Started and went all 90 in 3-1 win over Tottenham, March 5. Next match: Thursday, March 12, 2026, v AEK Larnaca; then, Sunday, March 15, v Crystal Palace.
2. Mark Mckenzie, D, 26, Toulouse FC: Started and went all 90 in 1-0 loss to Marseille in league play, March 7. Went all 90 in 2-2 draw with Marseille and eliminated them from the Coupe de France in penalties, March 4. Next match: Sunday, March 15, v FC Mentz.
3. Tim Ream, D, 38, Charlotte FC:  Went all 90 in 3-1 win over Austin FC, Saturday, March 7. Next match: Saturday, March 14, v Inter Miami.
4. Miles Robinson, D, 28, FC Cincinnati: Started and went all 90 in a 1-0 loss to Toronto FC, March 8. Next match: Thursday, March 12, v Tigres in CONCACAF Champions Cup; then, Sunday, March 15, v New England.
5. Auston Trusty, D, 27, Celtic FC: Went all 90 in 0-0 draw in regulation, won via 4-2 penalty shootout March 8 over Rangers to reach Scottish Cup semifinal. Suspended for Wednesday, March 4, v Aberdeen. Next match: Saturday, March 14, v Motherwell.
6. Noahkai Banks, D, 19, FC Augsburg: Started and went 84 minutes in 2-1 loss to Leipzig, March 7. Next match: at Borussia Dortmund, Saturday, March 14, 2026.
7. Joe Scally, D, 23, Borussia Monchengladbach: Started and went 90 minutes in 4-1 loss to Bayern Munich, March 6. Next match: Friday, March 13, v St. Pauli.

Goalkeeper

1. Matt Freese, GK, 27, NYCFC: Went all 90 in 5-0 win over Orlando City, March 7. Next match: v Colorado Rapids, Saturday, March 14.
2. Patrick Schulte, GK, 24, Columbus Crew: Started and went all 90 in 0-0 draw with Chicago Fire, March 7, 2026. Next match: Saturday, March 14, v Nashville SC.
3. Matt Turner, GK, 31. New England Revolution(from Lyon): Matchday 3 – postponed. Next match: Sunday, March 15, v Cincinnati FC.
4. Roman Celentano, GK, 25, FC Cincinnati: Started and went all 90 in 1-0 loss to Toronto FC, March 8. Next match: Thursday, March 12, v Tigres in CONCACAF Champions Cup; then, Sunday, March 15, v New England.