Goals, indecision, injury dominate USMNT FIFA World Cup 2026 Tracker

A few goals, indecision, and injury lead this week’s U.S. Men’s National Team tracker for FIFA World Cup 2026. Folarin Balogun scored for AS Monaco in their 2-1 win, while Sebastian Berhalter scored his second goal of the MLS season for Vancouver Whitecaps and added two assists for good measure.

In England, Tyler Adams kept himself out of Bournemouth’s match v Burnley because he “felt something” in training on Friday.

And we end with potential big news as Noahkai Banks pulled himself out of selection for a potential call up to the U.S. Men’s National Team for their upcoming friendlies. A slight injury and indecision about choice are the apparent factors.

Lastly, there are a few changes in the positional rankings for our U.S. Men’s National Team tracker. Who will Mauricio Pochettino call in for the March 28^th and 31^st friendlies v Belgium and Portugal?

All in all, 23 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 four others seeing time.

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 Tuesday morning, March 17, 2026

Strikers – 

1. Folarin Balogun, F, 24, AS Monaco: Scored the opener in a 70-minute shift in a 2-0 win over Stade Brestois 29, March 14. Balogun now has four goals and three assists in league play during 2026. Next match: Sunday, March 22, 2026, v Olympique Lyonnais.
2. Haji Wright, F, 27, Coventry City: Started and went 62 minutes in a 2-1 loss to Southampton, March 14. Next match: Saturday, March 21, v Swansea City.
3. Patrick Agyemang, 25, Derby County: Started and went 72 minutes in a 1-0 win at Portsmouth, March 16. Started and went all 90 in 1-0 loss, March 10 v Millwall, missing a few chances. Next match: Saturday, March 21, v Birmingham City.
4. Ricardo Pepi, F, 23, PSV Eindhoven: Started and went 70 minutes in 3-2 loss to Nijmegen, March 14. Next match: Sunday, March 22, v Telstar.

Attacking Midfielders

1. Christian Pulisic, F, 27, AC Milan: Started and went all 90 in a 1-0 loss to Lazio, March 15. Next match: Saturday, March 21, v Torino.
2. Weston McKennie, MF, 27, Juventus: Started and went 90 in a 1-0 win over Udinese, March 14. Next match: Saturday, March 21, v Sassuolo.
3. Malik Tillman, 23, Bayer Leverkusen: Started and went all 90 in a 1-1 draw with Bayern Munich, March 14. Entered in the 74^th minute of a 1-1 draw v Chelsea, March 11 in Round of 16, first leg v Chelsea in Champions League. Next match: Tuesday, March 17, v Chelsea in second leg; then Saturday, March 21, v 1.FC Heldenheim.
4. Brenden Aaronson, MF, 25, Leeds United: Started and went 45 in a 0-0 draw with Crystal Palace, March 15. Next match: Saturday, March 21, v Brentford.
5. Diego Luna (+1), MF/F, 22, RSL:  Finally back on the pitch – for 19 minutes – in a 2-1 win over Austin FC, March 14. Next match: Sunday, March 22, 2026, v San Diego.
6. Gio Reyna (-1), MF, 23, Borussia Monchengladbach: Was an unused sub for a 2-0 win over St. Pauli, March 13. Next match: Saturday, March 21, v 1.FC Cologne.

Wing backs

1. Sergino Dest, D/MF, 25, PSV Eindhoven: “Out for a little while” USMNT gets injury scare as Sergiño Dest out for a little while after injuring his hamstring in a 2-1 win over Alkmaar, March 7. Missed March 14, v Nijmegen. Next match: Sunday, March 22, 2026, v Telstar.
2. Tim Weah, MF, 25, Marseille(on loan from Juventus): Started and went all 90 in 1-0 win over Auxerre, March 13. Next match: Sunday, March 22, v Lille.
3. Antonee Robinson, D, 28, Fulham: Started and went all 90 in nil-nil draw with Nottingham Forest, March 15. Next match: Saturday, March 21, v Burnley.
4. Max Arfsten, D. 24, Columbus Crew: Started and went 88 minutes in a 1-0 loss to Nashville SC, March 14. Next match: Saturday, March 21, v Toronto FC.
5. Alex Freeman, WB, 21, Villarreal: Entered in the 84^th minute, March 13 v Deportivo Alaves. Next match: Friday, March 20, 2026, v Real Sociedad.
6. John Tolkin, D, 23, Holstein Kiel: Started and went all 90 in 3-2 loss to Nuremberg, March 14. Next match: Sunday, March 22, v Bochum.

Holding midfielders (one a 6 one an 8)

1. Tyler Adams, MF, 26, AFC Bournemouth: Not in the matchday 20 as he “felt something” in training the day before a nil-nil draw v Burnley, March 14. Next match: Friday, March 20, v Manchester United.
2. Tanner Tessmann, MF, 24, Olympique Lyonnais: Started and played full 90 in 0-0 draw, March 15, with Le Havre AC. Did not see time for 1-1 draw, v Celta Vigo, March 12, in Europa League; Next match: Thursday v Celta Vigo for 2^nd leg; then, Sunday, March 22, v AS Monaco.
3. Aidan Morris (+1), MF, 24, Middlesbrough: Started and went all 90 in a 1-1 draw with Bristol City, March 14. Went all 90 in a 1-0 loss to Charlton Athletic, March 11. Next match: Saturday, March 21, v Blackburn Rovers.
4. James Sands (-1), MF, 25, FC St. Pauli: Did not travel with the club for 2-0 loss to Borussia Monchengladbach, March 13, due to injury suffered in nil-nil draw with Eintracht Frankfurt, March 8. Next match: Sunday, March 22, v SC Freiburg.
5. Timmy Tillman, MF, 27, LAFC:  Entered in the 71^st minute of a 2-0 win over St. Louis City, March 14. Went all 90 in 1-1 draw with Alajuelense, in CONCACAF Champions Cup, first leg. Next match: Tuesday, March 17 for 2^nd leg v Alajuelense; then, Saturday, March 21, v Austin FC.
6. Cristian Roldan, MF, 30, Seattle Sounders: Entered in the 65^th minute of a 1-0 win over San Jose Earthquakes, March 15. Started, gained an assist, and went all 90 in a 3-0 win over Vancouver Whitecaps, March 12, in CONCACAF Champions Cup. Next match: Wednesday, March 18 for 2^nd leg v Vancouver Whitecaps; then, Sunday, March 22, v Minnesota United.
7. Sebastian Berhalter, MF, 24, Vancouver Whitecaps: Scored a PK and gained two assists in 65 minutes in a 6-0 win over Minnesota United, March 15. Started and went all 90 in a 3-0 loss to Seattle Sounders, March 12, in CONCACAF Champions Cup. Next match: Wednesday, March 18, for 2^nd leg v Seattle Sounders; then, Saturday, March 21, v San Jose Earthquakes.

Center Backs

1. Chris Richards, D, 25, Crystal Palace: Started and went all 90 in a 0-0 draw with Leeds United, March 15. Went all 90 in a 0-0 draw with AEK Larnaca, March 12, in UEFA Conference League in the Round of 16. Next match: Thursday, March 19, v AEK Larnaca in 2^nd leg of UEFA Conference League.
2. Mark Mckenzie, D, 26, Toulouse FC: Started and went all 90 in a 4-3 win over FC Mentz, March 15. Next match: Saturday, March 21, v Lorient.
3. Tim Ream, D, 38, Charlotte FC: Started and went all 90 in a nil-nil draw with Inter Miami, March 14. Next match: Saturday, March 21, v Red Bull New York.
4. Miles Robinson, D, 28, FC Cincinnati: Started and went 61 minutes in a 6-1 loss to New England, March 15. Started and went all 90 in a 3-0 win over Tigres, March 12, in CONCACAF Champions Cup. Next match: Thursday, March 19, v Tigres in 2^nd leg; then, Sunday, March 22, v CF Montreal.
5. Auston Trusty, D, 27, Celtic FC: Was not in the matchday 20 per suspension for a 3-1 win over Motherwell, March 14. Next match: Sunday, March 22, v Dundee United.
6. Noahkai Banks, D, 19, FC Augsburg: Did not play – although he was in the Matchday 20 – due to a “slight” injury in a 2-0 loss to Borussia Dortmund, March 14. Next match: Sunday, March 22, v VfB Stuttgart.
7. Joe Scally, D, 23, Borussia Monchengladbach: Started and went all 90 in a 2-0 win over St. Pauli, March 13. Next match: Saturday, March 21, v 1.FC Cologne.

Goalkeeper

1. Matt Freese, GK, 27, NYCFC: Started and went all 90 in a 3-1win over Colorado Rapids, March 14. Next match: Sunday, March 22, v Inter Miami.
2. Patrick Schulte, GK, 24, Columbus Crew: Started and went all 90 in a 1-0 loss to Nashville SC, March 14. Next match: Saturday, March 21, v Toronto FC.
3. Matt Turner, GK, 31. New England Revolution(from Lyon): Was between the posts for all 90 in a 6-1 win over FC Cincinnati, March 15. Next match: Saturday, March 21, v St. Louis City.
4. Roman Celentano, GK, 25, FC Cincinnati: Went all 90 in a 6-1 loss to New England Revolution, March 15. Went all 90 in a 3-0 win over Tigres, March 12, in CONCACAF Champions Cup. Next match: Thursday, March 19, v Tigres in 2^nd leg; then, Sunday, March 22, v CF Montreal.