Cup dreams and Balogun streaks: USMNT FIFA World Cup 2026 Tracker

We play catch-up this week after a hiatus following the U.S. Men’s National Team friendlies. There have been goals, more injuries, and Cup dreams fueled and shattered. Let’s dive in.

Seven. That is the number of league matches on a row that Folarin Balogun has scored for AS Monaco.

None. That is the number of matches Derby County striker Patrick Agyemang will play for the U.S. Men’s National Team in the 2026 FIFA World Cup. Agyemang injury: USMNT striker leaves Derby match on stretcher – CBS Sports

The tracker has expanded to the top 35 candidates for the U.S. Men’s National Team roster for the 2026 FIFA World Cup this summer from clubs across Europe and Major League Soccer.

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 the morning of, Friday, April 17, 2026

Strikers – 

1. Folarin Balogun, F, 24, AS Monaco: Scored and went all 90 in a 4-1 defeat at Paris FC on Friday, April 10. Has scored in each of his last seven matches for his club. Started and scored the match winner in 84 minutes in a 2-1 win over Marseille, April 5. Next match: Sunday, April 19, v AJ Auxerre.
2. Patrick Agyemang, F, 25, Derby County: Not in the matchday 20 due to injury v Southampton, Saturday, April 11. Started and was injured (see above) and removed in the 40^th minute in a 2-0 win over Stoke City, April 3. Next match: Saturday, April 18, 2026, v Oxford United.
3. Haji Wright, F, 27, Coventry City: Started and went 67 minutes in a 0-0 draw with Sheffield Wednesday, April 11. Started and went 63 minutes in return from a groin injury for a 0-0 draw April 3, v Derby County. Next match: Friday, April 17, v Blackburn Rovers.
4. Ricardo Pepi, F, 23, PSV Eindhoven: Scored the opener and went 82 minutes in a 2-0 win over Sparta Rotterdam, April 11. Came on in the 86^th minute in a 4-3 win over FC Utrecht, April 4. Next match: Thursday, April 23, 2026, v Pec Zwolle.

Attacking Midfielders

1. Christian Pulisic, F, 27, AC Milan: Started and went 72 minutes in a 3-0 loss to Udinese Saturday, April 11. Came off the bench in the 74^th minute in a 1-0 loss at Napoli, April 6. Next match: Sunday, April 19, v Verona.
2. Weston McKennie, MF, 27, Juventus: Not in the matchday 20 due to suspension for a 1-0 win over Atalanta, Saturday, April 11. Started, scored, and went all 90 in a 2-0 win over Genoa, April 6. Next match: Sunday, April 19, v Bologna.
3. Malik Tillman, 23, Bayer Leverkusen: Came on for cameo in added time in a 1-0 win over Borussia Dortmund, April 11. Scored after entering in the 88^th minute of a 6-3 win over VfL Wolfsburg, April 4. Next match: Saturday, April 18, v FC Augsburg.
4. Brenden Aaronson, MF, 25, Leeds United: Started and went 86 minutes in a 2-1 win over Manchester United, April 13. Entered in the 38^th minute of a shootout win (2-2, 4-2 pens) over West Ham to reach the FA Cup semifinals. Aaronson scored his penalty attempt. Next match: Saturday, April 18, v Wolverhampton.
5. Diego Luna, MF/F, 22, RSL: Started and scored the opener, playing 84 minutes of a 3-1 win over Sporting Kansas City, April 4. Next match: v San Diego, Saturday, April 18.
6. Gio Reyna, MF, 23, Borussia Monchengladbach: Was an unused sub April 11, in a 1-0 loss to Leipzig. Came on in the 85^th minute of a 2-2 draw with Heidenheim, April 4. Next match: Sunday, April 19, v FSV Mainz 05.

Wing backs

1. Sergino Dest, D/MF, 25, PSV Eindhoven: Not in the matchday 20 due to injury for a 2-0 win over Sparta Rotterdam, April 11 nor a 4-3 win over FC Utrecht, April 4. Not in the squad for a 3-1 loss to Telstar, March 22, due to a hamstring injury. Next match: Thursday, April 23, 2026, v Pec Zwolle.
2. Tim Weah, MF, 25, Marseille(on loan from Juventus): Started and went al 90 in a 3-1 win over Metz, Friday, April 10. Started and went 89 minutes in a 2-1 loss to AS Moncao, April 5. Next match: Saturday, April 18, v Lorient.
3. Antonee Robinson, D, 28, Fulham: Started and went 69 minutes in a 2-0 loss to Liverpool, April 11. Next match: Saturday, April 18, v Brentford.
4. Alex Freeman, WB, 21, Villarreal: Was an unused sub in a 2-1 win over Athletic Bilbao, April 12. Entered in the 71^st minute of a 1-0 loss to Girona FC, April 6. Next match: Thursday, April 23, v Oviedo.
5. Max Arfsten, D. 24, Columbus Crew: Was not in the matchday 20 for a 3-0 win over Richmond Kickers in the Round of 32 of the US Open Cup. Started and went all 90 in a 1-1 draw with Orlando City, April 12. Started, scored the third, and went 68 minutes in a 3-1 win at Atlanta United, April 4. Next match: Saturday, April 18, v New England Revolution.
6. Joe Scally, D, 23, Borussia Monchengladbach: Started and went all 90, April 11, in a 1-0 loss to Leipzig. Started and went 70 minutes of a 2-2 draw with Heidenheim, April 4. Next match: Sunday, April 19, v FSV Mainz 05.
7. John Tolkin, D, 23, Holstein Kiel: Started and in a 2-1 win over Fortuna Dusseldorf, April 10. Started and went all 90 in a 0-0 draw with PreuBen Munster, April 5. Next match: Friday, April 17, v Kaiserslautern.

Holding midfielders (one a 6 one an 8)

1. Tyler Adams, MF, 26, AFC Bournemouth: Came on in the 70^th minute of a 2-1 win over Arsenal on April 11. Next match: Saturday, April 18, v Newcastle United.
2. Tanner Tessmann, MF, 24, Olympique Lyonnais: Came on in the 82^nd minute of a 2-0 win over FC Lorient, April 12. Started and went 73 minutes in a 0-0 draw with Angers SCO, April 5. Next match: v PSG, Sunday, April 19, 2026.
3. Aidan Morris, MF, 24, Middlesbrough: Started and went all 90 in a 1-0 loss to Portsmouth, April 11. Started and went all 90 in a 2-2 draw with Swansea City, April 6. Started and went all 90 in a 2-1 loss to Millwall, April 3. Next match: Sunday, April 19, v Ispwich Town.
4. James Sands, MF, 25, FC St. Pauli: Labeled “out for season” due to an ankle injury suffered v Eintracht Frankfurt, March 8. Next match: Friday, April 17, v 1. FC Koln.
5. Sebastian Berhalter, MF, 24, Vancouver Whitecaps: Started and went 77 minutes in a 2-1 win over New York City FC, April 11. Started and scored the matchwinner in a 3-2 win over Portland Timbers, April 4. Next match: Friday, April 17, v Sporting Kansas City.
6. Cristian Roldan, MF, 30, Seattle Sounders: Started and gained two assists in a 3-1 win April 15, over Tigres in 2^nd leg of Quarterfinal of CONCACAF Champions Cup, losing the series to away goals. Started and went all 90 in a 2-0 loss at Tigres, April 8. Started and went all 90 in a 1-0 win over Houston Dynamo, April 4. Next match: v St. Louis City, Saturday, April 18, 2026.
7. Johnny Cardoso, MF, 24, Atletico Madrid: Was an 89^th minute mop-up sub in first appearance since being injured while with USMNT in a 2-1 loss to FC Barcelona, April 14, moving on to the Champions League Semifinals. Was not in the matchday 20 for a 2-1 loss, April 11 to Sevilla. Not in the matchday 20 for a 2-0 win over FC Barcelona in the UEFA Champions League Quarterfinal, 1^st leg, April 8. Not in the matchday 20 for a 2-1 loss to FC Barcelona, April 4. Next match: Saturday, April 18, v Real Sociedad in Copa Del Rey Final.

Center Backs

1. Chris Richards, D, 25, Crystal Palace: Started and went all 90 in a 2-1 loss to Fiorentina in the 2^nd leg of the UEFA Conference League Quarterfinal, April 16. Started and went all 90 in a 2-1 win over Newcastle United, April 12. Started and went all 90 in a 3-0 win over Fiorentina in 1^st Leg, April 9. Next match: v West Ham United, Monday, April 20.
2. Mark Mckenzie, D, 26, Toulouse FC: Started, but earned a red card in the 48^th minute in a 4-0 loss to Lille, April 12. Started and went all 90 in a 3-1 loss to Paris Saint Germain, April 3. Next match: v Racing Club de Lens, Friday, April 17, 2026.
3. Tim Ream, D, 38, Charlotte FC: Did not feature in a 6-0 win over Charlotte Independence in the Round of 32 US Open Cup, April 15. Started and went all 90 in a 2-1 loss, April 11. Went all 90 in a 2-1 win over Philadelphia Union, April 4. Next match: Saturday, April 18, v New York City FC.
4. Miles Robinson, D, 28, FC Cincinnati: Did not feature in a 1-1 draw with Toronto FC, April 11 due to injury. Did not feature in a 4-2 loss to Red Bull New York due to suspension/injury, April 4. Next match: Saturday, April 18, v Chicago Fire.
5. Auston Trusty, D, 27, Celtic FC: Started and went all 90 in a 1-0 win over St. Mirren. Started and went all 90 in 2-1 win over Dundee United, April 5. Next match: Sunday, April 19, v St. Mirren in the Scottish Cup Semi-final.
6. Noahkai Banks, D, 19, FC Augsburg: Was an unused sub in a 2-2 draw with Hoffenheim, April 10. Was an unused sub in a 1-1 draw v Hamburg, April 4. Next match: Saturday, April 18, v Bayer Leverkusen.

Goalkeeper

1. Matt Freese, GK, 27, NYCFC: Did not dress for a 5-2 win over Westchester in the Round of 32 US Open Cup, April 14. All 90 between the sticks for a 2-0 loss to Vancouver Whitecaps, April 11. Started and went all 90 in a 1-1 draw with St. Louis City, April 4. Next match: v Charlotte, Saturday, April 18.
2. Matt Turner, GK, 31, New England Revolution(from Lyon): Was not in the squad for a 1-1 (win in pens) victory in the US Open Cup Round of 32 over Rhode Island. Went all 90 in a 1-0 win over DC United, April 11. Went all 90 in a 3-0 win over CG Montreal, April 4. Next match: v Columbus, Saturday, April 18, 2026.
3. Roman Celentano, GK, 25, FC Cincinnati: Went all 90 in a 1-1 draw with Toronto FC, April 11. Did not feature in a 4-2 loss to Red Bull New York due to injury, April 4. Next match: Saturday, April 18, v Chicago Fire.
4. Patrick Schulte, GK, 24, Columbus Crew: Was not in the matchday 20 for a 3-0 win over Richmond Kickers in the Round of 32 of the US Open Cup. Started and went all 90 in a 1-1 draw with Orlando City, April 12. Started and went all 90 in a 3-1 win at Atlanta United, April 4. Next match: Saturday, April 18, v New England Revolution.
5. Chris Brady, GK, 22, Chicago Fire: Went all 90 in a 2-1 win over Detroit City in the Round of 32 US Open Cup. Went all 90 in a 1-0 win over Atlanta United, April 11. Went all 90 in a 1-0 win over Nashville, April 4. Next match: v Cincinnati, Saturday, April 18.