Drops, drips, and dominant performers: USMNT 2026 FIFA World Cup tracker

The U.S. Men’s National Team is close to their FIFA World Cup 2026 journey. And we get to ride along.

Twenty days until the roster reveal.

Thirty-seven days until in Los Angeles v Paraguay. Then Australia. Then Turkey. And beyond?

And in the buildup to that May 26 roster reveal, we have storylines, drama, and wonder.

Midfielder Aidan Morris is in a promotion battle. Strikers Folarin Balogun and Ricardo Pepi are scoring goals, as are attacker Diego Luna and wing back Max Arfsten.  And wing back Alex Freeman is seeing minutes with Villareal.

But it ain’t all good. Supposed ace attacker Christian Pulisic is in a drought. In-form striker Patrick Agyemang has suffered an injury that will keep him out of the cup, as has back James Sands. Yet, wing back Sergiono Dest is back while center backs Tim Ream and Miles Robinson battle injuries as well.

It has been a while for the U.S. Men’s National Team tracker for FIFA World Cup 2026 to hit this page due to vacation time. A lot has happened in two weeks with the 32 top candidates for the U.S. Men’s National Team roster for the 2026 FIFA World Cup this summer. Some of been dropped – so long Chris Brady, Noahkai Banks, and John Tolkin – and some have moved up in the rankings. Do you agree? Probably not.

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, Wednesday, May 6, 2026

Strikers – 

1. Folarin Balogun, F, 24, AS Monaco: Started, went all 90, and scored the opening salvo for his side in a 2-1 win over FC Metz, May 2. The goal was Balogun’s 9^th in 10 matches, and his 13^th overall. Started and went 84 minutes in a 2-2 draw with Toulouse FC, April 25. Started, drew a penalty and converted it, and went all 90 in a 2-2 draw with AJ Auxerre, April 19. Next match: v Lille OSC, Sunday, May 10.
2. Haji Wright, F, 27, Coventry City (Promotion to the Premier League granted!): Came on in the 78^th minute in a 4-0 win over Watford, May 2. Started and went 70 minutes in a 3-1 win over Wrexham, April 26. Came on in the 61^st minute of a 1-1 draw with Blackburn Rovers, April 17. Next match: Season completed.
3. Ricardo Pepi, F, 23, PSV Eindhoven: Started, scored in the 1^st minute, and went 72 minutes in a 2-2 draw with Ajax. May 2. Started and scored two in a 6-1 win over Pec Zwolle, April 23. Next match: Sunday, May 10 v Deventer.
4. Patrick Agyemang, F, 25, Derby County: Was injured (torn Achilles) and removed in the 40^th minute in a 2-0 win over Stoke City, April 3. Did not play Saturday, May 2, v Sheffield United FC; v Queens Park Rangers, April 25; v Norwich City, April 21; v Oxford United, Saturday, April 18; and v Southampton, April 11. Next match: Season completed.

Attacking Midfielders

1. Christian Pulisic, F, 27, AC Milan: Came on in the 59^th minute of a 2-0 loss to Sassuolo, May 3. Started and went 62 minutes in a 0-0 draw with Juventus, April 26. Started and went 80 minutes in a 1-0 win over Verona, April 19. Next match: Sunday, May 10 v Atalanta.
2. Weston McKennie, MF, 27, Juventus: Started and went all 90 in a 1-1 draw v Hellas Verona, May 3. Started and went 90 in a 0-0 draw with AC Milan on April 26. Started and went all 90 in a 2-0 win over Bologna, April 19. Next match: v Lecce, Saturday, May 9.
3. Malik Tillman, 23, Bayer Leverkusen: Entered in the 84^th minute of a 4-1 win over RB Leipzig, May 2. Came on in the 61^st minute of a 2-1 win over FC Koln, April 25. Stepped on in the 81^st minute of a 2-1 loss to FC Augsburg, April 18. Next match: Saturday, May 9, v VfB Stuttgart, direct rivals for a Champions League spot.
4. Brenden Aaronson, MF, 25, Leeds United: Came on in the 72^nd minute of a 3-1 win over Burnley, May 2. Started and went 86 minutes in a 1-0 loss to Chelsea in a FA Cup Semi-final, April 26. Started and went 84 minutes in a 2-2 draw with Bournemouth, April 22. Started and went 78 minutes in a 3-0 win over Wolverhampton, April 18. Next match: May 11 v Tottenham Hotspur.
5. Diego Luna, MF/F, 22, RSL: Started and scored the 2^nd goal in 89 minutes of a 2-0 win over Portland Timbers, May 2. Luna now has 3 goals and 3 assists in 473 minutes since returning from injury. Started and went 76 minutes in a 2-1 loss to LA Galaxy, April 26. Started and went 90 minutes in a 2-0 loss to Inter Miami, April 22. Started, scoring the opener in 70 minutes in a 4-1 win over San Diego, April 18. Next match: v FC Dallas, Saturday, May 9.
6. Gio Reyna, MF, 23, Borussia Monchengladbach: Came on in the 70^th minute in a 1-0 win over Borussia Dortmund, May 3. Stepped on in the 77^th minute of a nil-nil draw v Wolfsburg, Apri 25. Came on in the 71^st minute of a 1-1 draw with FSV Mainz 05, April 19. Next match: Saturday, May 9, v Augsburg.

Wing backs

1. Sergino Dest, D/MF, 25, PSV Eindhoven: hamstring injury. Stepped on in the 59^th minute of a 2-2 draw with Ajax. May 2. Was not in the Matchday 20 for a 6-1 win over Pec Zwolle, April 23, due to hamstring injury. Next match: Sunday, May 10 v Deventer.
2. Tim Weah, MF, 25, Marseille(on loan from Juventus): Was not in the Matchday 20 for a 3-0 loss to Nantes, May 2^nd. Started and went all 90 in a 1-1 draw with Nice, April 26. Went the second 45 of a 2-0 loss to Lorient, April 18. Next match: May 10 v Le Havre.
3. Antonee Robinson, D, 28, Fulham: Started and went 90 in a 3-0 loss to Arsenal, May 2. Stepped on in the 81^st minute in a 1-0 win over Aston Villa, April 25. Came on in the 81^st minute in a 0-0 draw with Brentford, April 18. Next match: v Bournemouth, Saturday, May 9.
4. Alex Freeman, WB, 21, Villarreal: Started and went all 90 in a 5-1 win over Levante. Started and went all 90 in a 2-1 win over Celta Vigo, April 26. Stepped on in the 78^th minute in a 1-1 draw with Oviedo, April 23. Next match: Saturday, May 10, v Mallorca.
5. Max Arfsten, D. 24, Columbus Crew:  Started, went all 90, and gained an assist in a 3-2 loss to Minnesota United, May 2. Arfsten has three goals and four assists this season. Was not in the Matchday 20 for a 4-1 win over One Knoxville SC in the US Open Cup, April 29. Started, scored the opener, and went 81 minutes in a 2-1 win over Philadelphia Union, April 25. Started, went all 90, and gained an assist in a 2-1 win over LA Galaxy on April 22. Started, scored the opener, and went all 90 in a 2-1 loss to New England Revolution, April 18. Next match: v New York City FC, March 10.
6. Joe Scally, D, 23, Borussia Monchengladbach: Started and went all 90 in a 1-0 win over Borussia Dortmund, May 3. Started and went all 90 in a nil-nil draw v Wolfsburg, April 25. Scored the opener and played all 90 minutes in a 1-1 draw with FSV Mainz 05, April 19. Next match: Saturday, May 9, v Augsburg.

Holding midfielders (one a 6 one an 8)

1. Tyler Adams, MF, 26, AFC Bournemouth: Started and went 68 minutes in a 3-0 win over Crystal Palace, May 3. Came on in the 72^nd minute of a 2-2 draw with Leeds United, April 22. Entered in the 64^th minute of a 2-1 win over Newcastle United, April 18. Next match: v Fulham, Saturday, May 9.
2. Tanner Tessmann, MF, 24, Olympique Lyonnais: Was not in the Matchday 20 for a 4-2 win over Stade Rennais FC, May 3. Entered in the 34^th minute in a 3-2 win over AJ Auxerre, April 25. Stepped on in the 79^th minute of a 2-1 win over PSG, April 19. Next match: v Toulouse FC, Sunday, May 10.
3. Aidan Morris, MF, 24, Middlesbrough: Started and went all 90 in a 2-2 draw with Wrexham United, May 2. Started and went all 90 in a 5-1 win over Watford, April 25. Started and went all 90 in a 1-0 win over Sheffield United, April 22. Started and went all 90 in a 2-2 draw with Ipswich Town, April 19. Next matches: May 9 and May 12 v Southampton (4^th seed, Middlesbrough 5^th seed) in playoffs for promotion to Premier League.
4. Sebastian Berhalter, MF, 24, Vancouver Whitecaps: Started and went 88 minutes, gaining an assist in a 1-1 draw with LA Galaxy, May 2. Started and went 91 minutes, gaining an assist in a 3-1 over Colorado Rapids, April 25. Went 74 minutes in a 3-0 Sporting Kansas City, April 17. Next match: v San Jose Earthquakes, May 9.
5. Cristian Roldan, MF, 30, Seattle Sounders: Started and went all 90 in a 1-1 draw with Sporting Kansas City, May 2. Was not in the Matchday 20 for a 2-1 win over FC Dallas, April 25. Started and scored twice in a 4-1 win over St. Louis City, April 18. Next match: v San Diego FC, May 9.
6. Johnny Cardoso, MF, 24, Atletico Madrid: Stepped on in the 57^th minute in a 1-0 loss to Arsenal in the 2^nd leg of the Champions League Semifinal, May 5. Saw no time in a 2-0 win over Valencia, May 2. Started and went 88 minutes in a 1-1 draw with Arsenal in the 1^st leg of the Champions League Semifinal, April 29. Stepped on in the 58^th minute of a 3-2 win over AC Balboa, April 25. Started and went all 90 in a 3-2 loss to Elche, April 25. Entered in the 78^th minute of a 2(3)-2(4) loss to Real Sociedad, April 18, in Copa Del Rey Final. Next match: v Celta, May 9.
7. James Sands, MF, 25, FC St. Pauli: Labeled “out for season” due to an ankle injury suffered v Eintracht Frankfurt, March 8. Next match:

Center Backs

1. Chris Richards, D, 25, Crystal Palace: Entered in the 76^th minute of a 3-0 loss to Bournemouth, May 3. Started and went all 90 in a 3-1 win over Shakhtar Donetsk in the Europa Conference League Semifinal, leg 1, April 30. Started and went all 90 in a 3-1 loss to Liverpool, April 25. Started and went all 90 in 0-0 draw with West Ham United, April 20. Next match: Thursday, May 7, v Shakhtar Donetsk in the Europa Conference League Semifinal, then Sunday, May 10, v Everton.
2. Mark Mckenzie, D, 26, Toulouse FC: Started and went all 90 in a 2-1 win over RC Strasbourg, May 3. Started and went all 90 in a 2-2 with AS Monaco, April 25. Did not see time in a 4-1 loss to RC Lens, April 21, in the Coupe de France. Was not in the Matchday 20 for a 3-2 loss to Racing Club de Lens, April 17. Next match: Saturday, May 10, v Olympique Lyonnais.
3. Tim Ream, D, 38, Charlotte FC: Was not in the Matchday 20 for a 1-0 loss to New England Revolution, May 2. Was not in the Matchday 20 for a 2-0 loss to Atlanta United in the US Open Cup, April 28. Was not in the Matchday 20 for a 4-1 loss to Orlando City, April 22. Was not in the Matchday 20 for a 4-2 loss to Nashville SC, April 25. Left the match with a groin injury after 54 minutes in a 2-1 win over New York City FC, April 18. Next match: Saturday, May 9, v FC Cincinnati.
4. Miles Robinson, D, 28, FC Cincinnati: Was not in the Matchday 20 for a 3-2 win over Chicago Fire, May 2. Was not in the Matchday 20 for a 2-0 win over Red Bull New York, April 25. Was not in the Matchday 20 for a 4-4 draw with New York City FC, April 22. Saturday, Was subbed out with a leg injury in the 64^th minute of a 3-3 draw with Chicago Fire FC, April 18. Next match: Saturday, May 9, v Charlotte FC.
5. Auston Trusty, D, 27, Celtic FC: Started and went all 90 in a 2-1 win over Hibernian, May 3. Started and went all 90 in a 3-1 win over Falkirk, April 25. Started and went all 90 in a 6-2 win over St. Mirren in the Semifinal of the Scottish Cup, April 19. Next match: v Rangers FC, May 10.

Goalkeeper

1. Matt Freese, GK, 27, NYCFC: Started and went all 90 in a 2-0 loss to DC United, May 3. Started and went all 90 in a 3-1 win over Red Bull New York in the US Open Cup, April 29. Started and went all 90 in a 1-0 draw with Montreal, April 25. Started and went all 90 in a 4-4 draw with FC Cincinnati, April 22. Started and went all 90 in a 2-1 loss v Charlotte, April 18. Next match: v Columbus, May 10.
2. Matt Turner, GK, 31, New England Revolution(from Lyon): Started and went all 90 in a 1-0 win over Charlotte FC, May 2. Was not in the Matchday 20 for a 4-3 loss to Orlando City in the US Open Cup, April 29. Started and went all 90 in a 1-1 draw with Inter Miami, April 25. Started and went all 90 in a 2-1 win over Atlanta United, April 22. Started and went all 90 in a 2-1 win over Columbus, April 18. Next match: May 9 v Philadelphia Union.
3. Roman Celentano, GK, 25, FC Cincinnati: Started and went all 90 in a 3-2 win over Chicago Fire, May 2. Started and went all 90 in a 2-0 win over Red Bull New York, April 25. Started and went all 90 in a 4-4 draw with New York City FC, April 22. Saturday, Started and went all 90 in a 3-3 draw with Chicago Fire FC, April 18. Next match: Saturday, May 9, v Charlotte FC.
4. Patrick Schulte, GK, 24, Columbus Crew:  Started and went all 90 in a 3-2 loss to Minnesota United, May 2. Was not in the Matchday 20 for a 4-1 win over One Knoxville SC in the US Open Cup, April 29. Started and went all 90 in a 2-1 win over Philadelphia Union, April 25. Started and went all 90 in a 2-1 win over LA Galaxy on April 22. Started and went all 90 in a 2-1 loss to New England Revolution, April 18. Next match: v New York City FC, March 10.