Cardoso out, down to 30 choices: USMNT 2026 FIFA World Cup Tracker

Goals came and players went the past week in the candidates for the U.S. Men’s National Team roster for FIFA World Cup 2026. Ricardo Pepi, Diego Luna, Sebastian Berhalter, and Gio Reyna all scored, while Johnny Cardoso suffered a high-ankle sprain and will miss the World Cup.

Reyna goal: https://youtu.be/NahwM34VBZk?si=FP_Vyslc6wd2D6q5

Berhalter: https://twitter.com/WhitecapsFC/status/2053329399290716560?s=20

Luna: https://twitter.com/realsaltlake/status/2053301227497087103?s=20

Further injury news came as Christian Pulisic gained a lower back injury, and he was joined by Tim Weah (muscle injury) and Tanner Tessman (muscle injury) on the injury list. All three are expected to recover in time to be eligible for roster selection.

With Cardoso injury, the tracker is down to the top 30 candidates for the U.S. Men’s National Team 26-man roster for the 2026 FIFA World Cup this summer. Twenty of the candidates started and three others saw time with their clubs across Europe and MLS.

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 morning, Wednesday, May 13, 2026

Strikers – 

1. Folarin Balogun, F, 24, AS Monaco:  Started and went all 90 in a 1-0 loss to Lille OSC, May 10. Next match: v Strasbourg, Sunday, May 17.
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 the matchwinner, and went 86 minutes in a 4-1 win over Deventer, Sunday, May 10. Next match: Sunday, May 17, v FC Twente.
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: Was not in the Matchday 20 due to a lower back injury for a 3-2 loss to Atalanta, Sunday, May 10. Will undergo tests, although the injury is not expected to keep him out long. Next match: Sunday, May 17 v Genoa.
2. Weston McKennie, MF, 27, Juventus: Started and went 86 minutes in a 1-0 win over Lecce, Saturday, May 9. Next match: Sunday, May 17 v Florentina.
3. Malik Tillman, 23, Bayer Leverkusen: Started and went 65 minutes in a 3-1 loss to VfB Stuttgart, Saturday, May 9, direct rivals for a Champions League spot. Next match: v Hamburger SV, Saturday, May 16.
4. Brenden Aaronson, MF, 25, Leeds United: Started and went 63 minutes in a 1-1 draw v Tottenham Hotspur, May 11. Next match: Sunday, May 17, v Brighton and Hove Albion.
5. Diego Luna, MF/F, 22, RSL: Started and scored in a 3-1 loss to FC Dallas, Saturday, May 9. Next match: v Houston Dynamo FC, Wednesday, May 13 and Saturday, May 16 v Colorado Rapids.
6. Gio Reyna, MF, 23, Borussia Monchengladbach: Came on in the 58th minute and scored late in a 3-1 loss to Augsburg, Saturday, May 9. Next match: v Hoffenheim, Saturday, May 16.

Wing backs

1. Sergino Dest, D/MF, 25, PSV Eindhoven: Started and went 86 minutes in a 4-1 win over Deventer, Sunday, May 10, as he continues coming back from a hamstring injury. Next match: Sunday, May 17, v FC Twente.
2. Tim Weah, MF, 25, Marseille(on loan from Juventus): Was not in the Matchday 20 for a 1-0 win over Le Havre, May 10, with a muscle injury. Next match: Sunday, May 17, v Stade Rennais.
3. Antonee Robinson, D, 28, Fulham: Started and went all 90 in a 1-0 loss to Bournemouth, Saturday, May 9. Next match: v Wolverhampton Wanderers, Sunday, May 17.
4. Alex Freeman, WB, 21, Villarreal: Was not in the Matchday 20 for a 1-1 draw with Mallorca, Saturday, May 10. Next match: v Seville, Wednesday, May 13, then Sunday, May 17, v Rayo Vallecano.
5. Max Arfsten, D. 24, Columbus Crew: Started and went all 90 in a 3-0 loss to New York City FC, March 10. Next match: v Red Bull New York, Wednesday, April 13, then v Philadelphia Union, Saturday, May 16.
6. Joe Scally, D, 23, Borussia Monchengladbach: Started and went all 90 in a 3-1 loss to Augsburg, Saturday, May 9. Next match: v Hoffenheim, Saturday, May 16.

Holding midfielders (one a 6 one an 8)

1. Tyler Adams, MF, 26, AFC Bournemouth: Stepped on in the 42^nd minute in a 1-0 win over Fulham, Saturday, May 9. Next match: Tuesday, May 19 v Manchester City.
2. Tanner Tessmann, MF, 24, Olympique Lyonnais: Not in the Matchday 20 for a 2-1 loss to Toulouse FC, Sunday, May 10, as he has been labeled “out for the season.” Next match: Sunday, May 17 v RC Lens.
3. Aidan Morris, MF, 24, Middlesbrough: Started and went all 90 in both matches: Lost 2-1 in extended time after May 9 and May 12 v Southampton (4^th seed, Middlesbrough 5^th seed) ended 1-1 in playoffs for promotion to Premier League. Next match: season completed.
4. Sebastian Berhalter, MF, 24, Vancouver Whitecaps: Started, scored the equalizer, and went all 90 in a 1-1 draw v San Jose Earthquakes, May 9. Next match: v FC Dallas, Wednesday, May 13, 2026, then v Houston Dynamo, Saturday, May 16.
5. Cristian Roldan, MF, 30, Seattle Sounders: Started and went all 90 in a 1-1 draw with San Diego FC, May 9. Next match: v San Jose Earthquakes, Wednesday, May 13, then v LA Galaxy, Saturday, May 16.
6. Johnny Cardoso, MF, 24, Atletico Madrid: Suffered a “high-grade ankle sprain” in training and will undergo surgery and will miss the World Cup. Was not in the Matchday 20 v Celta, May 9. Next match: v Osasuna, Tuesday, May 12 and Girona FC, Sunday, May 17.
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: Started and went all 90 in 2-2 draw with Everton, Sunday, May 10. Started and went all 90 in a 2-1 win, Thursday, May 7, over Shakhtar Donetsk in the Europa Conference League Semifinal. Next match: v Manchester City, Wednesday, May 13.
2. Mark Mckenzie, D, 26, Toulouse FC: Started and went all 90 in a 2-1 win over Olympique Lyonnais, Saturday, May 10. Next match: Sunday, May 17, v FC Nantes.
3. Tim Ream, D, 38, Charlotte FC: Started and went all 90 in a 2-2 draw with FC Cincinnati, Saturday, May 9. Next match: v New York City FC, Wednesday, May 13, then Saturday, May 16 v Toronto FC.
4. Auston Trusty, D, 27, Celtic FC: Started and went all 90 in a 3-1 derby win over Rangers FC, May 10. Next match: Wednesday, May 13, v Motherwell, then v Heart of Midlothian, Saturday, May 16.
5. Miles Robinson, D, 28, FC Cincinnati: Entered in the 56^th minute of a 2-2 draw with Charlotte FC, Saturday, May 9. Next match: v Inter Miami, Wednesday, May 13, then, v San Diego, Saturday, May 16.

Goalkeeper

1. Matt Freese, GK, 27, NYCFC: Started and went all 90 in a 3-0 win over Columbus Crew, May 10. Next match: v Charlotte FC, Wednesday, May 13, then v Red Bull New York, Saturday, May 16.
2. Matt Turner, GK, 31, New England Revolution(from Lyon): Started and went all 90 in a 2-1 win over Philadelphia Union, May 9. Next match: v Nashville SC, Wednesday, May 13, then v Minnesota United, Saturday, May 16.
3. Patrick Schulte, GK, 24, Columbus Crew:  Started and went all 90 in a 3-0 loss to New York City FC, March 10. Next match: v Red Bull New York, Wednesday, April 13, then v Philadelphia Union, Saturday, May 16.
4. Roman Celentano, GK, 25, FC Cincinnati: Started and went all 90 in a 2-2 draw with Charlotte FC, Saturday, May 9. Next match: v Inter Miami, Wednesday, May 13, then, v San Diego, Saturday, May 16.