The Last Push: USMNT Tracker FIFA World Cup 2026

Players have – and still will this week and weekend – made their cases for inclusion on the U.S. Men’s National Team roster for FIFA World Cup 2026. U.S. Manager Mauricio Pochettino will announce the squad, Tuesday, May 26.

Last minute pushes include, thus far, goals by striker Ricardo Pepi; wing backs Antonee Robinson, Max Arfsten, and Zavier Gozo (welcome to the list, son); and midfielder Sebastian Berhalter, and an assist by midfielder/striker Christian Pulisic.

In the area of ‘grey’ news (not clear, but something), center back Noahkai Banks now has @usmnt on his Instagram account and Brenden Aaronson and Chris Richards (news we could do without) recently picked up injuries, though they are not thought to be long-term.

USA’s Chris Richards, Brenden Aaronson deal with injuries ahead of World Cup

Just for fun, here are the U.S. Men’s National Team members battling injuries (but not ruled out of the World Cup): Pulisic (lower back), Tim Weah (muscle injury), Tanner Tessman (muscle injury), Diego Luna, James Sands (ankle), Tim Ream (groin), Miles Robinson (leg), Richards, and Aaronsen.

Lastly, we have Auston Trusty and Chris Richards in finals, and Pepi, Auston Trusty, and Sergino Dest are champions in their respective leagues.

But, we are up to 33 candidates for the U.S. Men’s National Team roster for FIFA World Cup 2026 as we welcome back Banks and goalkeeper Chris Brady and wing back/winger Zavier Gozo who is tearing up Major League Soccer at the moment.

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 20, 2026

Strikers – 

1. Folarin Balogun, F, 24, AS Monaco: Started and went 76 minutes in a 5-4 loss to Strasbourg, Sunday, May 17. Next match: Season completed.
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 fifth, and went all 90 in a 5-1 win over FC Twente, Sunday, May 17. PSV Eindhoven ended the Eredivisie as champions. Next match: Season completed.

Attacking Midfielders

1. Christian Pulisic, F, 27, AC Milan: Went 14 minutes and provided the match winning assist in a 2-1 win over Genoa, Sunday, May 17. Next match: Sunday, May 24, v Cagliari.
2. Weston McKennie, MF, 27, Juventus: Started and went all 90 in a 2-0 loss to Florentina, Sunday, May 17. Next match: v Torino, May 24, 2026.  
3. Malik Tillman, 23, Bayer Leverkusen: Started and went 62 minutes in 1-1 draw with Hamburger SV, Saturday, May 16. Next match: Season completed.
4. Brenden Aaronson, MF, 25, Leeds United: Started and went 60 minutes in a 1-0 win over Brighton and Hove Albion Sunday, May 17. Next match: v West Ham United, Sunday, May 24, 2026.
5. Diego Luna, MF/F, 22, RSL: Was not in the Matchday 20 for a 2-1 win over Colorado Rapids due to muscle tightness, Saturday, May 16. Played the second half of a 3-0 win over Houston Dynamo FC, Wednesday, May 13. Next match: v Minnesota United, Saturday, May 23.
6. Gio Reyna, MF, 23, Borussia Monchengladbach: Entered in the 66^th minute of a 4-0 win over Hoffenheim, Saturday, May 16. Next match: Season completed.

Wing backs

1. Sergino Dest, D/MF, 25, PSV Eindhoven: Started and went all 90 in 5-1 win over FC Twente, Sunday, May 17. Next match: Season completed.
2. Tim Weah, MF, 25, Marseille(on loan from Juventus): in a 3-1 win over Stade Rennais Sunday, May 17. Next match: Season completed.
3. Antonee Robinson, D, 28, Fulham: Started and scored a penalty in a 1-1 draw with Wolverhampton Wanderers, Sunday, May 17. Next match: v Newcastle United, Sunday, May 24.
4. Alex Freeman, WB, 21, Villarreal: Did not feature in a 2-0 loss to Rayo Vallecano, Sunday, May 17. Started and went all 90 in a 3-2 loss to Seville, Wednesday, May 13. Next match: Sunday, May 24 v Atletico Madrid.
5. Max Arfsten, D. 24, Columbus Crew: Started and went all 90 in a 1-1 draw with Philadelphia Union, Saturday, May 16. Started, scored, and went all 90 in a 3-2 loss to Red Bull New York, Wednesday, April 13. Next match: v New York City Football Club, Wednesday, May 20, in US Open Cup, then v Atlanta United, Sunday, May 24, 2026.
6. Joe Scally, D, 23, Borussia Monchengladbach: Started and went all 90 in a 4-0 win over Hoffenheim, Saturday, May 16. Next match: Season completed.
7. Zavier Gozo, D, 19, Real Salt Lake: Started, scored, and went 81 minutes in a 2-1 win over Colorado Rapids, Saturday, May 16. Started, scored twice, and played 81 minutes in a 3-0 win over Houston Dynamo FC, Wednesday, May 13. Gozo has six goals and four assists on the season. Next match: v Minnesota United, Saturday, May 23.

Holding midfielders (one a 6 one an 8)

1. Tyler Adams, MF, 26, AFC Bournemouth: Started and went all 90 in a 1-1 draw with Manchester City, Tuesday, May 19. Next match: v Nottingham Forest, Sunday, May 24.
2. Tanner Tessmann, MF, 24, Olympique Lyonnais: Was not in Matchday 20 for a 4-0 loss to RC Lens, Sunday, May 17. Next match: Season completed.
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 and went all 90 in a 1-0 loss to Houston Dynamo, Saturday, May 16. Started, scored two, and went all 90 v FC Dallas, Wednesday, May 13, 2026. Next match: v San Diego, Saturday, May 23.
5. Cristian Roldan, MF, 30, Seattle Sounders: Came on in the 61^st minute of a 2-0 loss to LA Galaxy, Saturday, May 16. Started and went all 90 in a 3-2 win over San Jose Earthquakes, Wednesday, May 13. Next match: v LAFC, Sunday, May 24.
6. 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: Came on in the 61^st minute of a 2-2 draw with Brentford, May 17. Suffered a left ankle injury in the 77^th minute, but remained in the match. Started and went all 90 in a 3-0 loss to Manchester City, Wednesday, May 13. Next match: Sunday, May 24, v Arsenal, then Wednesday, May 27, v Rayo Vallecano in UEFA Conference League Final.
2. Mark Mckenzie, D, 26, Toulouse FC: Match suspended as FC Nantes fans stormed pitch in 22^nd minute, Sunday, May 17. Next match: Season completed.
3. Tim Ream, D, 38, Charlotte FC: Was not in the Matchday 20 for a 3-1 win over Toronto FC, Saturday, May 16. Started and went all 90 in a 1-0 loss to New York City FC, Wednesday, May 13. Next match: Wednesday, May 23, v New England.
4. Auston Trusty, D, 27, Celtic FC: Started and went 73 minutes in a 3-1 win over Heart of Midlothian to win the Scottish Premier League title, Saturday, May 16. Started and went all 90 in a 3-2 win over Motherwell, Wednesday, May 13. Next match: In Scottish Cup Final v Dunfermline Athletic, Saturday, May 23.
5. Noahkai Banks, D, 19, FC Augsburg: Entered in the 61^st minute of a 4-0 loss to 1. FC Union Berlin, Saturday, May 16. Did not see time in a 3-1 win over Borussia Monchengladbach, Saturday, May 9. Next match: Season completed.
6. Miles Robinson, D, 28, FC Cincinnati: Started and played the first 45 of a 3-3 draw with San Diego FC, Saturday, May 16. Started and went 73 minutes in a 5-3 loss to Inter Miami, Wednesday, May 13. Next match: Saturday, May 23, v Orlando City.

Goalkeeper

1. Matt Freese, GK, 27, NYCFC: Started and went all 90 in a 1-1 draw v Red Bull New York, May 16. Started and went all 90 in 1-0 win over Charlotte FC, Wednesday, May 13. Next match: Wednesday, May 20 v Columbus in US Open Cup, then Saturday, May 23, v Nashville SC.
2. Matt Turner, GK, 31, New England Revolution(from Lyon): Started and went all 90 in a 2-1 win over Minnesota United, Saturday, May 16. Started and went all 90 in a 3-0 loss to Nashville SC, Wednesday, May 13. Next match: v Charlotte FC, Saturday, May 23.
3. Patrick Schulte, GK, 24, Columbus Crew:  Started and went all 90 in a 1-1 draw with Philadelphia Union, Saturday, May 16. Started and went all 90 in a 3-2 loss to Red Bull New York, Wednesday, April 13. Next match: v New York City Football Club, Wednesday, May 20, then v Atlanta United, Sunday, May 24, 2026.
4. Roman Celentano, GK, 25, FC Cincinnati: Started and went all 90 in a 3-3 draw with San Diego FC, Saturday, May 16. Started and went all 90 in a 5-3 loss to Inter Miami, Wednesday, May 13. Next match: Saturday, May 23, v Orlando City.
5. Chris Brady, GK, 22, Chicago Fire: Started and went all 90 in a 2-0 win over CF Montreal, Saturday, May 16. Started and went all 90 in a 3-1 defeat of DC United, Wednesday, May 13. Next match: v Toronto FC, Saturday, May 23.