USMNT 2026 World Cup Roster Prediction

The wait is almost over. Mauricio Pochettino will announce the United States’ 26-man squad for the 2026 World Cup on Tuesday, May 26 in New York City, with the reveal televised live on FOX at 3pm ET. The opener against Paraguay at SoFi Stadium is June 12. Australia and Türkiye round out Group D.

There has never been a moment quite like this for the program. A World Cup at home, an expanded 48-team field, a manager with Champions League pedigree, and arguably the deepest player pool the US has ever produced. There are also some real questions, the biggest of which got significantly more complicated 10 days ago when Atlético Madrid confirmed that Johnny Cardoso would undergo ankle surgery and miss the tournament. More on that below.

First I’ll give the roster I think Pochettino will pick, with players broken down by how confident I am they will be on the roster. Then I’ll give the roster I would pick and discuss where it may differ from what I project for the actual selections.

Players Missing Due to Injury

The injury list is short but consequential.

Johnny Cardoso is the headliner. The 24-year-old Atlético Madrid midfielder was a lock for the roster and had a strong case for one of the two starting midfield spots alongside Tyler Adams before suffering a high-grade ankle sprain in training on May 5. The club initially gave no timeline, then announced on May 11 that he would undergo surgery, officially ruling him out of the World Cup. Cardoso has 23 caps for the US and was the only American to reach the Champions League semifinals this past season. His absence is the single biggest disruption to Pochettino’s preferred lineup. Tessmann is the most direct beneficiary, though his own muscle strain makes his fitness one of the key roster-week questions. It also opens up potentially one more midfield spot for depth on the roster.

Patrick Agyemang ruptured his Achilles tendon on April 6 playing for Derby County, ending what looked like a real chance to make the squad as a target striker. The 6-foot-4 Agyemang had carved out a meaningful role during the Gold Cup last summer and would have given Pochettino a different physical profile alongside Folarin Balogun, Ricardo Pepi, and Haji Wright. His absence is less catastrophic than Cardoso’s only because the US has more depth at striker, but it removes a unique tool from the box.

Yunus Musah and Luca de la Torre are the other notable absences from the conversation, though both are more “out of form, out of mind” than dealing with current injuries. Musah moved to Atalanta last summer and has not featured for the US in over a year. De la Torre is still recovering rhythm after foot surgery last fall and only made his first start of 2026 in the last week of league play.

Pochettino’s 26-Man Roster Projection

Below is the roster I think Pochettino is likely to pick, grouped by my certainty they’ll be included in the roster.

Tier 1 · The Locks (14) Turner, Freese, Dest, Antonee Robinson, Richards, McKennie, Adams, Reyna, Tillman, Tessmann, Pulisic, Weah, Balogun, Pepi

These are the names Pochettino wrote down before he sat down to think about the rest. The three pillars of the back line, the captain (Adams) and the spine of the midfield, the focal points of the attack, and the two senior goalkeepers. Tessmann being a lock is the part that has changed in the last 10 days. With Cardoso out, the only question about him is whether he is fit enough to start, not whether he is on the plane. Reyna is the one lock who could spark an argument given his club season, but Pochettino has been public about valuing what Reyna brings in the national team environment specifically, and that is not changing in May.

Tier 2 · The Probables (8) Ream, Aaronson, Freeman, Arfsten, Berhalter, Luna, Wright, McKenzie

The players who would surprise me if they were not on the final list. Ream and McKenzie give the team experienced centerback depth behind Richards. Freeman and Arfsten are the projected backup fullbacks on either side. Berhalter and Luna are the MLS-based options who have earned trust by being consistent and useful in the games they have played under Pochettino. Wright is the third striker behind Balogun and Pepi. Aaronson is the late-game presser whose work rate has kept him in the conversation and a consistent starter for Leeds in the Premier League.

Pochettino has been more willing than any recent US manager to favor form and fit over reputation. The Probables tier is where you see that philosophy most clearly. Three of these eight (Freeman, Arfsten, Berhalter) were essentially uncapped 18 months ago. Arfsten is maybe the surprising name on the list, but Poch has included him in nearly every camp since taking over and seems to value his ability to provide left-footed width from defense. He’s the closest like-for-like replacement for Antonee Robinson, who has had some fitness issues this season.

Tier 3 · The Bubble (4) Roldan, Horvath, Miles Robinson, Scally

The last four spots could go a few different directions. Roldan offers veteran experience as a utility midfielder with limited upside; he is the conservative pick over McGlynn or another younger creative option, but provides some veteran leadership. Horvath is the third goalkeeper bet over Patrick Schulte and Chris Brady, based largely on prior US experience. Miles Robinson and Scally compete with each other as well as Auston Trusty and Cameron Carter-Vickers for the final defensive spots. Scally’s Bundesliga experience makes him a solid backup option at right back or right centerback. The choice between Robinson and Trusty is more of a toss up, but my guess is Robinson will get the nod due to his lengthy experience with the US team.

If Pochettino wants to add a fourth striker or extra creative midfielder instead of carrying nine defenders, one of these three gets squeezed. The most vulnerable in that scenario is probably Miles Robinson.

Tier 4 · Just Missed (4) Zendejas, Trusty, McGlynn, Sargent

The players who probably get cut at the final stage even though they have real arguments. Zendejas’s Liga MX form is hard to ignore, but he has seen limited opportunities for the US under Pochettino. Trusty’s 37 Celtic appearances and chance at a Scottish Premiership title should matter, but Miles Robinson and Ream have more camp familiarity. McGlynn gives a unique left-footed profile, but Pochettino has tended toward the veteran in close midfield calls and has favored Sebastian Berhalter over McGlynn in recent camps. Josh Sargent has been hovering around the squad this cycle, but his failed season at Norwich City and transfer to Toronto in MLS have dropped him behind Wright, Pepi, and Balogun at the striker spots.

Tier 5 · The Wildcards (2) Noahkai Banks, Zavier Gozo

The pure outside bets. Banks is a 19-year-old centerback prospect who has a bright future and a strong case for the current squad. However, he is a dual-national with Germany and has yet to decide where he wants to commit his allegiance. If he is ready to commit to the US he could edge out one of the other defensive options.

Gozo is a 19-year-old winger at Real Salt Lake who has been on Pochettino’s radar despite limited senior minutes. He has been in strong form for Real Salt Lake in MLS this season and could conceivably get the surprise call, but the more likely scenario is that Pochettino circles Gozo for September and October camps and the 2030 cycle. He has been willing to bet on uncapped or barely-capped players before (Freeman, Freese, and Arfsten all came from nowhere in his tenure), so it is not impossible. Just unlikely for a home World Cup where experience matters and where the bench can decide a Round of 16 match.

Randy’s 26-Man Roster vs. Pochettino’s

Here is how my roster stacks up against my projection of Pochettino’s. Highlighted names are the differences.

Goalkeepers (3)

The Freese-Turner question is the most interesting one in the squad. Freese has been the starter for most of Pochettino’s tenure and is in better form, but Turner remains the player with the most big-game experience. This one could really go either way. Turner has been in great form in MLS this season and each got a start in the most recent pair of friendlies. So this may come down to who Poch thinks has the hot hand in June.

Defenders

Dest and Antonee Robinson are the starting fullbacks, with Richards as the anchor centerback. The toughest call here is at the second centerback spot, where Ream’s experience and pedigree gives him the early edge over McKenzie, Trusty, and Miles Robinson. I am taking Trusty over Miles Robinson because he has been in better form and offers slightly more on the ball as a left-footed centerback, however I think Poch may lean toward Miles Robinson who has more experience with the US team.

Freeman has earned his way in with consistent national team performances since debuting last year and has some amazing pace that few others can match. He and Scally can each provide cover at either right back or right center back in a back three. I think Poch will almost surely select Arfsten, who has been in almost every camp under his direction, but I would prefer to have one more attacking option and rely on Dest to cover at left back if Antonee Robinson gets injured.

Midfielders (9)

This is the deepest position on the roster even after Cardoso’s absence. Adams and Tessmann are the projected starters at the double pivot. McKennie operates as the 8 or 10 depending on shape. Reyna is on the team for what he can do in a US shirt despite a quiet club season at Borussia Mönchengladbach. Tillman has demonstrated game-changing ability in his recent US appearances.

McGlynn is my one mild upset over Cristian Roldan. This one is a tough call, as Roldan played well in recent friendlies and is said to be a great leadership/clubhouse guy. But McGlynn brings something different as a left-footed creative midfielder who can pick out a pass or score from range — an asset off the bench in a tournament where late-game ideas matter.

Forwards

Pulisic is the focal point of the attack regardless of his recent goalless run. Balogun starts at the 9 with Pepi and Wright as the alternatives. Weah’s positional flexibility (he can play right back, right wing back, or right wing) makes him almost a two-for-one selection.

The wildcard is Zendejas, who I am taking over a direct fullback backup like Max Arfsten. Zendejas has been one of the top performers in Liga MX this year and showed real promise in his limited US appearances. The Liga MX-to-USMNT pipeline has historically been suspect, but he is the kind of bet worth making for a home World Cup.