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'Triple Threat' to 'Prodigal Son': Meet the U.S. World Cup forwards

U.S. forward Folarin Balogun battles for position against Paraguay. Kyle Ross-Imagn Images

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'Triple Threat' to 'Prodigal Son': Meet the U.S. World Cup forwards

By Alyssa Clang | Last updated May 29, 2026 10:15 AM ET

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U.S. Men’s National Team coach Mauricio Pochettino unveiled his 26-man roster Tuesday for a potentially generational World Cup. The team features veterans, fresh faces and more than a few surprises.

But who made the cut for the U.S., which opens in the World Cup on June 12 against Paraguay? How did they get there? And what are they known for? Here's a breakdown of the forwards leading the USMNT into the tournament:

Folarin Balogun: The Triple Threat

London | Age: 24 | Team: AS Monaco (France)

National team appearances: 25 | Known for: The Decision, soccer-style

Soccer players don’t usually have much of a choice when it comes to which national team they’ll represent. Most are citizens of one nation, so the choice is made for them; some are dual nationals, but even then, one country tends to offer more security and promise than the other.

Balogun had a different situation. He was eligible for three national teams — England, Nigeria and the United States — and all three eagerly pursued him. His decision to play for the United States had ripple effects across all three federations.

Balogun plays as a striker, but it’s important to note that he grew up training as a winger. He’s excellent at seeking out space and often feints out of position to confuse defenses.

“I’ve always said that I’m an unorthodox sort of striker, because naturally it wasn’t where I grew up playing, so I would always look to exploit spaces,” Balogun said, per The Guardian. “I know when the timing is right, it’s essentially not possible to defend it. So it’s just a case of continuously getting the person on the ball and me in sync so the timing is good.”

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Haji Wright: The Championship Champion

Los Angeles | Age: 28 | Team: Coventry City (England)

National team appearances: 20 | Known for: Height and power

This is Wright’s second World Cup with the USMNT, but it’s his first as an integral part of the roster. When he made coach Gregg Berhalter’s lineup in 2022, he was something of a head-scratcher: a striker based in Turkiye who no one had seen much from.

Berhalter had faith in Wright’s ability to shine on a big stage, though, and Wright repaid that faith by scoring the USMNT’s lone goal in its elimination game against the Netherlands in the Round of 16. On a day where most of the USMNT didn’t show up, the 6-foot-4 forward showed out.

Wright is a beloved fixture on the national team. He had a blistering season with Coventry City in the English Championship that saw the club promoted to the Premier League for this season.

Wright capped off the season as the team’s top scorer with 17 goals. His secret? Aerial dominance, physical power and a knack for showing up in the right place at the right time.

Ricardo Pepi: The Prodigal Son

El Paso, Texas | Age: 23 | Team: PSV Eindhoven (Netherlands)

National team appearances: 35 | Known for: Doing a lot with a little

Pepi was reportedly the last player cut from Berhalter’s 2022 World Cup roster, and what a painful cut it was. Then a teen, Pepi had done more than just about anyone to get the USMNT to the tournament, scoring six goals in 10 appearances in the qualifying process. His absence from the final squad shocked the USMNT fandom.

A snub like that could’ve destroyed Pepi’s confidence, but he took the opposite approach and let it fuel his growth. He has morphed into a fascinating, idiosyncratic striker whose spot on this World Cup roster was all but guaranteed. Pepi is back in a big way — and he’s not wasting any opportunities this time.

If Balogun is the team’s space-seeker and Wright is the team’s poacher, Pepi is its wild card: an energetic, unpredictable dribbler known for sneaking goals in the unlikeliest moments.

At PSV, his club team, Pepi has built up a reputation for coming on in the dying minutes of games and scoring. He’s arguably the USMNT’s most efficient attacker. He doesn’t need much playing time to find the back of the net.

Alyssa Clang

Alyssa is a Boston-born Californian with a passion for global sport. She can yell about misplaced soccer passes in five languages and rattle off the turns of Silverstone in her sleep. You can find her dormant Twitter account at @alyssaclang, but honestly, you’re probably better off finding her here

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