Next man up: Which young stars could shape USMNT's 2030 World Cup roster?

Adri Mehmeti (17, midfield, New York Red Bulls)

The New York Red Bulls of 2026 have been lovingly christened the Baby Bulls, and there's a good reason for that: they're led by a fascinating squad of players under the age of 20 who burst onto the scene under the guidance of coach Michael Bradley. Defensive midfielder Mehmeti is the youngest at just 17 years old, but he's also the rarest: a destroyer, a chance creator and an attacking weapon all in one. He cites World Cup winner Sergio Busquets as one of his strongest influences.

“I was always watching Sergio Busquets, and I would see how he plays when he takes two touch, three touch, one touch, and implement that into my game,” Mehmeti said.

That's pretty good taste for a young kid—and pretty promising stuff for the USMNT, too.

Niko Tsakiris (21, attacking midfield, San Jose Earthquakes)

If you're wondering how the San Jose Earthquakes went from the worst team in MLS to one of the best in two seasons flat, the discovery—and fast development—of local kid Niko Tsakiris is a big part of why. The 21-year-old became a regular starter in 2026 and has cemented himself as one of the best up-and-coming playmakers in MLS. He's also something of a free-kick specialist: he netted a crucial one for the USMNT at the U-20 World Cup last summer, then repeated the feat for the Quakes a few months later.

Zavier Gozo (19, forward, Real Salt Lake)

The hype around Utah-born forward Zavier Gozo is so real that prominent USMNT journalists advocated for his inclusion in this  World Cup roster in 2026 They were definitely stretching there—Gozo has a lot to learn about positioning in transition, and his coach Pablo Mastroeni can often be seen (and heard) directing him around the field at Real Salt Lake games—but still, that's how bewitching Gozo is when he's on the break. He's lit up MLS this season, and he's not afraid of the bigger stages to come.

“I feel like I’m ready to go,” Gozo said. “Whether that happens or not, I don’t know, but I think this is a unique situation I have. I’m blessed to be in a situation where I have such a good club to be at, but I also think, you know … What’s next in my career? I don’t know.”