Predicted USA XI at the 2026 World Cup

People in the USA may be partial to American Football, Baseball or Basketball – but in the summer, we’ll see a Soccer sensation in the States.

Today, we’ll look at how Mauricio Pochettino’s men might line up at the 2026 World Cup. We’ve included players from teams such as Crystal Palace, Juventus and AC Milan – who made it into your USA XI?

GK: Matt Freese

Matt Freese may not be the most well-known American goalkeeper in the sport today, but Pochettino seems to have taken a liking to him.

Matt Turner’s performancse between the sticks have often been criticised – as such, this opened the door for Freese to make his mark. So far, the USNMT’s fortunes have improved since his installation.

CB: Chris Richards

Chris Richards has benefitted greatly from playing alongside top-class defenders such as Marc Guehi and Maxence Lacroix. He has improved massively over the course of his journey at Crystal Palace – he is more than good value for his place in the squad.

Additionally, he’s very accustomed to playing in a back three, as this is how Oliver Glasner deploys him for the Eagles.

CB: Tim Ream

Even at 38 years of age, Tim Ream still has something to offer on the international stage. As the USA’s team captain, his inclusion in the XI is a bit of a given.

Due to his age, he’ll probably play in the middle of the back three, though his excellent positional sense allows him to be a pliable option.

CB: Auston Trusty

Auston Trusty has had an up-and-down season with Celtic, but his pace and ball-playing abilties will make him an invaluable member of the USNMT.

Richards and Ream are no-nonsense defenders – Trusty, on the other hand, will allow the USA to play out from the back if they are required to do so.

RWB: Sergino Dest

After four rough years with Barcelona, Sergino Dest is finally getting his career back on track at PSV. He is having a fantastic season so far, scoring a single goal and notching up six assists from right-back.

His displays have not gone unnoticed by Pochettino, who has made regular use of him during international breaks. Defensively, Dest can often be found lacking, but this won’t be much of an issue when he is played as a wing-back.

CM: Weston McKennie

Weston McKennie is a lock for this XI – it’s just a question of where he plays. Ultimately, as a hard-working player with limitless stamina and brilliant technical ability, he is probably most at home in central midfield.

As a box-to-box player, McKennie will have plenty of responsibilities to cover, but a layer of his varied skillset should be up to the task.

CM: Tyler Adams

At McKennie’s side will be Tyler Adams – while the Juventus man will be on hand to inject energy and make things happen, Adams will be tasked with doing much of the defensive dirty work.

The 27-year-old is enjoying a brilliant season at the heart of Bournemouth’s midfield. He has been a mainstay of their starting XI in the current campaign, as they sit 10th in the Premier League table.

LWB: Antonee Robinson

Antonee Robinson’s season has suffered on account of injuries, but his wealth of experience makes him an obvious choice as the USA’s best left wing-back.

He has only made 12 Premier League appearances for Fulham this season, but his stellar campaign in 2024/25 – in which he notched up ten assists from left-back – shouldn’t be so readily forgotten.

AM: Christian Pulisic

Ex Chelsea man Christian Pulisic has been the USA’s top star for several years now. Therefore, he will almost certainly be one of the first names on Mauricio Pochettino’s teamsheet.

A brilliant dribbler of the ball with electric pace and an eye for goal, Pulisic is approaching the prime of his career – he may never get a better opportunity to attain World Cup success.

AM: Malik Tillman

Malik Tillman is one of the USA’s top rising talents – in a squad with so much experience, it’s important to include some youthful energy.

Tillman isn’t just in the team for that one reason, though. He has scored six goals across all competitions from the number ten position, including a couple in the Champions League.

ST: Folarin Balogun

Folarin Balogun just beats out his contemporaries to land the spot as the USA’s number nine – competition for the position is fierce, as Haji Wright and Ricardo Pepi are both wonderful players, but Balogun is most complete forward of the bunch.

Combining, pace, power and an acute eye for goal, his five goals in the Champions League this season should tell you everything you need to know about the former Arsenal player.