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Jeff Carlisle
The first weekend after the October international break was relatively quiet for the U.S. men’s national team. The team is facing an increasing number of injuries, with notable absences like AC Milan‘s Christian Pulisic, Bayer Leverkusen‘s Malik Tillman, and Fulham‘s Antonee Robinson unavailable for their respective teams.
Moreover, many U.S. players who emerged from the international break without injuries found themselves on the bench, with only a handful taking to the pitch from the outset. The UEFA Champions League matches saw more American players getting time, though not all performances were positive.
Throughout the season, ESPN will keep track of the players’ progress, providing insights on those whose performances and fitness levels warrant attention. This initiative is part of the countdown to the World Cup.
ESPN will deliver weekly updates leading up to June 11, ensuring that when the U.S. squad is revealed for this eagerly awaited World Cup on home turf, there will be no surprises among the chosen 26 players. Only 232 days remain.
2025-26 minutes: 860
2025-26 FotMob rating: 7.5
Dest’s Starting Spot is Less Secure
While Dest’s talent remains evident, he sometimes struggles with consistency. After last weekend’s 2-1 victory over Go Ahead Eagles, which showcased his dynamic runs, he was poised to play in the Champions League match against Napoli. However, he arrived late to the stadium, prompting Manager Peter Bosz to drop him from the starting lineup.
Fortunately, it seems that Dest will not face further punishments, as Bosz brought him in as a substitute later in the game. That said, his timing came into question. Missing the October international window due to injury allowed U.S. coach Mauricio Pochettino to explore other right-side defensive options. Tim Weah and Alex Freeman have both seen playing time in that position.
Given his defensive issues, it appears that Dest’s position in the U.S. lineup is no longer guaranteed, especially with Weah being considered for the wingback role. Dest has the chance to rectify this situation, but he needs to improve his discipline if he hopes to secure a starting spot in Pochettino’s lineup.
2025-26 minutes: 589
2025-26 FotMob rating: 6.7
Balogun Needs Consistency to Retain Monaco Spot
Balogun’s recent performances have been a mixed bag. He started on the bench against Angers, but capitalized on his opportunity by scoring in the 72nd minute, helping Monaco salvage a 1-1 draw. This earned him a starting spot in the Champions League match against Tottenham Hotspur, where he had multiple chances but was thwarted by a standout performance from Spurs’ keeper Guglielmo Vicario, resulting in a goalless match.
While Balogun’s recent performances suggest that he could maintain his spot, the competition for playing time is stiff within the club, especially with Ansu Fati, George Ilenikhena, and Mika Biereth also fighting for minutes. At the international level, PSV’s Ricardo Pepi scored a goal and assisted another against a 10-man Napoli, increasing pressure on Balogun to consistently deliver to keep his spot at Monaco.
2025 minutes: 3,605
2025 FotMob rating: 7.4
Roldan Shines as MLS Playoffs Approach
As the MLS Cup playoffs kick off this week, the spotlight on MLS will intensify. The competitive nature of these matches is expected to rise significantly.
No U.S. player is exhibiting more momentum than Roldan, who was previously off the radar but has now made his way into Pochettino’s plans. His performances in the Club World Cup and the Leagues Cup showcased his ability to compete on a grand scale, even against players like Lionel Messi.
Seattle may not have home-field advantage in their first playoff match against Minnesota United, but with Roldan performing at a high level, the Sounders should not be underestimated. Pochettino is likely keeping a close watch.
The In-Form XI
The U.S. men’s national team has been particularly affected by injuries in the No. 10 positions, leading to the inclusion of Weston McKennie and Diego Luna in this week’s in-form lineup. Pulisic’s hamstring injury is well-known, and he might miss the next window. Additionally, Alejandro Zendejas withdrew from the U.S. camp due to a knee injury. Recently, he entered last weekend’s Clásico Joven as a substitute but had to leave at halftime due to another injury. He missed Tuesday’s 2-1 win over Puebla. Tillman’s thigh injury will keep him out for another two weeks at Leverkusen.
This scenario leaves McKennie and Luna to step into the hypothetical lineup.
McKennie finds himself in a unique situation regarding Pochettino’s tactical preferences. Traditionally a No. 8, which suited him in Gregg Berhalter’s 4-3-3 formation, he played a more advanced No. 10 role in the last window. While he may not be as creative as Tillman or Zendejas, the 3-4-3 system that Pochettino employs requires central midfielders to hold their positions, a style that isn’t perfectly suited to McKennie’s forward-moving game.
Despite this, McKennie displayed sharpness throughout the October window, connecting effectively with Balogun in the match against Ecuador. He was also positioned further up in Juventus‘ Champions League match against Real Madrid. Placing him in one of the No. 10 roles behind a striker like Balogun seems to be the best approach moving forward, although his position is not guaranteed.
On the left side, Max Arfsten‘s consistent hold on the left back/wingback position brings mixed reactions. While it shows that he has earned Pochettino’s trust, it raises concerns about the fitness of Antonee Robinson, who had hoped this window would mark his return to the U.S. squad. Unfortunately, he has yet to make an appearance, as he continues to recover from knee surgery last May. While there is still time for Robinson to reintegrate into the team, the likelihood of his return seems less certain than before.