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Jeff Carlisle
The initial excitement of the European club season has worn off. As temperatures drop, the reality of the season’s grind sets in, with highs giving way to lows—or vice versa.
This fluctuating dynamic reflects the current state of the U.S. men’s national team. Injuries have accumulated, jeopardizing some players’ hopes for the FIFA World Cup. However, other players have embraced the challenge and gained significant momentum.
This season, ESPN will keep track of the player pool, offering insights into individuals whose performance or fitness levels have become notably intriguing. We call this initiative the USMNT’s countdown to the World Cup.
Each week, ESPN will count down to June 11, ensuring that no names on the 26-man roster—when the U.S. team is announced for the eagerly awaited World Cup on home soil—will come as a shock. Only 224 days remain.
2025-26 minutes: 803
2025-26 FotMob rating: 7.1
Adams Overcomes Injury Challenges to Showcase His Talent
Concerns about Adams’ health loomed large just a year ago, with doubts on whether he could be a significant contributor to the USMNT’s current cycle. Following back surgery after the 2024 Copa América, which followed hamstring surgery in the preceding club season, Adams made only three league appearances in the 2023-24 season and did not play again until late October 2024.
However, he has gradually regained fitness, participating in 28 matches last season and emerging as a crucial player in Bournemouth’s jaw-dropping rise to second place in the Premier League standings after just nine matches this season. Impressively, Adams has been on the pitch for 97% of minutes in Bournemouth’s league games, receiving accolades from manager Andoni Iraola for his leadership and consistent performance. Now fully fit, Adams is poised to translate this form to the USMNT.
2025-26 minutes: 1,200
2025-26 FotMob rating: 7.3
Carter-Vickers’ Achilles Injury Paves the Way for Trusty?
Though Celtic has faced challenges this season, Carter-Vickers remained a consistent presence until a recent Achilles injury sustained against Sturm Graz in the UEFA Europa League put his World Cup selections in jeopardy. Surgery will sideline him for three to five months, creating uncertainty for his availability during the March international window.
With Carter-Vickers possibly absent from the USMNT, his Celtic teammate, Auston Trusty, could rise to the occasion. Trusty has faced his own injury issues but has recently been on the bench for Celtic. With Carter-Vickers out, Trusty has an opportunity to secure a position for himself.
Trusty’s situation becomes crucial to assess whether he can capitalize on the opportunity presented by Carter-Vickers’ absence, especially given the recent struggles of his replacement in the lineup.
2025-26 minutes: 624
2025-26 FotMob rating: 6.7
McKennie Must Reinvent Himself Again
Throughout his tenure at Juventus, McKennie has faced the necessity of reestablishing his value every time a managerial shift occurs. While his fitness has sometimes been a concern, he consistently finds his way back into the starting lineup. That was particularly true under Igor Tudor, who urged McKennie to enhance his nutrition and training regimens. McKennie’s positive response led to increased playing time.
However, with Tudor recently dismissed, having been relieved of his duties the previous week, McKennie finds himself in another cycle of proving his worth. His versatility and prior form should offer a solid foundation, but it remains a challenging environment for a player often under scrutiny. A promising sign is that during his first match with caretaker manager Massimo Brambilla, McKennie played the entire game in a 3-1 victory against Udinese. With Luciano Spalletti now in charge, McKennie’s real competition is just beginning.
Current In-Form XI
Although U.S. manager Mauricio Pochettino emphasizes that no player has guaranteed status, New York City FC goalkeeper Matt Freese seems to be solidifying his claim to the starting position for the USMNT. Freese’s consistent performances, both for NYCFC and the national team, stand out, particularly because many top contenders are currently inactive, having missed the playoffs. Colorado Rapids‘ Zack Steffen and the New England Revolution‘s Matt Turner both are inactive until February due to their clubs missing the playoffs. While Patrick Schulte is seeing action with the Columbus Crew, he still seems to be trailing Freese in the hierarchy. Meanwhile, overseas, Ethan Horvath risks losing his starting role for Sheffield Wednesday, who have already been relegated after suffering financial sanctions.
At this point, it appears that Freese is the frontrunner for the starting position.
In another development, PSV Eindhoven manager Peter Bosz seems to have moved on from the incident regarding defender Sergiño Dest, who was benched for arriving late to a UEFA Champions League match against Napoli. Dest returned to a starting role in a recent important match against Feyenoord, where, although he didn’t score, he won a notable 63.6% of his duels—a commendable achievement considering previous struggles defensively.
Dest’s solid performance earns him a spot in this week’s in-form XI, especially as Marseille‘s Tim Weah had to sit out with a thigh injury. Manager Roberto De Zerbi stated that Weah’s injury isn’t severe but opted to exercise caution.
In the battle for the starting striker role, Folarin Balogun consistently responds to challenges, often defining his place in the team within a single match. During AS Monaco‘s recent match against Nantes, Balogun initially missed a clear scoring opportunity but ultimately redeemed himself by scoring just before halftime. This goal alleviates some pressure, even though he was substituted later in the half.
Balogun’s consistency is mirrored on the international stage as well; Haji Wright had two goals against Australia, placing him in contention for the starting role. Meanwhile, Balogun’s strong performances in the last two windows give him significant momentum heading into the World Cup. For Pochettino, the situation is optimal; Balogun’s competition at both club and international levels is benefitting his performance.