Who Makes Up the USMNTs...

The question of the USMNT’s optimal lineup for this summer’s World Cup is still up in the air, faced with concerns over form, a few weaknesses, and the remarkable depth of talent in the player pool, arguably the best in U.S. history.

Mauricio Pochettino certainly has a challenging task ahead, particularly following a disappointing 5-2 defeat against Belgium on Saturday that ended their unbeaten streak and raised doubts about the team’s depth in the full-back positions. With a shift away from a back three, the situation may prompt Pochettino to reconsider that formation for the upcoming match on Tuesday (and for the summer).

MORE — USMNT v Belgium player ratings | Recap, video highlights

If everyone is fit, certain players have cemented their places in the starting XI. Christian Pulisic, Chris Richards, Tyler Adams, and Antonee Robinson are all but guaranteed spots, although all except for Richards have dealt with injuries in recent years.

Nevertheless, Pochettino’s recent effectiveness with a back three, coupled with a recent struggle with a back four, raises some unresolved questions. The midfield brims with options, while the attacking positioning surrounding Pulisic is perfect material for heated fan debate.

So, who currently makes the Best XI? Let’s run through a quick exercise, knowing that this lineup might dramatically change as new stars emerge, starting with the match against Portugal on Tuesday.

Is Matt Freese the USMNT’s starting goalkeeper?

It’s tough to argue against Matt Freese and Matt Turner being Pochettino’s top choices for goalkeeper heading into the World Cup. Turner started in Saturday’s match and performed decently despite a shaky defense, but Freese had been the primary choice for Pochettino before that.

The 26-year-old NYCFC goalkeeper had started 12 consecutive USMNT games and 13 of the previous 14 before Turner took the field against Belgium, though he hasn’t kept a clean sheet in four matches. Those matches included Turner’s starts, one of which was the loss to Belgium and another, a 4-0 defeat to Switzerland, where Turner served as captain.

With 53 caps, Turner has experience across major tournaments like the World Cup and Copa America. It wouldn’t be surprising if Pochettino feels confident in Turner’s capabilities, given his limited club play, and considers Freese for a more extended evaluation. Freese still appears to be a strong contender for the starting spot.

Defenders: A few certainties and some questions

Chris Richards is a guaranteed starter at center back, and Tim Ream is likely to accompany him (yes, we’re talking about the same Tim Ream at 38 years old—he’s still leading and fighting). Miles Robinson, Mark McKenzie, and Auston Trusty are also viable center back options, while Pochettino has seen success with full-backs Joe Scally and Alex Freeman in a back three. Notably, U.S. youth international Noahkai Banks, who was a candidate for the World Cup, declined an invitation to these friendlies, allegedly due to a foot injury.

On the full-back front, Antonee Robinson stands out, and Sergino Dest is versatile enough to play on either side, should Pochettino opt for Scally or Freeman on the right. Max Arfsten has showcased impressive attacking play for the U.S. and could slot in if a back three is employed, but starting him at left back against a capable winger may not be the smartest move.

Midfield and Attack: Adams, Pulisic, and who else?

A healthy Tyler Adams is a given in the starting XI, but competition for center midfield positions is fierce. Tanner Tessmann, Johnny Cardoso, Aidan Morris, Weston McKennie, Sebastian Berhalter, and Cristian Roldan all have a role to play, while Yunus Musah has been absent from recent call-ups.

Tessmann is a powerful player for Lyon, while Cardoso has demonstrated his skills when fit for Diego Simeone at Atletico Madrid. McKennie’s versatility is an asset, allowing him to adapt to various positions, and Morris is competitive against any opponent. Berhalter is known for his tenacity and set-piece abilities, while Pochettino has shown admiration for Roldan.

Pulisic, Timothy Weah, Brenden Aaronson, and Diego Luna bring excitement as wide players, with Pulisic also capable of playing centrally alongside Malik Tillman and Giovanni Reyna. Reyna is a talented player who hasn’t secured consistent minutes since making his mark at Dortmund, and his defensive skills are somewhat unpredictable. Folarin Balogun is likely the first-choice striker, though Ricardo Pepi is also a contender, and Patrick Agyemang has gained Pochettino’s attention, while Haji Wright is currently dealing with injuries but has made significant contributions for the U.S.

What is the USMNT’s Best XI for the 2026 World Cup?

This highlights how robust the USMNT player pool has become, with notable omissions such as James Sands, who plays a critical role in the Bundesliga for St. Pauli, Josh Sargent, a reliable scorer in the Championship now with MLS, and Luca de la Torre, a previously favored player at the 2022 World Cup who didn’t see any game time.

To further emphasize the folly of projecting World Cup squads too far ahead—a pastime we engage in and will continue to enjoy—this tournament is set to occur without, or likely without:

a key knock-out round starter from 2022 (Jesus Ferreira)
a sought-after young midfielder from the last cup (Yunus Musah)
one of the2022’s standout performers (Walker Zimmerman)
a previous hero in critical USMNT moments (Ethan Horvath)

Given this depth, here’s our best guess for the starting lineup, assuming a back three. This will undoubtedly lead to some tough decisions, resulting in the exclusion of notable players like Johnny Cardoso, Tanner Tessmann (ouch!), Ricardo Pepi, and Joe Scally—all of whom are First XI-caliber. Matt Freese also makes the list as an “almost” contender, along with Miles Robinson, or Scally or Freeman at right center back.

— Matt Turner —

— Chris Richards — Mark McKenzie — Tim Ream —

Sergino Dest — Tyler Adams — Weston McKennie — Antonee Robinson

— Timothy Weah — Christian Pulisic —

— Folarin Balogun —

Who Makes Up the USMNTs…