When Mauricio Pochettino accepted the task of guiding the United States Men’s National Team into the 2026 World Cup on home soil, expectations soared. With just under a year until the tournament begins, every international window matters. The September friendlies against South Korea and Japan may not carry competitive stakes, but, without any remaining competitive matches, they represent an invaluable chance for Pochettino to test his depth chart, integrate new and returning talent, and sharpen the team’s identity.
Here’s a closer look at Yanks Abroad’s 29-man projected roster — a mix of established European stars, MLS standouts, and rising prospects who could shape the U.S. squad over the next year.
Goalkeepers (4)
- Matt Freese (New York City FC)
- Matt Turner (New England Revolution)
- Zack Steffen (Colorado Rapids)
- Diego Kochen (Barcelona)
Goalkeeping has long been a position of strength for the U.S., but that can’t be said about the current goalkeeper crop. Pochettino has some intriguing choices. Turner remains the World Cup incumbent, now back at Major League Soccer with the New England Revolution after a Premier League carousel of largely unsuccessful stints at Arsenal, Nottingham Forest, and Crystal Palace. His big-game shot-stopping experience is invaluable. Steffen, made a similar (earlier) return to MLS after stints as Ederson’s backup at Manchester City, and then a rotation of English Championship clubs. Now healthy and in solid form at Colorado, he brings veteran savvy and superior distribution.
Beyond them, two storylines emerge: Freese has been one of MLS’s breakout goalkeepers, consistently among the league leaders in saves. Moreover, his penalty stops were one of the big storylines from this Summer’s Gold Cup. His shot-stopping reflexes demand a look, and in Poch’s eyes, he may already be the new #1. Meanwhile, Kochen, just 19 and playing primarily with Barcelona’s B side, represents the future. Having come through Barcelona’s famed La Masia Academy, he has climbed through the ranks, and this Summer shared the field with Lamine Yamal and company with the main Barcelona team. Playing and learning behind goalkeeping legend Marc-Andre ter Stegen, the sky’s the limit for this young goalkeeper. Even if he doesn’t see the field next month, his inclusion signals Pochettino’s eye toward 2026 and beyond.
Defenders (9)
- Sergiño Dest (PSV)
- Chris Richards (Crystal Palace)
- Tristan Blackmon (Toronto FC)
- Joe Scally (Borussia Mönchengladbach)
- Mark McKenzie (Toulouse)
- Max Arfsten (Columbus Crew)
- Alex Freeman (Orlando City)
- Noahkai Banks (Augsburg)
- Cameron Carter-Vickers (Celtic)
The defensive pool combines proven experience with a mix of youthful exuberance. Richards has had an exceptional couple of months, winning the FA Cup in May by beating Manchester City, and the Community Shield two weeks ago by beating Liverpool. In the process, he has become the USMNT’s new CB1, and together with Tim Ream often forms the spine of the back line. Expect Tim Ream to take a breather this month, as Poch tries out a few new faces.
Who pairs with him next month will likely be from one of the following. McKenzie has impressed in Ligue 1 with Toulouse, earning strong reviews for his consistency. Carter-Vickers is a rugged and talented stopper at Celtic, whose game hasn’t always translated to the National Team. The surprise leaked name is Blackmon, who is uncapped, but has been steady in MLS with Toronto (and LAFC before that). Thomas Muller accidentally leaked the news of Blackmon’s roster inclusion in a humorous post-match press conference on Sunday. Finally, German-dual-national Banks, still just 20, is earning solid Bundesliga minutes at Augsburg and could be fast-tracked, with the CB position next to Richards still wide open.
The fullback spots are headlined by the return of Dest and Scally. Dest, revitalized at PSV after a return from ACL surgery, remains one of the team’s most technical outlets, capable of unlocking pressure with his dribbling. Scally continues to mature in the Bundesliga, valued for his versatility to play either flank. With Antonee Robinson just now returning from his own injury and unlikely to be included in this roster, expect Dest and Scally to start on the flanks.
Beyond the core, there’s the Summer youth surprises. Arfsten and Freeman are exciting MLS prospects; both offer pace and attacking instincts from wide positions, and each were Poch’s preferred starters this Summer during the Gold Cup. With Dest and Scally returning, it’s unlikely these two will see the same amount of playing time, but they’ll probably still make the camp, and get some minutes. For Pochettino, this camp may be less about fielding his definitive XI and more about stress-testing young options behind the proven anchors.
Midfielders (9)
- Tyler Adams (Bournemouth)
- Weston McKennie (Juventus)
- Yunus Musah (AC Milan)
- Diego Luna (Real Salt Lake)
- Johnny Cardoso (Atletico Madrid)
- Tanner Tessmann (Olympique Lyon)
- Sebastian Berhalter (Vancouver Whitecaps)
- Jack McGlynn (Houston Dynamo)
- Aidan Morris (Middlesbrough)
If the U.S. is going to contend in 2026, its midfield will be the engine. Adams, finally healthy at Bournemouth, remains the heartbeat of the team — the shield in front of the defense. McKennie, stellar for large parts of the last couple of seasons at Juventus, is currently going through what has become an annual rite of passage in having to prove himself to a new manager. Now in his prime, he offers consistency, aerial ability, and field vision. And Musah, who has found playing time inconsistent at Milan, is the connective tissue: a ball-progressor who glides through midfield lines.
Beyond the “MMA trio,” opportunities abound. Cardoso has made a splashy move to Atletico Madrid, and to the surprise of many, he immediately earned a starting role. He offers positional discipline, coupled with calm distribution, although he has yet to show those traits consistently in a National Team uniform. Similarly, Tessmann, now in Ligue 1 with Lyon, adds size and long-passing range.
With Malik Tillman still recovering from a minor muscular strain, some young faces could make the cut. MLS continues to feed the pipeline: Luna is one of the league’s most creative young players, and appears to be one of Poch’s favorite players. McGlynn has the left-footed playmaking ability that no one else in the pool quite replicates. Berhalter is seemingly another of “Poch’s guys”, and could make another roster. Meanwhile, the inclusion of Morris would be a bit of a surprise, although would absolutely be well-earned. He has had a terrific start to the Championship season with Middlesbrough, easily one of their best players, and represents the next wave: energetic midfielders with box-to-box instincts. September offers a test of whether they can adapt to international pace.
Forwards (7)
- Christian Pulisic (AC Milan)
- Timothy Weah (Olympique Marseille)
- Haji Wright (Coventry City)
- Josh Sargent (Norwich City)
- Folarin Balogun (Monaco)
- Damion Downs (Southampton)
- Paxten Aaronson (Colorado Rapids)
The U.S. attack blends established star power with emerging options. Pulisic, enjoying a career resurgence at Milan, remains the face of the program, albeit with an unwanted Summer soap-opera that became a huge distraction to the program. Poch should show that is all in the past by calling in, and relying on, his star player. Pulisic’s ability to create from wide areas and produce in clutch moments makes him undroppable. Weah, now at Marseille, provides width, balance, and relentless work rate.
At center forward, Pochettino has some choices to make. Ricardo Pepi is just now returning to health and likely won’t be called into the September camp. Patrick Agyemang, Poch’s preferred Gold Cup striker, is still recovering from a Summer hernia surgery. Wright could be the frontrunner, with a strong start (3 goals in 2 games) for Coventry; his ability to play wide or centrally adds flexibility. Likewise, Sargent, playing lights-out at Norwich (4 goals in 4 games), has become impossible to leave out for “footballing reasons.”
Balogun, finally healthy at Monaco, could become the frontrunner with a solid camp — a mobile striker who thrives in combination play, if he shows the quality we’d seen in previous years, he could make a quick rise up the ladder. Among the youngsters, Aaronson made a splashy move back to MLS with the Colorado Rapids exactly for the reason of becoming more competitive for the USMNT, while Downs, who earned limited minutes at the Gold Cup this Summer, will hope to break through at both Southampton and with the USMNT.
The Bigger Picture
This projected roster tells two stories. First, it works to re-integrate the U.S. core that’s been largely absent this Summer: McKennie, Adams, and Musah in midfield; and Pulisic, Weah, and Balogun in the attack. This is the group expected to carry the nation into 2026 (along with the injured likes of Antonee Robinson and Ricardo Pepi).
Second, it shows Pochettino’s willingness to cast a wide net. Prospects like Banks, Blackmon, Morris, and Kochen are here not because they’re ready to start, but because the program must build depth and experience for the inevitable injuries and form fluctuations.
The September friendlies against South Korea and Japan are more than tune-ups. Both opponents are technically gifted, disciplined, and capable of exposing U.S. weaknesses. Pochettino will learn which young players can handle the speed of the international game — and which veterans remain indispensable.
