Predicting the U.S. Males's Staff World Cup Roster: Haji Wright Makes His Case

[ad_1] Haji Wright was brimming with confidence final week in Colorado. He’d simply scored two targets for the U.S. males’s nationwide workforce in a pleasant win over Australia, which definitely bodes nicely for his probabilities at being on the People’ World Cup roster subsequent summer time.

However Wright is aware of the highway remains to be lengthy if he needs to safe his spot as one among USMNT coach Mauricio Pochettino's strikers.

"I’m match this season," Wright instructed me and a number of other different reporters within the depths of chilly Dick’s Sporting Items Park. "The previous couple of seasons of my profession I’ve been battling little niggling accidents, and it has been laborious to play ache free.

"That is the primary season in a couple of years now the place I am taking part in fully ache free. So it feels good to have the ability to exit and present what I can do."

Nonetheless, the battle for the 26 roster spots figures to go till the top. Wright is aware of it. Requested about his World Cup probabilities, he didn’t hesitate.

"I believe," he mentioned, "I've to proceed to carry out."

With two extra World Cup tuneups within the books, a couple of extra questions have been answered as subsequent summer time’s event on residence soil continues to strategy ever bigger over the horizon.

The U.S. squad’s two October matches — a comeback tie in opposition to stingy Ecuador, adopted by the come-from-behind victory over a Socceroos workforce using a 12-game unbeaten run — represented maybe the very best two performances since Pochettino was employed as U.S. coach 13 months in the past.

These video games gave those that comply with the U.S. squad intimately loads of information factors, too — particularly on the subject of which gamers Pochettino may select to take part within the greatest World Cup in historical past in 2026.

There are actually simply two camps remaining earlier than subsequent Might, when Pochettino should submit his last record to FIFA: two extra friendlies in November, versus South American foes Paraguay and Uruguay, and one other two in March in opposition to Cristiano Ronaldo’s Portugal and one other European energy in Belgium.

Right here’s what we predict we all know as of in the present day, and the way we see issues taking part in out between now and subsequent spring.

Matt Freese appears to be the person to beat in purpose. (Photograph by Omar Vega/Getty Pictures)

GOALKEEPERS Starter: Matt Freese

Backups: Matt Turner, Zack Steffen

Simply missed out: Chris Brady, Ethan Horvath, Jonathan Klinsmann, Diego Kochen, Patrick Schulte

With 11 consecutive begins relationship again to June’s Concacaf Gold Cup opener, the No. 1 keeper job now could be clearly Freese’s to lose. Turner’s season is already over; the 2022 World Cup starter’s New England Revolution didn't make the MLS Cup Playoffs, that means Turner received’t play one other aggressive match till February. Meantime, Freese opens the postseason for New York Metropolis FC Oct. 28 in opposition to Charlotte (and USMNT teammate Tim Ream.)

Steffen shall be idle till early subsequent 12 months, too, whereas Horvath (Sheffield Wednesday) and Klinsmann (Cesena) play repeatedly within the second tier in England and Italy, respectively, and Kochen toils for Barca’s reserves. However coaches normally go for expertise over potential on the subject of third keepers, and former Man Metropolis man Steffen has loads.

Noahkai Banks, left, might be a part of the backline with Tim Ream and Chris Richards (Getty Pictures)

CENTER BACKS Starters: Noahkai Banks, Chris Richards, Tim Ream

Backups: Mark McKenzie, Miles Robinson

Simply missed out: Tristan Blackmon, Cameron Carter-Vickers, Auston Trusty, Walker Zimmerman

The large mover this month is Banks. Nonetheless uncapped after lacking September’s win over Japan with a knock sustained in coaching, the 18-year-old, Hawaii-born, 6-foot-4 man-child has now began Augsburg’s final two Bundesliga matches. With the middle again race nonetheless large open after Ream and Richards and MLS choices like Robinson and Zimmerman about to enter a months-long offseason, Banks is uniquely positioned to maintain climbing the depth chart if — and that is paramount — he continues to play repeatedly.

"He is an enormous expertise," the coach mentioned of Banks in late August. "You by no means know the way he can explode — perhaps on the finish of the season he will be the very best middle again in Europe or in Germany."

If it’s not Banks, McKenzie could possibly be subsequent in line. He is additionally in a good membership spot; McKenzie had performed each minute in France’s Ligue 1 this season for Toulouse till final weekend, when he got here off the bench after beginning and logging all 90 for the U.S. within the midweek win over the Socceroos.

Sergino and Jedi are the best duo to patrol the flanks for the USMNT (Getty Pictures)

WING BACKS Starters: Sergiño Dest, Antonee "Jedi" Robinson

Backups: Max Arfsten, Alex Freeman

Simply missed out: Kristoffer Lund, Joe Scally, John Tolkin

Dest and Robinson are locks if wholesome. With regards to Jedi, that’s turning into a worrying "if."

Known as into the October camp, the veteran — who emerged as the very best left again within the Premier League final season and received U.S. Soccer’s Male Athlete of 2024 award — missed each friendlies due to lingering knee points. Robinson didn’t costume for Fulham’s 1-0 loss to Arsenal final weekend. All of his 61 Prem minutes thus far this season have come off the bench, and he hasn’t featured for the nationwide workforce in any respect in 2025.

Jedi’s state of affairs might re-open the door for Lund, who hasn’t performed for the U.S. since Pochettino’s first camp. The 23-year-old lefty has began 5 of seven Bundesliga video games for Cologne this time period on mortgage from Italy’s Palermo. Scally can also be taking part in repeatedly, albeit for the worst workforce in Germany’s prime flight. Only one Bundesliga again line has conceded extra targets than Borussia Mönchengladbach in 2025-26.

Weston McKennie and Tyler Adams headline a reasonably deep midfield. (Getty Pictures)

HOLDING MIDFIELDERS Starters: Tyler Adams, Weston McKennie

Backups: Yunus Musah, Cristian Roldan, Tanner Tessmann

Simply missed out: Sebastian Berhalter, Johnny Cardoso, Gianluca Busio, Luca de la Torre, Aidan Morris

Probably the most aggressive space of the sector for the U.S. will finally come all the way down to a numbers recreation when Pochettino should determine who to choose behind Adams and McKennie. After being omitted in September, a slimmed-down McKennie returned this month and was excellent in each U.S. matches. Each he and Adams are the clear starters right here. With Adams lacking this month as he awaited the start of his second little one, Tessmann took full benefit, going the space in opposition to Ecuador (and serving to arrange Folarin Balogun’s equalizer) and following up with a robust efficiency as a sub versus the Aussies.

Talking of assists, Roldan’s two final week had been excellent; for all of the discuss of the favored veteran’s intangibles, he offered extra end-product in a single match than Musah has for the USMNT since 2021.

Musah stays in a troublesome spot. The 22-year-old has but to start out a Serie A match for Atalanta since occurring mortgage from AC Milan, and he was an unused sub final weekend and in Wednesday's scoreless Champions League encounter with Slavia Prague. However Musah can also be a confirmed World Cup performer. And like the remainder of the Europe-based People, he’s bought loads of time to show issues round within the weeks and months forward.

Not like Musah, Cardoso has by no means performed nicely for the nationwide workforce regardless of his apparent pedigree. He misplaced his beginning job with Atlético Madrid even earlier than struggling the ankle harm that has stored him out since mid-September. Atléti boasts one of many deepest squads within the international recreation, one which has now received three of their final 4 La Liga contests with out him. In order it stands in the present day, Cardoso faces an uphill climb to crack Pochettino’s last 26. As for Berhalter and Morris, there in all probability simply aren’t sufficient accessible spots if everybody else is wholesome. (Which is much from assured.)

Tim Weah and Christian Pulisic are locked-in starters within the assault. (Getty Pictures)

WINGERS/ATTACKING MIDFIELDERS Starters: Tim Weah, Christian PulisicBackups: Brenden Aaronson, Diego Luna, Malik Tillman, Alex Zendejas Simply missed out: Paxten Aaronson, Jack McGlynn, Gio Reyna

Weah and Pulisic are no-brainer starters. Luna and Tillman have executed sufficient with the USMNT this 12 months to make sure that they’ll survive the World Cup lower, at a minimal, barring harm.

Zendejas’s beautiful game-winning purpose vs. Japan and his high quality kind for Liga MX big Membership America ought to maintain him entrance of thoughts regardless of having to return to Mexico mid-camp due to a minor knee ailment.

McGlynn’s magical left foot and his skill to make use of it from distance can be a pleasant software for Pochettino to have on the bench subsequent summer time, and McGlynn had appeared forward of each Aaronson brothers in Poch’s eyes all 12 months.

However Brenden had a powerful cameo off the bench final match, organising a golden probability for Luna, and has stunned many by securing a beginning Premier League job with Leeds. With McGlynn recovering from foot surgical procedure and his Houston Dynamo idle till MLS coaching camps open in January, the elder Aaronson has the momentum if it finally ends up being a selection between the 2. As for Reyna, "simply missed out" might be a stretch proper now. The previous prodigy — he turns 23 subsequent month — has began simply one of many three video games he’s been accessible for ‘Gladbach. A lot of season left, however Reyna must play repeatedly and nicely to have any real looking probability.

The striker saga continues however Folarin Balogun has the within observe. (Photograph by Jamie Schwaberow/ISI Photographs/USSF/Getty Pictures)

STRIKERS Starter: Folarin BalogunBackups: Ricardo Pepi, Haji WrightJust missed out: Patrick Agyemang, Damion Downs, Brian White, Josh Sargent

Balogun had one other high quality camp. The most effective American participant in September, the 24-year-old scored the one purpose in opposition to Ecuador and was harmful all through. Pepi was glorious early in Pochettino’s tenure, scoring 3 times within the Argentine’s first 4 video games on the U.S. helm, and now lastly appears to have recovered from the knee surgical procedure he underwent final winter. The 22-year-old Pepi scored his first UEFA Champions League purpose of the season Tuesday in PSV’s 6-2 drubbing of Italy’s Napoli, and likewise added an help. He has three targets in 335 Eredivisie and Champions League minutes in 2025-26.

With Balogun rested in opposition to Australia, Wright seized a uncommon alternative to start out for the USMNT by scoring two spectacular targets. He’s additionally scored 9 occasions in 12 appearances for Coventry Metropolis. The 27-year-old co-leads England’s Championship division with eight targets, similar as Sky Blues teammate Brandon Thomas-Asante, though the American has performed one fewer recreation.

Doug McIntyre is a soccer reporter for FOX Sports activities who has lined United States males's and girls's nationwide groups at FIFA World Cups on 5 continents. Observe him @ByDougMcIntyre.

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