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Way-too-early USMNT 2026 FIFA World Cup roster projection

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The 2022 World Cup cycle has come to an end, and while the tournament in Qatar is still fresh in the memory of USMNT fans, the road to 2026 is now beginning. A huge number of fringe players and young prospects will look to stake their claim over the next few years with hopes of making the final roster. While predicting a roster four years out is an impossible task, let’s take a look ahead at who could make up the 26-man squad when the World Cup comes to the United States in 2026.

Goalkeepers

Matt Turner – The current U.S. #1 will still only be 31 by 2026 and will be in his prime. Turner has shown continued growth and has proven himself to be reliable. He is the incumbent national team starter for the foreseeable future, but it remains to be seen whether or not he will be passed up over the course of this cycle by a younger option.

Gaga Slonina – On his current trajectory, the Chelsea-bound native of Addison, Illinois, will soon break into the national team rotation and could be the starter in goal by 2026. After an impressive first full season as the Chicago Fire’s starter in MLS, Slonina was unlucky not to make the roster this year and will be hungry to earn his spot on the team over the course of this cycle.

Chris Brady – Slonina’s successor in Chicago has a potential that is arguably just as high, though he is much less proven. Like his fellow Fire Academy graduate, Brady will only be 22 in 2026 and should have enough experience to break into the senior national team picture after impressing with the U-20s.

In the pool: Ethan Horvath, Zack Steffen, Roman Celentano, Diego Kochen

Center backs

Chris Richards – Undoubtedly the USMNT’s best center-back prospect at the moment, Richards only missed out on the 2022 World Cup due to injury, and he likely would have played every minute at the tournament had he been available. Richards has lots of growing to do, but the sky is the limit for him, and by 2026, he will be an irreplaceable part of the XI.

Miles Robinson – Another top center-back who missed the World Cup through injury, Robinson emerged as a key player for the U.S. after shining in MLS for Atlanta United. It remains to be seen how he will come back from a long-term Achilles injury that kept him out for almost a full season, but if he can return to his pre-injury levels, he will be back in the national team picture. If not, another experienced option like Cameron Carter-Vickers or even Walker Zimmerman could fill that role.

Brandan Craig – Craig was a key part of the U.S. U-20 team that won the CONCACAF title last summer and showed that he is a great prospect as a ball-playing center back. There are a number of candidates, old and young, who could make this team in central defense, but if Craig can establish himself over the coming seasons, his skillset could be valuable for the World Cup.

Joshua Wynder – The next big center-back prospect for the U.S. is Wynder, who will still only be 21 in 2026 but has the talent to break into the starting lineup if he continues his trajectory. Wynder, of Louisville City, is on the radar of many top clubs in Europe and MLS and is a name USMNT fans will definitely want to remember.

In the pool: Cameron Carter-Vickers, Erik Palmer-Brown, Mark McKenzie, Auston Trusty, Walker Zimmerman, Bryan Okoh, James Sands, Stuart Hawkins, Tyler Meiser, Christopher Cupps

Full backs

Sergiño Dest – One of the more high-profile USMNT stars at the moment, Dest will be hoping he can take his game to a new level over the next four years. If he can reach his full potential, Dest can be one of the best right-backs in the world and will be a lock-starter for the U.S. at the 2026 World Cup.

Joe Scally – Dest’s likely backup in 2026 will be Scally, the youngest member of the 2022 roster. After solidifying the starting job at Borussia Mönchengladbach, he will continue to improve and establish himself as a reliable option for the national team.

Antonee Robinson – While he certainly has his limitations, Robinson sets a high floor for left-backs looking to break into the national team, and it won’t be a while until he is displaced from the starting XI. He may be pushed out by 2026, but his experience could also be a factor since he will be 28 by the World Cup. 

Jonathan Gómez – Long seen as the top American left-back prospect, Gómez has a long way to go to be the USMNT’s starter in 2026. However, he absolutely has the talent to reach that level, and if he chooses to represent the U.S. over Mexico, he could emerge as a long-term solution for a position that has long been problematic for the USMNT.

Justin Che – Though he has struggled to gain a foothold at Hoffenheim since arriving in January, Che is still seen as a good prospect that can play both as a right back and as a center back. The German-American dual national has a long way to go to get into the USMNT picture but does stand out against relatively weak competition for the right-back spot further down the pipeline.

In the pool: George Bello, Shaq Moore, John Tolkin, Oscar Verhoeven, Mauricio Cuevas, Caleb Wiley, Christian McFarlane, Aiden Harangi, Reed Baker-Whiting

Midfielders

Tyler Adams – The USMNT’s captain had a standout World Cup in Qatar to add to what has been a fantastic season in the Premier League, and he is only going to get better. It will be exciting to see where Adams is four years from now, but unless something dramatic occurs, he will likely be starting in midfield come 2026.

Yunus Musah – Few American players are more talented than Yunus Musah, who continues to grow into one of Europe’s elite midfield prospects. By the time 2026 rolls around, he will be an indispensable option for the USMNT in midfield despite stiff competition from the younger generation.

Weston McKennie – McKennie is not the flashiest player, but he is still an integral part of the USMNT’s young core, and while he very well may not be a starter in 2026, he is still a very valuable midfielder with tons of high-level experience at Juventus and with the national team. He will be in his prime at the next World Cup.

Brenden Aaronson – The second most expensive American in history may not have made a big impact in Qatar, but he’s absolutely a core player for the upcoming cycle. Throughout his career, Aaronson may struggle to break into the USMNT’s starting XI, but nonetheless, he can play a big role and provide valuable versatility and flexibility.

Johnny Cardoso – It is impossible to guess which players from the United States’ huge crop of young midfield talent will break into the squad over the next four years, but one player very well positioned to do so is Johnny. The Internacional midfielder already has 4 caps for the USMNT and has looked good in flashes; with a move to Europe on the horizon, he’ll be fighting for a spot throughout the cycle and could beat out some very stiff competition from players such as Jack McGlynn, Alex Alvarado, Taylor Booth, and Alex Méndez.

Cruz Medina – Predicting who the youngest members of a squad will be four years from now is also incredibly challenging, but based on his current trajectory, Cruz Medina is someone who can push for a spot. The highly-rated San Jose Earthquakes homegrown will be 19 when the World Cup rolls around, and he could sneak onto the squad if he continues his growth as one of America’s top talents.

Pedro Soma – The long-term backup 6 spot for the USMNT is wide open, and no obvious player is coming up to fill it. Kellyn Acosta has always been a stopgap in that position, and it would be troubling if he is still around in 2026. One of many holding midfielders who could challenge for that spot is UE Cornellà’s Pedro Soma, who has been a standout for the U.S. U-17 team over the last couple of months and is being looked at by many clubs higher up the Spanish pyramid.

In the pool: Taylor Booth, Alex Méndez, Jack McGlynn, Alex Alvarado, Richy Ledezma, Gianluca Busio, Kellyn Acosta, Luca de la Torre, Aidan Morris, Obed Vargas, Niko Tsakiris, Sergio Oregel, Jude Wellings, Adrian Gill, Edwyn Mendoza, Bento Estrela, DeCarlo Guerra

Forwards

Christian Pulisic – It would be an incredible turn of events if Pulisic, the USMNT’s poster boy and arguably greatest-ever player, were not on the 2026 squad. Pulisic will be 27, in his prime come 2026, and hoping to lead the team on a great run on home soil. It is not a nailed-on certainty that Pulisic will be a starter, but it is incredibly likely.

Gio Reyna – The most talented player in the national team’s history is Gio Reyna, and he will still only be 23 when the World Cup comes to North America. Though he barely saw the field in Qatar, Reyna is one of the main keys to success for the future of this national team and will undoubtedly be a lock starter in 2026. Hopefully, Gio can move past his frequent injury troubles because if he can do that, he can reach his potential and enter the 2026 World Cup as one of the best attacking players in the world.

Tim Weah – On his day, Weah can be the USMNT’s best player, and he showed that in flashes throughout this previous World Cup in Qatar. If he can gain some consistency and produce those flashes of brilliance on a more regular basis, Weah can be a key contributor during this cycle and challenge for the starting job throughout.

Josh Sargent – The former youth national team standout finally started coming to his own in late 2022 and earned the starting job for the USMNT. Striker is a position of concern, but there are not many apparent options coming up through the pipeline that immediately stand out, so as of right now, Sargent is still a frontrunner.

Ricardo Pepi – Though not named to the 2022 roster, Pepi remains the USMNT’s main hope for the striker position. The 19-year-old has had a great first half of the season in the Eredivise and will be hoping he can translate that form to a higher level and break back in the national team picture. Ideally, an elite striker will appear that solve the United States’ persistent #9 problem, but in the lack of an obvious prospect in the pipeline, we can only hope that Sargent and Pepi pan out as hoped, or that Folarin Balogun commits to the U.S. and shines.

Kevin Paredes – Had things panned out a little bit differently, Paredes may very well have been on the plane to Qatar. Though he doesn’t quite get the publicity of many of the other young stars, the Virginia native is one of America’s top prospects and is already breaking through at Wolfsburg. A dynamic and exciting winger who can also play as a full-back or through the middle, Paredes could make his way onto the senior team sooner rather than later.

Paxten Aaronson – Just about pipping a number of other talented players to the final spot is the younger Aaronson. Paxten, who is set to join Eintracht Frankfurt this January, has long been considered the better prospect of the two Aaronsons, and if he can reach the same levels as his brother by the time the next World Cup rolls around, he’ll have a compelling case to make the squad. It should be mentioned, though, that he is just one of a host of competing players like Brian Gutiérrez and Quinn Sullivan, who are of a similar age, and players like Djordje Mihailovic and Alex Zendejas are also only going to get better throughout the cycle.

In the pool: Djordje Mihailovic, Brian Gutiérrez, Alex Zendejas, Malik Tillman, Jesús Ferreira, Brandon Vázquez, Folarin Balogun, Quinn Sullivan, Kristian Fletcher, Esmir Bajraktarević, Rodrigo Neri, Benjamin Cremaschi, Ezekiel Soto, Cole Campbell, Keyrol Figueroa, Axel Pérez, Maximo Carrizo, Jack Mize



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The constructing of a World Cup roster

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Thomas Deschaine (@uskeeper on X and us_keeper on Instagram)

With the September FIFA window now in the rearview mirror, and only three more windows left before final rosters are set in late May or early June 2026, Mauricio Pochettino has drawn a clear line.

He’s stated that September’s camp was the “last camp to have the possibility for new faces.”

If we take him at his word, the nearly 70 players who’ve been called across six camps and the Gold Cup will form the pool from which he selects the 2026 World Cup squad.

Of the 60 players named to the 2025 Gold Cup provisional roster, only five, Maxi Dietz, Richie Ledezma, Tim Tillman, Caleb Wiley, and Griffin Yow, have yet to appear on a #USMNT roster under Pochettino.

Comparing the 2025 Nations League provisional roster to the Gold Cup list reveals over a dozen different players, raising the question: are these minor differences simply the edges of the player pool Pochettino intends to draw from?

Goalkeepers 

Nine goalkeepers have been called into Pochettino’s camps, but it’s clear that Matt Freese is his first-choice right now, with Matt Turner likely the No. 2 as we sit just 10 months from the World Cup.

  • Chris Brady
  • Drake Callender
  • Roman Celentano
  • Matt Freese
  • Ethan Horvath
  • Jonathan Klinsmann
  • Diego Kochen
  • Patrick Schulte
  • Zack Steffen
  • Matt Turner

Fullbacks

Outside of Sergiño Dest and Antonee Robinson, the USMNT’s fullback depth remains a concern. Pochettino appears high on MLS defenders Alex Freeman and Max Arfsten, while Caleb Wiley, though yet to feature in a USMNT camp but named to recent provisional rosters, could still be on his depth chart.

  • Max Arfsten
  • Sergino Dest
  • Alex Freeman
  • Marlon Fossey
  • DeJuan Jones
  • Kristoffer Lund
  • Shaquell Moore
  • Antonee Robinson
  • Joe Scally
  • John Tolkin

Centerbacks

Center back remains another position with uncertain depth. Chris Richards and the veteran Tim Ream look like locks for now, leaving three spots up for grabs. If Pochettino opts for a back three, that tactical shift could influence which players ultimately make the cut. Notably, Jackson Ragen and Maxi Dietz are the only center backs from the recent provisional rosters who haven’t been called into a USMNT camp.

  • Noahkai Banks
  • Tristan Blackmon
  • George Campbell
  • Cameron Carter-Vickers
  • Mark McKenzie
  • Tim Ream
  • Chris Richards
  • Miles Robinson
  • Auston Trusty
  • Walker Zimmerman

Central Midfielders

The central midfield position is the deepest for the #USMNT, with many players in the pool capable of also playing fullback, center back, or winger. Although Richie Ledezma has primarily played as a right back and right wing-back for his current club and for PSV last season, USMNT coaches view him primarily as a midfielder. This likely explains why he hasn’t yet been called into a USMNT camp.

  • Tyler Adams
  • Sebastian Berhalter
  • Gianluca Busio
  • Johnny Cardoso
  • Ben Cremaschi
  • Luca de la Torre
  • Emeka Eneli
  • Jack McGlynn
  • Weston McKennie
  • Aidan Morris
  • Yunus Musah
  • Tanner Tessmann
  • Sean Zawadzki

Attacking Midfielders

There are several players at this position who could add real quality and play pivotal roles for the #USMNT at next summer’s World Cup. Gio Reyna remains a major question mark, but his talent is undeniable. With his recent club change, there’s hope he can return to the high level of form we’ve seen from him in the past.

  • Brenden Aaronson
  • Paxten Aaronson
  • Brian Gutiérrez
  • Djordje Mihailovic
  • Matko Miljevic
  • Gio Reyna
  • Malik Tillman

Wingers

The winger position remains thin for the #USMNT, though several players there can also slot in as attacking midfielders, strikers, or even fullback. Notably, two young wingers, Cole Campbell and Griffin Yow, appeared on provisional rosters but have yet to be called into any Pochettino camp.

  • Cade Cowell
  • Diego Luna
  • Christian Pulisic
  • Quinn Sullivan
  • Indiana Vassilev
  • Tim Weah
  • Haji Wright
  • Alejandro Zendejas

Strikers

Another area of concern for the USMNT is striker depth. While the top options have all produced well for their clubs when healthy, injuries have kept the pool thin. If everyone is fit, the primary competition for the starting role likely comes down to three players: Folarin Balogun, Ricardo Pepi, and Josh Sargent. Haji Wright and Tim Weah can also step in as center-forward options if needed.

  • Patrick Agyemang
  • Folarin Balogun
  • Damion Downs
  • Jesus Ferreira
  • Ricardo Pepi
  • Josh Sargent
  • Brandon Vazquez
  • Brian White

Conclusion

It’s tough to read Pochettino’s mindset right now. Many expect fewer MLS players to be called for the October window, partly because the league continues through FIFA dates and the regular season ends mid-October.

Most World Cup rosters largely select themselves, with only a few surprising omissions, think of the 1994 squad, which left out several players many felt deserved a spot.

But with Pochettino still showing a shaky grasp of the USMNT player pool, this cycle could produce more notable snubs than ever, though there’s still time for him to get it right.

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USMNT

Launching Caring Excellence in Northern Kentucky

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  • Caring for Villa Hills, Fort Thomas, Union, Florence, Crestview Hills and Northern Kentucky


Over the past few years, I’ve written here at Chasing A Cup about family, faith, leadership, and walking through life with intention. Some of you have been reading since the early days. Some of you prayed for my family. Some of you even rolled up your sleeves and gave blood — blood that was meant for my mom and others like her in their time of need.

I’ll never forget that.

Three years ago, my mom passed away. It was a season of heartbreak, but also one of clarity. As I stood beside my family — and as I supported others in our community grieving their own parents — I came to understand how deeply care matters. Not just in hospitals or emergencies, but in the everyday: the quiet, complicated, deeply human moments that make up the final chapters of someone’s life.

That realization stayed with me. And over time, it changed the direction of my work.

For most of my career, I worked in product management — building teams, delivering systems, and leading with structure and strategy. I still believe in all of that. But I also wanted to build something more personal. Something rooted not just in outcomes, but in presence and compassion.

That’s why Sarah and I decided to open a Caring Excellence office in Northern Kentucky.

Caring Excellence has been serving families across Kentucky for over 13 years. It’s a family-owned, fully licensed home care agency that specializes in non-medical, in-home support for seniors and adults — help with daily living, memory care, companionship, and more. And now, we’re proud to bring that same level of compassionate, character-driven care to Florence and the surrounding region.

Our new Northern Kentucky office serves families in places like Villa Hills, Union, Fort Thomas, Crestview Hills, and Florence — communities filled with multi-generational households, strong family ties, and seniors who deserve to age with dignity.

At Caring Excellence, we focus on people first. We don’t just fill schedules — we carefully match caregivers to clients based on personality, needs, and values. Sarah leads our caregiver hiring, drawing from her years of experience as both a caregiver and healthcare professional. She looks not just for skill, but for heart — people of integrity, empathy, and real compassion.

As for me, I now use my business background to support the team behind the scenes — building systems, developing processes, and making sure our caregivers have the tools and training they need to serve others well.

This new venture is deeply personal. It’s also missional. It’s about stepping into people’s lives when they need support most and offering something simple, but powerful: peace of mind.

We’re not moving to Florence, but we’re fully committed to this region. We’re investing in it — by hiring local caregivers, building relationships with local providers, and offering families home care in Northern Kentucky a trusted option for high-quality home care.

To those of you who’ve been on this journey with me — through writing, through prayer, through donating blood when we needed it most — thank you. I hope this new chapter reflects what we’ve always believed in here: that service matters, character counts, and small acts of care can ripple further than we think.

If you know someone in Northern Kentucky who needs support — in Union, Villa Hills, Crestview Hills, Fort Thomas, or Florence — we’d be honored to walk alongside them.

Thanks for reading, and for being part of the story.

—Marcus


Learn More
To learn more about Caring Excellence and our in-home care services for Northern Kentucky families, visit:
https://caringexcellenceathome.com/northern-kentucky-office


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Concacaf Gold Cup is becoming tarnished

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Thomas Deschaine (@uskeeper on X and us_keeper on Instagram)

Not long ago, winning your confederation’s tournament earned a spot in the FIFA Confederations Cup, a prestigious competition held in the World Cup host nation the summer before the world’s biggest tournament.

The tournament featured the champions of all six confederations (AFC, CAF, CONCACAF, CONMEBOL, OFC, and UEFA), along with the reigning FIFA World Cup winner and the host nation, rounding out the field to eight teams. The tournament was last played in 2017.

The Concacaf Gold Cup is a semi-cycle tournament played in the first and third years of the cycle. The CAF Africa Cup of Nations is the only other confederation that plays two tournaments a cycle, and in many circles, the frequency of the Concacaf Gold Cup and the addition of the Concacaf Nations League has made the Gold Cup a throwaway tournament for the USMNT, as it’s been six years since the so called A list player pool has played in the event.

It raises the question for FIFA and Concacaf: should the Gold Cup be played once a cycle, and should FIFA consider bringing back the Confederations Cup?

The USMNT won the inaugural Gold Cup in 1991 and has claimed seven of the 17 editions since. Only two other CONCACAF nations Mexico (9) and Canada (1)—have lifted the trophy, and both are contenders in this edition.

The USMNT has a strong track record at the Gold Cup, finishing first in their group every year except 2011. They’ve reached 12 finals, with a record of 69 wins, 12 draws, and 9 losses, scoring 189 goals and conceding just 60


Gold Cup Player Stats

Across 17 editions of the Gold Cup, the USMNT has netted 189 goals, conceded just 60, and recorded 50 clean sheets. Here’s a look at the players who made it happen, those who found the back of the net, and those who kept it out.

Goals


18-Landon Donovan
13-Clint Dempsey
9-Eric Wynalda
8-Brian McBride
7-Jesus Ferreira

Assists


16-Landon Donovan
7-Michael Bradley
6-DaMarcus Beasley
6-Alejandro Bedoya
6-Eric Wynalda
5-Clint Dempsey

Wins


17-Kasey Keller
11-Tim Howard
8-Tony Meola
7-Matt Turner

Shutouts


14-Kasey Keller
8-Tim Howard
6-Tony Meola
6-Matt Turner

Captain

10-Michael Bradley
10-Kasey Keller
9-Carlos Bocanegra
8-Tony Meola
7-Claudio Reyna

Gold Cup Manager Stats

Over the past 34 years, the USMNT has reached 12 of the 17 Gold Cup finals under the leadership of seven different managers. Here’s a look at how each of them performed.

Matches Coached


25-Bruce Arena
18-Bob Bradley
12-Gregg Berhalter
12-Jurgen Klinsmann
10-Bora Milutinovic
8-Steve Sampson
5-B.J. Callaghan

Matches Won


19-Bruce Arena – GF-52-, GA-14
14-Bob Bradley – GF-34, GA-17
11-Gregg Berhalter – GF-26, GA-3
9-Jurgen Klinsmann – GF-32, GA-9
8-Bora Milutinovic – GF-15, GA-8
6-Steve Sampson – GF-14, GA-5
2-B.J. Callaghan – GF-16, GA-4

Gold Cup Trophies


3-Bruce Arena
1-Gregg Berhalter
1-Bob Bradley
1-Jurgen Klinsmann
1-Bora Milutinovic

Conclusion

In the future, U.S. Soccer and the USMNT should clearly communicate roster expectations for the Gold Cup, especially if a full A-list squad is not planned. Transparency on this front is essential, as it directly affects fan interest and attendance.

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