The 2026 FIFA World Cup is barreling towards us — simply 45 days away.
On June 11, Mexico and South Africa will open the event at Mexico Metropolis’s legendary Azteca Stadium. The following day, the U.S. will begin its personal World Cup journey towards Paraguay at Los Angeles’ SoFi Stadium.
The USMNT hasn’t named its official World Cup squad — that roster is anticipated to drop Could 26 — however there are just a few gamers whose spots are all however secured.
However who’re they? What are they as much as with their membership groups? And the way will their current performances impression the USMNT’s World Cup journey?
Christian Pulisic, AC Milan
Strengths: Pulisic stays a superb passer. He is one of many prime movers in Serie A, capable of get touches even when he is having a tough recreation.
Weaknesses: And that is essential, as a result of Pulisic has been having tough video games for an extended whereas now. His poor run of type got here to a head in Milan’s 0-0 draw with Juventus, when he managed an anticipated objectives tally of precisely zero in 62 minutes.
Simply how unhealthy is Pulisic’s present type? Within the 2025-2026 Serie A season— a season during which he bought off to a blistering begin — Pulisic is averaging .44 anticipated objectives, .24 anticipated assists and a pair of.13 probabilities created per recreation. These numbers put him within the 78th, 96th and ninety fifth percentile in Italy.
In his previous 5 video games, although, Pulisic is averaging .07 anticipated objectives, .23 anticipated assists and one probability created per recreation. There is no getting round it: Whereas his help figures stay regular, largely on the idea of some sturdy video games towards weaker opponents, his goalscoring and probability creation has cratered in 2026.
Backside line: Pulisic is the USMNT’s largest star, however he is getting into the World Cup season as its largest potential disappointment.
Weston McKennie, Juventus
Strengths: McKennie has been via so much with Juventus this season, from coping with an acrimonious supervisor change to loads of positional shifts. However he is stored his head excessive and emerged as one of many workforce’s key gamers.
Juventus coach Luciano Spalletti has performed McKennie everywhere in the area, however he is taken to beginning him in a hybrid proper wingback position that appears to go well with him nicely. That is nice information for the USMNT, as a result of its presumed proper wingback Sergino Dest is managing a hamstring damage and might not be again to full health in time for the World Cup.
USMNT coach Mauricio Pochettino hasn’t used McKennie as a wingback, however he could attempt him there within the workforce’s World Cup friendlies towards Senegal and Germany this summer time.
