The U.S. men’s national team is looking for a silver lining ahead of the FIFA World Cup 2026, but head coach Mauricio Pochettino won’t have his top-choice European-based players to turn to this summer.
While many held hopes that the 2025 Concacaf Gold Cup would provide the U.S. to chase a trophy and fine-tune Pochettino’s World Cup visions, most of the American stars have opted to stay home.
With that, it opens the door for lesser-established players to carve out their spot for next year’s showcase event, while also turning the page on a dismal year for the USMNT, with struggling performances across the 2024 Copa América and March’s Concacaf Nations League.
Sixteen MLS players make up the 26-man roster for this summer’s tournament, and the U.S. will look to navigate a group that includes Haiti, Trinidad and Tobago, and Saudi Arabia.
Which five players should you keep an eye on this summer?
