By comparison, predicting the United States Men’s National Team’s 26-man roster ahead of the 2026 FIFA World Cup was a breeze.
There were a few little surprises – Alex Zendejas and Miles Robinson! It’s Diego Luna and Tanner Tessmann! — but overall, the players selected by Mauricio Pochettino for the last 16 were no brainers for anyone who had been paying attention in the months leading up to the tournament.
After signing a new four-year contract, Pochettino’s first post-World Cup squad will be called down on Thursday ahead of exhibition games in the country against Peru, Chile, Canada and arch-rivals Mexico.
Who does this is much less clear.
Speaking to reporters on Labor Day, Poch said the US camp in September/October will mix World Cup youth and veterans. Although he seemed to suggest that 30 players — including four goaltenders — would be called up to Atlanta starting Sept. 20 — I understand the final roster could be a little smaller.
Will Christian Pulisic be in it? That’s the biggest question ahead of Thursday’s announcement. An unused substitute in each of AC Milan’s first three games of the new season, the long-time USA captain made his first appearance of the 2026-27 campaign on Saturday, coming off the bench for the final 31 minutes and providing an assist to help the Reds salvage a point against Lazio.
We’ll see if that’s enough to lure Pulisic.
(Photo by Matteo Ciambelli/DeFodi Images/DeFodi via Getty Images)
Meanwhile, Cavan Sullivan has clearly done enough to warrant an invite.
The 16-year-old Philadelphia Union standout scored twice Sunday night in a 5-0 rout of San Diego. He has now contributed a goal in seven straight games, with five goals and six assists in that span.
Add in the fact that there are no under-23 national team programs until November and Sullivan, who is expected to be a key figure in what will become the 2028 Olympic squad, and the playmaking winger’s inclusion looks even more certain.
Figuring out who else will be there is not easy. With the 2030 World Cup cycle almost upon us, here is my best educated guess:
* Indicates a player who is injured
THE GOALKEEPERS
Just lost: Matt Turner
During last week’s video conference with reporters, Poch said he would bring four goalkeepers. Freese, 28, was a World Cup starter and gained crucial experience that should help him over the next four years. Brady, the USA’s No. 3 behind Freese and Turner, has been excellent for the Chicago Fire during the second half of the MLS season. Schwake, 25, has been even better for league-leading Nashville, while Barcelona’s 20-year-old Kochen, on a season-long loan at Danish club Lyngby, is finally getting a run of first-team stats.
Turner, the 2022 No. 1 seed, lost his spot to Freese last year and will turn 36 during the 2030 event. With an open race over the next four years, he could be the odd man out of this camp.
TOGETHER
Just lost: Luca Bombino, Max Arfsten, Joe Scally, Tim Weah
As one of the most respected leaders of the Stars and Stripes, having the next generation of Jedi at their first camp can be invaluable. The veteran left-back has started all four of Fulham’s Premier League games so far, including the full 90 minutes in Saturday’s goalless draw at Liverpool.
When asked about the possible absence of players who just joined new clubs, Poch name-checked Arfsten. So let’s assume he’s out. Ditto for the uncapped Bombino, 20, who moved to Stoke City on Deadline Day. That could open the door for 24-year-old Bello to return to the national team for the first time since 2022. The former Atlanta United left-back made his UEFA Champions League debut last week with Austria’s LASK.
World Cup goalscorer Freeman has emerged as a starter in his first full season with Villarreal, while fellow right-back Westfield, 20, is fast becoming one of the best in the position in the domestic circuit. He could catch a glimpse of known quantities like Scally and Weah in this window.
STAND DEFENSE
Just lost: Miles Robinson, Tristan Blackmon, Cameron Carter-Vickers
Richards enters the 2030 cycle as he did last cycle: as America’s best quarterback. However, there is a gaping hole next to him now, with 39-year-old Tim Ream likely to be wearing his country’s colors for the last time. Trusty, who made a late press to earn a World Cup place and scored in the meaningless group stage defeat to Turkey, figures to be the other left-handed man, while the popular McKenzie should retain his role as a useful option at 27.
The most intriguing name here is that of Pierre. The 6-foot-7 Philadelphia 18-year-old has taken MLS by storm since returning from his loan at Lyngby in July, anchoring Philly’s backline and scoring four goals in 10 league appearances in 2026.
Midfielder
Just lost: Weston McKennie*, Johnny Cardoso, Tanner Tessmann, Gianluca Busio*
It’s two successive Prem starts now for Adams, who started the season coming off the bench for Bournemouth. Berhalter, the scholar of the veteran World Cup destroyer, is improving every week at ‘Boro in England’s second tier; The 25-year-old scored twice in Sunday’s 3-2 win over Norwich. Morris went 90 for the fifth straight in that game.
McGlynn scored his first goal for Stoke on Sunday, with his right foot no less. The native New Yorker won 12 caps under Poch in 2025 before an early injury derailed his World Cup dreams and looks set for a comeback. Ditto for Musah, whose first-half introduction for Milan against Lazio was as crucial as Pulisic’s contribution later on.
McKennie is still suffering from “muscle fatigue” and has not played for Juventus since the Serie A opener on August 23. Cardoso and Tessmann have seen just a bit more action. The former’s 15 minutes for Atlético Madrid in Sunday’s 3-0 win over Real Sociedad was his longest absence to date, while the latter only logged the final three minutes for Lyon in Saturday’s stalemate with Paris FC.
WINGERS
Just lost: Christian Pulisic, Diego Luna, Alex Zendejas*
Sullivan isn’t the only teenage striker lighting up MLS. Normally a left-winger, the 18-year-old Miller was deployed on the opposite wing by New England Revolution coach Marko Mitrović on Sunday and scored the game-winning goal against Chicago (and former USA coach Gregg Berhalter). Ellis, 19, is riding a four-game assist streak for Orlando City.
As for the older heads, Dest has been brilliant for PSV all season, and Aaronson has started two of Leeds’ last three Premier League outings, splitting time between left-back and attacking midfield.
Luna could return this month, but hasn’t scored or assisted for Real Salt Lake in nearly a month and didn’t feature in Saturday’s 2-0 loss to Freese’s New York City FC. That doesn’t help.
Then there is Pulisic. Last week, Poch appeared again to criticize the star’s decision to skip the 2025 Concacaf Gold Cup. However, the Argentine never ruled Pulisic out of a camp for it – unlike Musah, who hasn’t returned since. With Pulisic having played just half an hour of soccer since suffering a double microfracture of his leg in the Americans’ 4-1 World Cup loss to Belgium, it wouldn’t be surprising to see the former Chelsea and Paris Saint-Germain coach go one way: Insist that Pulisic reports anyway, or send him a clear World Cup message. represent the USA will be won.
THE STRIKES
Just lost: Folarin Balogun, Patrick Agyemang*, Milan Iloski, Brian White, Haji Wright*
Finally a full-time starter for PSV, Pepi has been his usual prolific self, scoring three times in seven Eredivisie and Champions League games. Top picks are few and far between for Poch going forward after this. Balogun has not played at all this season for Monaco and was left out of the club’s European roster entirely after his failed Deadline Day move to Everton. Even if Pochettino wanted to give his striker a run of games, the 25-year-old Balogun’s lack of fitness could prevent him. Agyemang (still recovering from Achilles surgery) and Wright (serious quad injury) are unavailable.
That opens up places for Crystal Palace’s Gozo, 19, and possibly Red Bull New York’s 18-year-old Hall. Poch and key assistant Jesus Perez were at London’s Selhurst Park last week to watch Gozo come off the bench for the final 17 minutes of Palace’s EFL Cup win over ‘Boro. (He also made an appearance in Saturday’s Premier League loss to Ipswich Town.) Hall, who must compete for the starting striker position in the Olympic team, has nine goals in 2,114 MLS minutes in 2026, though his last came in May. So Poch could opt for Philly’s Iloski (10G, 5A since May) or even the 30-year-old White, who scored his 15th goal in Sunday’s loss to Austin — the most of any American in MLS this season. White scored twice in seven appearances for the USA last year.