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When it comes to the U.S. men’s national team, there are plenty of players in the pool who fans are keeping regular tabs on. Beyond the best-friend trio of Christian Pulisic, Tyler Adams and Weston McKennie, there are other players who’ll be under the spotlight with only 100 days before the World Cup begins.
USA manager Mauricio Pochettino will name his 26-man roster in May, and we’ll get a glimpse of what that looks like in a few weeks when the team convenes for training camp at the end of March. The window features two matches against European powers Belgium (March 28) and Portugal (March 31) in Atlanta, and Pochettino has notably said that the World Cup begins for his team in March.
Between now and then – and really, up until Pochettino makes his final roster decision – there will be players to keep an eye on. How are they performing with their clubs? Are they healthy? How do they fit into Pochettino’s plans? The three players fit that bill and are worth monitoring between now and when the USA opens up World Cup play on June 12 against Paraguay:
Folarin Balogun, Striker
(Photo by Emilee Chinn/Getty Images)
The USA has had a striker problem for years. There’s no Erling Haaland or Kylian Mbappe or Harry Kane or Cristiano Ronaldo in this player pool. That was an issue four years ago when former manager Gregg Berhalter brought three strikers to the World Cup in Qatar – Jesus Ferreira, Josh Sargent and Haji Wright. Only Wright scored a goal, and it was by accident in the round of 16 loss to the Netherlands.
[WHEN AND WHERE: Full Schedule for 2026 FIFA World Cup]
The U.S. has lengthy been in quest of a dependable, scientific finisher up high. Might Balogun be that man this summer time? Proper now, he seems to be Pochettino’s best choice. Within the “what have you ever accomplished for me recently?” class, Balogun scored as Monaco beat Angers 2-0 in a Ligue 1 match on Saturday.
He’s now scored 4 targets in his final 4 video games for Monaco, bringing his complete as much as 12 throughout all competitions this season. Is he hitting his stride simply in time to make his first World Cup roster? That appears to be the case for the 24-year-old, who has scored eight targets in 23 appearances for the USA.
Antonee “Jedi” Robinson, Fullback
(Picture by Invoice Barrett/ISI Pictures/USSF/Getty Pictures for USSF)
Followers must be fairly conversant in Jedi. He began each World Cup match 4 years in the past at left again for the U.S., and has been a gentle presence on the again line. He was thought of the highest left again within the Premier League final yr as nicely. However the Fulham star has been hampered by accidents. First there was a knee situation, which required surgical procedure and stored him out of the nationwide workforce for almost a yr, together with lacking final summer time’s Gold Cup. He returned to the fold in October, however skilled one other setback.
He returned to Fulham in December, however has been on the bench just lately whereas recovering from an ankle situation. Fulham head coach Marco Silva beforehand stated he didn’t suppose Robinson’s ankle drawback was critical, however we’ll see what this implies by way of enjoying for Pochettino in March.
When Robinson has been out, Pochettino has relied on Columbus Crew’s Max Arfsten and Marseille’s Tim Weah at left wing again, so they might find yourself beginning in his stead if he’s injured. Robinson’s well being might be monitored underneath a microscope for the subsequent a number of months as a result of when he’s match, he’s one of the crucial necessary gamers Pochettino has in his pool.
Matt Freese, Goalkeeper
(Picture by Kevin Sabitus/USSF/Getty Pictures)
The goalkeeping state of affairs just isn’t 100% set, however Freese appears to have a leg up. He made his worldwide debut final June forward of the Gold Cup and began the USA’s ultimate 12 video games of 2025. He unseated Matt Turner, who was the starter for the People on the final World Cup, and hasn’t appeared again.
Now, Turner isn’t giving up on beginning at this summer time’s match. He’s going to maintain doing all the things attainable to show to Pochettino and his workers why he must be the starter. Plus, he moved again to MLS from the Premier League to get extra constant enjoying time and thus far he’s getting it with the New England Revolution.
But it surely’s onerous to think about Freese relinquishing his spot on high. He’s been constant for the USA and for NYCFC, and Pochettino is a fan. However will probably be attention-grabbing to observe the competitors brew as a result of you understand Turner desires that spot again.
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