The United States open their home World Cup against Paraguay on Friday in Los Angeles, and for the 26 players who made this squad, the journey to get here spans injuries, controversy, club struggles, and the kind of resilience that doesn't show up in a team sheet. Here's who's actually on this roster — and what role each of them is likely to play.
The players who will decide this tournament
Christian Pulisic (Forward, AC Milan, age 27) carries the heaviest expectation on this team, and for the most part he's earned it. The Hershey, Pa. native leads all active USMNT scorers with 33 goals in 86 appearances. A goal drought in the first half of 2025 raised some eyebrows, but he put it to bed with a strike against Senegal last month. He heads into this tournament sharp and direct.
Tyler Adams (Midfielder, Bournemouth, age 27) is the soul of this team. Named captain at just 23 for the 2022 World Cup, his reading of the game compensates for a lack of physical size. After last weekend's testy friendly against Germany, Adams put it plainly: "I see guys get kicked, I want to kick anyone." That's his tone-setting function, and it matters.
Weston McKennie (Midfielder, Juventus, age 27) might actually be the beating heart here. Born on an Army base, raised in Texas, formatively shaped at a German air base — McKennie's path made him the embodiment of this generation's USMNT. Pochettino has shuffled him around positionally throughout the qualifying cycle, but he's always a lock to start. He opened the scoring against Belgium in March.
Antonee Robinson (Defender, Fulham, age 28) is the kind of left-back who changes the shape of a match. He missed over a year with a serious injury and only returned in March, which made his World Cup selection far from certain. Then, a few weeks ago, he bleached his hair and hit an absolute rocket against Germany. If that's the version showing up Friday, Paraguay will have problems down the left.
Chris Richards (Defender, Crystal Palace, age 26) is the best defender on this team when fit — and that's the question. He hurt his ankle in May and hasn't played since. The U.S. backline looked vulnerable without him. On Wednesday he declared himself "ready." Whether Pochettino risks him immediately or eases him in will shape how solid this defensive unit looks in the group stage.
The supporting cast worth watching
Folarin Balogun (Forward, AS Monaco, age 24) was born in Brooklyn, raised in London, eligible for Nigeria — and chose the U.S. in 2023 when they needed a striker. He's delivered, scoring in each of his first three games and netting 19 goals in 43 appearances for Monaco this season. Long-term, he's the striker this program has been waiting years to find.
Ricardo Pepi (Forward, PSV Eindhoven, age 23) was left off the 2022 squad and devastated by it. He responded by becoming a genuine threat at PSV — 19 goals in 34 appearances this season — and Pulisic himself said: "He probably deserved to be on that last roster. His time is now." The combination of Pepi and Pulisic in the May Senegal friendly was the most dangerous the U.S. attack has looked in years.
Malik Tillman (Midfielder, Bayer Leverkusen, age 24) is one of the most quietly fascinating players in this squad. Born in Germany to an American father, he plays with a composure that makes him look unhurried even when everything is moving fast. Former sporting director Earnie Stewart called him "one of the most amazing players I've ever seen." The World Cup stage may be exactly where Tillman announces himself properly.
Gio Reyna (Midfielder, Borussia Mönchengladbach, age 23) remains the great unresolved question of this generation. His talent was never in doubt — he broke Pulisic's record as the youngest American to play in the Bundesliga at 17. But injuries, inconsistency, and the behind-the-scenes drama with then-coach Gregg Berhalter during the 2022 World Cup have made him a difficult player to rely on. At 23, he still has time. Whether this is the tournament where he figures it out is genuinely impossible to predict.
Sebastian Berhalter (Midfielder, Vancouver Whitecaps, age 25) has a complicating surname — his father Gregg coached the USMNT and specifically chose not to call up his own son while in charge. The younger Berhalter only debuted under Pochettino in 2025. His set-piece delivery is a real weapon; watch for him on corners and free kicks in tight games.
Sergiño Dest (Defender, PSV Eindhoven, age 25) started all four games at the 2022 World Cup and should be a starter again. His background reads like a geography exam — born in the Netherlands, father from Suriname, who later played college soccer in the U.S., served in Vietnam, and became an American citizen. Dest came through the Ajax academy. He's been in and around this team for years and knows his role.
Alex Freeman (Defender, Villarreal, age 21) is the most interesting newcomer on the back line. Son of NFL wide receiver Antonio Freeman, he scored six goals as a defender for Orlando City — then earned a move to Villarreal. His attacking instincts as a right wingback give Pochettino an option that other USMNT coaches haven't had.
Tim Ream (Defender, Charlotte FC, age 38) is the captain and the oldest player in the squad. He won't win foot races at 38, but he's spent over a decade reading the game well enough that he rarely has to. He missed 2014 through omission and 2018 through non-qualification. He played every minute in 2022. Expect him to start at least some of these games.
The goalkeeper battle and the rest of the squad
In goal, Pochettino has a decision between two MLS starters — Matt Freese (NYCFC, age 27) and Matt Turner (New England Revolution, age 31). Freese has been the more regular starter over the past year and produced an impressive Gold Cup. Turner has the 2022 World Cup experience. Neither has locked down a top European club spot, which creates a genuine uncertainty about who lines up Friday. Chris Brady (Chicago Fire, age 22) is third-choice but arguably the best MLS keeper of the last two seasons — his time will come, just probably not yet.
The depth forwards tell their own stories. Timothy Weah (Marseille, age 26) is the son of Ballon d'Or winner and Liberian politician George Weah, has had wild swings with the USMNT — a World Cup goal in 2022, a tournament-killing red card at the Copa America in 2024 — and will likely contribute off the bench on the right. Haji Wright (Coventry City, age 28) helped get Coventry promoted to the Premier League and scored in the 2022 Round of 16, but the squad has more depth at striker than it did three years ago. Alejandro Zendejas (Club América, age 28) chose the U.S. over Mexico in 2023 and is a capable attacker, though his starting prospects are limited. Brenden Aaronson (Leeds United, age 25) had a career year in 2024-25, got married two weeks ago, and rejoins camp as a spark plug off the bench.
- Cristian Roldan (Seattle Sounders, age 31) — veteran locker-room presence, may see limited field time
- Mark McKenzie (Toulouse, age 27) — leading backup option at center-back while Richards manages his ankle
- Miles Robinson (FC Cincinnati, age 29) — ruptured his Achilles before the 2022 World Cup; this tournament is a significant comeback moment
- Auston Trusty (Celtic, age 27) — limited minutes in 2026, role unclear
- Joe Scally (Gladbach, age 23) — versatile fullback, didn't play in 2022, may face same outcome
- Max Arfsten (Columbus Crew, age 25) — walk-on at UC Davis turned regular USMNT winger, comfortable on both feet, expected to see time
This is the deepest USMNT squad in a generation, but depth doesn't win World Cups. Richards' fitness, the Freese-Turner goalkeeper call, and whether Reyna can be consistent are the three variables that will define how far this team actually goes. The opener against Paraguay is Friday. Time to find out if the talent matches the hype.
