Mauricio Pochettino will have a headache on his hands when selecting his final 26-man US squad for the 2026 World Cup due to tough competition for places throughout the squad.
The Argentine coach has given caps to 61 players in his 24 matches in charge of the USMNT, proving the time he has put into every player available. Despite two years at the helm, only six players have more than 1000 minutes with Pochettino in charge. Tim Ream, the most used defender at 1557 minutes, along with keeper Matt Freese, after recent performances at the very top level, are the standout names when it comes to starting positions in defence and goalkeeping. Midfield-wise, Tyler Adams will be the standout selection once fit. In attack, there seems to be strong competition after Patrick Agyemang’s Achilles injury, with Folarin Balogun, Ricardo Pepi, and Haji Wright among the favourites.
Other players such as Gio Reyna, Brenden Aaronson, and Joe Scally all find themselves up in the air and uncertain whether they will make the cut.
The decision will come in days, but for the US, this is a vital tournament, with the country hoping for a decent showing on home soil.
