People in the USA may be partial to American Football, Baseball or Basketball – but in the summer, we’ll see a Soccer sensation in the States.
Today, we’ll look at how Mauricio Pochettino’s men might line up at the 2026 World Cup. We’ve included players from teams such as Crystal Palace, Juventus and AC Milan – who made it into your USA XI?
GK: Matt Freese
Matt Freese may not be the most well-known American goalkeeper in the sport today, but Pochettino seems to have taken a liking to him.
Matt Turner’s performancse between the sticks have often been criticised – as such, this opened the door for Freese to make his mark. So far, the USNMT’s fortunes have improved since his installation.
CB: Chris Richards
Chris Richards has benefitted greatly from playing alongside top-class defenders such as Marc Guehi and Maxence Lacroix. He has improved massively over the course of his journey at Crystal Palace – he is more than good value for his place in the squad.
Additionally, he’s very accustomed to playing in a back three, as this is how Oliver Glasner deploys him for the Eagles.
CB: Tim Ream
Even at 38 years of age, Tim Ream still has something to offer on the international stage. As the USA’s team captain, his inclusion in the XI is a bit of a given.
Due to his age, he’ll probably play in the middle of the back three, though his excellent positional sense allows him to be a pliable option.
CB: Auston Trusty
Auston Trusty has had an up-and-down season with Celtic, but his pace and ball-playing abilties will make him an invaluable member of the USNMT.
Richards and Ream are no-nonsense defenders – Trusty, on the other hand, will allow the USA to play out from the back if they are required to do so.