Since its inception 30 years ago, Major League Soccer has made a huge contribution to the World Cup in the United States. Each four-year cycle, the number of players invited to the carnival will vary, as will the coaches. Mauricio Pochettino With less than three months until the 26-man roster is set, several candidates from the home circuit are once again in good position.
Throughout his tenure, Pochettino has been adamant that MLS employment would not stand in the way of anyone, regardless of league, and that national team and club performance would help determine selection.
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The bulk of the World Cup roster will come from the European leagues in England, Germany, Italy, Spain, France and the Netherlands because, after all, that’s where most of the best Americans work.
So what is the stance of the MLS Corps?
Since making his international debut last June, the New York City goalkeeper Matt Freese He solidified his spot atop the depth chart by starting the final 12 games in 2025 and largely performing well. new england Matt TurnerThe 2022 World Cup starter seems certain to remain as the primary backup, with Columbus’ Patrick Schulte2024 Olympian or Chicago chris brady Might fill a hole in the goaltending corps.
columbus wing back Max AfsteinThe 24-year-old was one of several rookies who proved his worth last year, tying with Freese for the most starts (13) and showing the ability to step in on the left wing among often-injured starters. Anthony Robinson.
Tim Ream (right) and Charlotte FC lose 3-0 to the LA Galaxy on Saturday at Dignity Health Sports Park.
(Image from Reuters Connect/REUTERS)
As a regular player in the back line, the center back Tim Rehm Seems almost a lock to be on the roster, if not the starting job. But the 38-year-old has begun to show cracks, most recently with a poor first half in Charlotte’s 3-0 loss to the LA Galaxy on Saturday.
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Rehm has played every minute of the 2022 World Cup and appears to have entered a transitional phase this cycle, providing experience and leadership until the less experienced players find their international footing. Last year, however, Pochettino used him more than any other non-goalkeeper.
vancouver midfielder Sebastian BerhalterThe 24-year-old has a new dawn in 2025 with his set-piece acumen, tenacity and intelligence. While it’s uncertain whether he will make the final roster, it’s hard to see Pochettino leaving him behind.
The same goes for Real Salt Lake’s midfielder Diego LunaThe 22-year-old finished last year with top-line performance (four goals, four assists) in a team-high 17 games. However, a knee injury kept him sidelined at the start of the season and could affect his participation in training camp later this month – the final gathering before the World Cup squad is set at the end of May.
in seattle Christian RodinPochettino, a 30-year-old midfielder returning to action in the autumn, has a “glue” – someone who can impart wisdom, strengthen the dressing room and do the dirty work when needed. Roldan scored with a header in Seattle’s 2-1 loss to Real Salt Lake on Saturday.
Others in question: Cincinnati center back Miles Robinsonwho started three consecutive U.S. games in the fall; Vancouver center back Tristan BlackmonMLS Defender of the Year; Charlotte midfielder Luca de la TorreForward Josh Sargent hopes last week’s move to Toronto from England’s Norwich City will reignite his bleak prospects.
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European Weekend Roundup…
England
forward Haji Wright In Coventry City’s 2-1 victory over Stoke City, he scored in the 12th minute, laying the foundation for Coventry City to advance to the Premier League.
He has scored five goals in four of 16 games this season and his 15 goals are second in the Championship, one less than the leader. After a winter break, Coventry re-established an eight-point lead over Middlesbrough, who visit Birmingham City with the midfielder on Monday Aidan Morris expected to begin. Both clubs will rise.
The other U.S. scorer in Game 2 was Derby County’s Patrick AgyemanThe team defeated Blackburn 3-1 and failed to score for the third consecutive game. He has 10 goals and 3 assists this season.
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Bournemouth midfielder in Premier League Tyler Adams It was his second consecutive start and 62 minutes before being sent off after a yellow card was reviewed for a red card. A 1-1 draw with Sunderland extended the Cherries’ unbeaten run to eight games (4-0-4).
Leeds United Midfielder Brenden Aronson He played 65 minutes in a 0-1 loss to Manchester City, extending his winless streak to four games (0-1-3). center back chris richards Left-back in Crystal Palace’s 2-1 loss to Manchester United Anthony RobinsonHe did not feature in Fulham’s 2-1 win over Tottenham Hotspur while recovering from an ankle injury.
Italy
Christian Pulisic He made a mistake in 78 minutes of second-placed AC Milan’s 2-0 win over Cremonese on Sunday and has now gone nine games without scoring in two months.
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Four days later, a thrilling comeback and a dramatic elimination from the Champions League, Weston McEnany Sixth-ranked Juventus came from two goals behind to draw 3-3 with Roma. The American midfielder lasted until the end for the fifth straight game. He missed a header opportunity in the first half, but his free kick header in stoppage time helped the team equalize the score.
midfield Yunus MusaHe came on as a second-half substitute for seventh-placed Atalanta and scored in the 88th minute in a 2-1 loss at 10-man Sassuolo, his first for the club since joining Valencia in the 2021-22 season.
In the second division, the goalkeeper Jonathan Klinsmann Cesena drew 1-1 with Empoli, extending its winless streak to four and six games in seven games.
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Germany
center back Noah Kay BankHe continued his rise with some fine running and a superb assist in Augsburg’s 2-0 win over Cologne, his 17th consecutive Bundesliga start. Augsburg has won three consecutive games and has a record of 5 wins, 1 draw and 2 losses in the past eight games, rising to ninth place.
Banks, who attended a U.S. training camp in September, could make his international debut this month against Belgium or Portugal in Atlanta, but due to his dual citizenship he said he has left the door open to represent Germany.
Midfielder returns from injury Gio Reina Wearing a Monchengladbach jersey for the first time since January 17, he did not feature in the 1-0 win over Union Berlin. teammate Joe Scullya right-wing back, played 90 points.
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midfield James Sands St. Pauli played the entire game and beat Hoffenheim 1-0, their third in four games after eight consecutive games without a win.
midfield Malik Tillman Bayer Leverkusen was held to a 1-1 draw with Mainz and remained winless for the third consecutive game.
In the second division, left back John Tolkien Holstein Kiel came on strong in a 1-1 draw away to Elversberg to extend their winless streak to seven games.
France
Monaco striker Folarin Balogun He scored his fourth goal in four games in a 2-0 win over Angers to break a scoreless tie early in the second half. He increased his Ligue 1 scoring tally to six games and his total tally to 12 games.
Right-back in clash between top four clubs Tim Weah (85th minute) Marseille scored twice at home and knocked down the midfielder Tanner Tesman (90) and Lyon, 3-2.
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This is the Toulouse centre-back’s 19th Ligue 1 start Mark McKenzie In the 0-1 loss to Rennes, he scored 90 points.
Spain
After scoring in the Champions League earlier this week, the midfielder Johnny Cardozo He played 61 minutes of quality football in third-place Atletico Madrid’s 1-0 win over Real Oviedo. His club head into the Copa del Rey semi-final second leg in Barcelona on Tuesday with a 4-0 lead.
Been back since arriving from Orlando about a month ago Alex Freeman He remained in the shadows against Villarreal, making three appearances for a total of 31 minutes. He missed Saturday’s 4-1 loss to top-placed Barcelona.
Netherlands
Riccardo PepiIn the second half of Eredivisie champions PSV Eindhoven’s 3-1 victory over Hercules, the team’s six-game winning streak in the Eredivisie was ended. right back Sergino Dest It was the fourth consecutive 90-minute run.
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Others
In Mexico, Club America winger Alex Zendejas (adductor) did not wear a uniform against the Tigers, and due to injuries and the winter break, he has appeared in just two games, totaling 106 minutes, in three months.
in scotland, centre-back Alston Reliable Celtic missed the 2-2 draw with arch-rivals Rangers due to a red card suspension.
