Over the past year, the U.S. World Cup roster candidates have shown their quality in training camps, tournaments, friendlies and knockout games. But with the squad not gathering regularly, weekly matches against European and North American clubs will influence manager Mauricio Pochettino’s decisions.
That’s why, with only March training camp left before he selects his 26-man roster for this summer’s Football Day, he and his staff are keeping a close eye on players who are toiling away from full-time jobs.
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For many players, volatility will not affect their standing in Pochettino’s heart. Of course, it’s beneficial to enjoy an uptick in form and production ahead of training camp in the United States. Conversely, substandard performance, lack of playing time or injuries can have a detrimental effect.
With that in mind, here are five players on the rise and five facing adversity a month before Pochettino extends an invitation to the friendly matches against Belgium and Portugal in Atlanta from March 23 to 31:
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Patrick AgyemanThat leap of faith is paying off. The 6-foot-4 forward gave up his rising MLS career last summer to sign his first contract overseas, joining Derby County on their second flight to the English Championship.
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If he doesn’t get consistent playing time and record goals, the Connecticut native will disappear from the U.S. radar. Instead, he is ascending.
A second-half header against Swansea City on Saturday took his tally to 10, equaling the club’s lead. Agyeman contributed three assists, leading the Rams in overall performance and helping them enter promotion playoff contention.
Agyemang, 25, was invited to U.S. training camp in October but was not invited in September and November. However, fellow Americans seemingly high on the depth chart have struggled overseas – more on that later – while Riccardo Pepi continues to be sidelined with a broken forearm. These factors, combined with Agyeman’s productivity, should increase the former Charlotte FC standout’s chances of earning a March call-up.
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Weston McEnanyHis place in the national team is iron-clad, but as a regular at Juventus under a new coach this winter, playing in a variety of positions while making huge contributions to Serie A and the Champions League, the American veteran is enjoying perhaps the best football of his life.
McKennie was outstanding again on Saturday, providing two assists in the 3-2 loss to first-placed Inter Milan. He has made 26 consecutive starts in all competitions, scoring four goals and providing four assists in Italy, plus three goals in the Champions League, which starts with Tuesday’s play-off first leg against Galatasaray.
McKennie has excelled in a number of roles and was most recently appointed as an attacking midfielder. Juventus coach Luciano Spalletti even called the American “the perfect centre-forward”.
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McKennie’s resurgence comes as his contract expires this summer, sparking talk of a significant pay rise to stay at Juventus or a free transfer to another major league.
Tanner Theismann is on the rise as he becomes a regular starter for Lyon, one of the hottest clubs in the world, who extended their winning streak to 13 games in all competitions with a 2-0 victory over Nice on Sunday.
In his second season in France, the 24-year-old midfielder played in 20 of 22 Ligue 1 games, starting 17 of them. Lyon have moved up to third place, which would secure a Champions League spot for next season, and are six points behind Paris Saint-Germain and seven points behind Lens with 12 games remaining. In the Europa League, Lyon were the best-performing team in the first stage and earned a spot in the last 16 next month.
With the national team, Theismann has proven that he can start in the two-man defensive midfield line-up that Pochettino often deploys.
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Speaking of defensive midfielders, current World Cup players Tyler Adams Making this list not because of performance, but because he’s healthy again. Expected to miss two to three months with a knee injury, Adams was back in Bournemouth’s squad in less than two months.
He has not played since December 15 but featured against Everton last Tuesday and could be available against West Ham on Saturday after the club’s weekend break. If nothing else, Adams is expected to be called up to Team USA next month.
With some uncertainty surrounding the U.S. center back corps, Alston Reliable is making the most of his opportunities at Scottish club Celtic.
Help fill the void left by fellow citizens Cameron Carter-VickersTrusti, 27, suffered an Achilles injury in October and has gone the distance in 23 of his last 24 games. (A red card prevented him from finishing that game.) He also scored in back-to-back Europa League games last month.
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chris richards and Tim Rehm Definitely going to be in the World Cup squad, but Trusty is in it too Mark McKenzie, Miles RobinsonNoahkai Banks and at least one of the other two spots.
Monaco’s Folarin Balogun continues to struggle but remains one of the top options at center for the U.S. National Team.
(BSR agency via Getty Images)
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The forwards are not doing well now, Folarin Balogun Not in good condition. Pochettino’s No. 1 center forward has failed to score in 11 of 12 games against Monaco, the only goal he scored against their third-tier opponents in the Coupe de France five weeks ago.
Unless this continues into the spring, Pochettino will certainly maintain faith in Balogun, who scored in three U.S. friendlies last fall and in three consecutive Champions League games between November and December.
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Grading is also a tricky issue Haji WrightHe scored twice against Australia in October and then went 15 consecutive games without scoring against Coventry in the Championship.
He snapped a run of games last month but went into Monday’s game against Middlesbrough on a run of three games without a win. Wright leads Coventry jointly with two others on 10 goals.
Considered second on the depth chart behind Balogun, he may already be behind Agyemang and could face a challenge from Pepi, who is expected to return to PSV soon.
Remember how giddy everyone was? Gio ReinaHow will he fare when he returns to the United States during the November international break? There’s a good reason for this. He’s shown qualities that have long been overshadowed by injuries and off-field issues, and looks set to not only be named in the World Cup squad, but possibly start.
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The enigmatic midfielder did increase his playing time at Monchengladbach with both efforts. However, he found himself back on the bench after the Bundesliga’s winter break, with a muscle injury keeping him in civilian clothes for the past four games.
Reina, 23, looks too good to leave the World Cup squad, but unless things improve in Germany soon, Pochettino will consider whether to invite him to the March training camp.
At the age of 19, Yunus Musa Is a key figure in the 2022 World Cup and is expected to start in midfield for years to come. However, with the arrival of Mauricio Pochettino in 2024, Moussa does not seem to fit into the system. Now, after three seasons at AC Milan and a stalled first at Atalanta, Moussa’s World Cup prospects are fading fast.
He did not feature in the 2-0 win over Lazio, his fifth time on the bench in seven games. He only started 3 times in Serie A and 2 times in the Champions League. It has been almost a year since he was last selected for the national team.
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It’s been six years since he last scored for Team USA and he missed training camp in October and November. Josh Sargent The hope of the World Cup is already slim.
He could have had his hopes up if he had continued to score goals for Norwich City in England’s second tier this winter. But not only did he not score, he didn’t even wear a team uniform. The player from St. Louis requested a move to MLS and was sent to train with the Under-21 team, having not been named to the first team since January 4.
Barring a move before Major League Soccer’s March 26 transfer deadline and a remarkable scoring performance, Sargent will need to turn his attention to 2030.
