The 2026 FIFA World Cup is set to get underway on June 11th, 2026. Being one of the host countries, the thrill and anticipation for the team to walk out onto the field, in front of their home fans, to the American soccer fan is awesome, but will the team be ready? Plenty of history is set to be made 274 days from now, but will is include the hometown heros?

As the team has prepared for that time to come, head coach Mauricio Pochettino has not had the chance to go through his selection process during the grueling play that is World Cup Qualifiers, but has still set a starting XI for International Friendlies against sides that are, or will likely be competing in this historical tournament, and hasn’t necessarily gone about team selection in the most popular way. With the MLS doing what is can to become a rising league not just in world soccer, but also in the engagement of American fans, much of the teams selected in these friendlies, and even the Gold Cup, has consisted of players playing in this country, and that is not necessarily the best choice.

In the teams time under Pochettino, the team is 8-6, and that would seem like not the worst thing, but being ranked the 15th best team in the world according to FIFA rankings, we should expect better. In Gold Cup play, the team beat the likes of Trinidad and Tobago, Saudi Arabia, Haiti, Costa Rica, and Guatemala. Being ranked where they are, up against their competition, you’d expect big wins for the team, but this is not what happened. Despite a 5-0 victory over Trinidad and Tobago, these other games were all wins by one goal, with the Costa Rica game going to penalties.

Now let’s look at the teams the USMNT have lost to in the time under Poch. Panama, Canada, Turkey, Switzerland, Mexico, and South Korea. These are all teams we can expect to compete in the World Cup next year, but questionable starting lineups for the team lead to defeats, and that isn’t a good look for the team with only one being a ranking above them (Mexico at 13), and each being played on home soil.

Now yes, there has been some shining moments that have come out of MLS stars, like Jack McGlynn, Max Arfsten, and Diego Luna to name a few, that have competed for the team across 2025, but when it comes to selection who should be in the Starting XI, it has been what feels like a random assortment of players, and preparation time is ticking down. The US team manager needs to get top talents out on the field to compete together again at this international level before it’s too late.

Here is how I believe the team should shape up for the upcoming 2026 World Cup.

Goalkeeper – Matt Turner

Matt Turner has been in a rough situation, but has also been left out of the team, with the job given to Matt Freese. Freese may have had moments, but he is no Turner when he is sharp and on point. Transferred to Lyon, and then loaned out to the New England Revolution, has now got him between the sticks once again, which we didn’t see at Nottingham Forest over the end of his time there.

Defenders – Antonee Robinson, Chris Richards, Tim Ream, Sergiño Dest

Robinson and Dest should be no-brainers as the outside backs of the side, who can hold it down defensively, but also make those overlapping runs down the flanks that the team will want when countering, or just to bring added pressure on attacks. Chris Richards is a top talent in the central defense. In good form, the Crystal Palace man could finally be living up to his true potential, and if so can be lockdown at the back. Alongside him, Tim Ream. Ream is aging, and has since made the move to America and the MLS, but he is experienced in the back, and physical, which is what the team will need to bring if they want to compete. Another choice could be Cameron Carter-Vickers in the centerback role if you feel someone more youthful needs to be alongside Richards.

Midfielders – Tyler Adams, Weston McKennie, Gio Reyna

Playing in a more defensive midfielder role, Adams and McKennie should be 100% selections for the team, no questions asked. Adams is vocal, and coming on captaining the 2022 World Cup, could be a mold between the back and front line of the team. McKennie should be alongside him as he has offensive moments in him, but can also help be a crucial defender when the team is on their backfoot. Someone else who could come off the bench, or fill in this role with an injury could be Yunus Musah. Gio Reyna should be given the chance to play the CAM role of the team. A player with extreme talent and creativity, if Poch gives him a chance soon and let’s him flourish on the pitch, he will be a threat when the time comes they need him to be.

Attackers – Christian Pulisic, Ricardo Pepi, Tim Weah

Christian Pulisic, despite sitting out of the Gold Cup, and potentially not getting along with the head coach behind the scenes based on what the media has said over the last few months, is this generations Captain America. He is a top talent in world soccer, and there is absolutely 0 reason to have any questions about him being in the Starting XI. Tim Weah running out right on the other flank is the perfect balance on the wing that we have all seen before from these two. Both are able to make moments out of nothing and create openings for teammates that the USMNT will need. Ricardo Pepi is a name that hasn’t been featured in the team since 2024, and wasn’t in the side in the last World Cup, but he needs to be brought in. He will have that extra spark in the moment to prove what the team has previously missed out on. Pepi can create plays, and can also finish home goals from inside the area, which is a must with how low scoring the team has been recently, with chances going by the wayside. If the current choices remain the same for the team in leaving him out, Folarin Balogun or Josh Sargent would be the next best option.

The USMNT and Mauricio Pochettino have made some questionable decisions on who would be in the team on gameday leading up to the 2026 FIFA World Cup, but as time is running out to get it right so the side can build the needed chemistry, there is technically still time. The teams most recent win over Japan was a step in the right direction, now all that needs to be done is bring in more of the right pieces to make the team competitive enough to push out of the Group Stage next year, and try to make history in lifting the trophy.