Pre-match: 2026 World Cup Roster

Just going off the last few rosters Poch has only used four central defenders and not five. So I think Aaronson is on the team over one of them. guessing that Tessmann and Freeman are good enough emergency fill ins that fiver aren't necessary.

 

I think as the 26th guy he would be fine except I think either Berhalter or Reyna are also that 26th guy.

 

I mean I’d absolutely find a way to bring Gozo if it were me. One of the downsides of not having had a January camp as he probably would have gotten a look there and then he’s not an entirely new guy.

 

I'm not that upset he won't be there as it just means the team is better and doesn't need to take flyers on super young players. The best teams in the world don't do that and we should be happy we are trending in that direction. He'll have plenty of time to prove himself as soon as this cycle ends.

 

I think Berhalter is firmly on the roster but that’s just me.

 

How can you possibly start Reyna? No problem with him being on the roster but you start him and there's a solid chance you have to sub him before the half.

 

There’s simply no point in having that many “guy who has certain offensive skills but can’t defend at all” on the roster.

 

CF: Balo / Pepi / Wright
LW-as-CAM: Pulisic / Luna
CAM: McKennie / Tillman
RW / RWB: Dest / Weah
CM: Adams / Roldan / Tessman / ?
LB: Jedi / Arfsten
RB / RCB: Freeman / ?
CB: Richards / Ream / Trusty / McKenzie / ?
GK: Turner / Freese / Brady

This leaves three slots, and probably 6 guys looking at it: Reyna, Aaronson, Berhalter, Morris, Scally and Miles Robinson.

Gozo is out; I like the kid, but a healthy Dest, Weah, McKennie can all play RW and Freeman can play RWB. I think there’s a chance he’s a real spark, but without injuries, I don’t know how you leave these guys home.

The rest sometimes depend on where you play the above. Flexibility to use Weah at RB and McKennie in any number of places would allow for a more assymetric roster.

Without that, it seems nearly impossible to bring both Aaronson and Reyna, even though they are probably the two most talented overall. I know some will drop Luna, but I doubt it; he’s a more well rounded player than either of the above two once you factor in fit. But if you are okay with Tillman or McKennie sliding back more, etc. it may be possible.

That said, I find it hard to believe Poch wants the possibillity of HAVING to move McKennie or Tillman back, so one of Berhalter or Morris is likely going. With the ground that is there — Adams, Roldan, Tessman, Berhalter seems more likely (more offense to backup Tessman). Morris seems like a less experienced Roldan right now. It’s a tough cut.

The big question on the defense is simple: Is Scally giving you enough offense that he plays as a viable Freeman like for like? If he doesn’t, do you need him on the roster. I don’t know that I have an answer here; I do think we need to lean fake 3 ATB or 3 ATB, which pushes me to one of the two between Miles and Scally … neither has impressed me even defensively. I like the versatility of Scally but I am not enthusiastic about the pick.

Which brings us back to Aaronson and Reyna. Reyna’s probably the better pick here; we’re more likely to need a late goal than someone to harass the opponent and Aaronson simply isn’t a great fit for Poch’s offense. But man … does this mean we likely have Malik Tillman starting on the bench? Is that right? And if that’s not … does that put Tim Weah on the block? (Or are we back at Scally?)

CF: Balo / Pepi / Wright
LW-as-CAM: Pulisic / Luna
CAM: McKennie / Tillman / Reyna
RW / RWB: Dest / Weah
CM: Adams / Roldan / Tessman / Berhalter
LB: Jedi / Arfsten
RB / RCB: Freeman / Scally
CB: Richards / Ream / Trusty / McKenzie
GK: Turner / Freese / Brady

I’m not really happy with those decisions. They are definitely logic based on how I want the team to play than my feel of what’s best culturally or talent wise. Reyna over Brenden is spitting a bit in the face of the culture we want; Berhalter is a defensive risk in a roster position that should prioritize it; and Scally hasn’t been good on either side of the ball and I seem to be including him merely because I think we need another defender who can play in that pseudo 3 ATB.

Ugh.

 

Although I do recall that England brought Theo Walcott at 17 and with basically zero PL experience.

 

I keep saying Schulte ahead of Brady which strikes me as a bit odd. Maybe I'm missing something.

I'm a bit skeptical that we'll bering so many #6/#8 DMid first types. I just don't see it happening, I don't think he's going to quintuple down on the position after the Cardoso injury. Will be a really interesting edge piece to this roster.

 

so who do you start in that scenario I outlined? Weah, Luna, Aaronsen, Zendejas (if he’s there)?

 

Idk maybe the guy that starts in the Premier League?

 

First, that is a really good question. For me, it comes down to the opponent. For our first 2 matches, I probably start Luna as I think we'd be more attack minded. Vs Turki, I'd start Aaronsen as I think he provides more stability on defense. Weah more as a sub if we need a goal. Zendejas (if there) provides a wild card if we get desperate.

 

That Guardian prediction seems accurate to me but if that is our CM roster I plan to start drinking now.

Adams and Morris may provide a credible double pivot as far as ball winning but they are both small and short CM so set piece defense could suffer. Any of the others we will just be overrun defensively against quality opponents.

 

Who knows?

In the last camp, Poch literally built the team around Pulisic. Trying to put him in the best position possible to be successful. If he's not available, then the whole formation and strategy might be altered.

All we can go by is what Poch actually did in games for which Pulisic wasn't available.
At the 2026 Gold Cup, for which Pulisic wasn't available, Diego Luna started 5 of our 6 games. Also played in both pre-Gold Cup friendlies. Started the Turkey one.

Diego Luna has played in 17 of our last 20 games. If you were forced to put money on it, Luna would be the safest bet. But who knows?

Zendejas is barely called up and barely used during Poch's entire tenure.

 

I expect Luna to make it. There are going to be some mental make up selections combined with elements of the hot hand. Luna did well to get his goal scoring tally back on track after a quiet and downright slumbering finish to last year's MLS season. I think he makes it. I'm not even considering Zendejas, not because I necesaairly think he doesn't belong but rather because he hasn't been a priority yet so why would he be now. Feel somewhat similar with Morris. Obviously the injury to Cardoso definitely created openings for guys like Berhalter, Roldan, and Morris that were more slim a few weeks ago (when I thought only Roldan was a lock), now I imagine 1 of Berhalter and Morris gets in, not 2, especially if Tessmann is taken. I cannot see him taking all 4 of those guys, it will be 2-3 max.

 

Ditto, and both Berhalter and Reyna have considerably stronger reasons to be on the roster than a cultured left foot and little else.

 

BTFOOM has already answered for me but yes what he said.

In general, opponent not withstanding, I am starting Luna or Aaronson way before I am starting Reyna. Start of a match I want high energy players. That's not to say Reyna is a slug. But at this point I wouldn't trust his fitness to be near starting level.

 

My sense is the final three from that list are going to be Berhalter, Aaronson, and Robinson though it’s possible Reyna finds his way in at the expense of either Aaronson or Robinson. But that’s also what I think Pochettino would do. If it were up to me I’d find a way to take Morris and Gozo and probably not both of Roldan and Berhalter.

I do still think McGlynn is in strong consideration though also despite not being in most people’s projections.

 

I don't particularly want to start any of them if I don't have to. Each one of those guys has a fairly clear tactical use as a sub depending on what a game needs (and in Luna's case, I think he's also a personality that Poch wants to have in the squad with good reason).

 

McGlynn's almost certainly in the provisional squad. But I also think that he's probably one of the least-likely names on the provisional roster to make the final squad unless we suffer an injury crisis in attacking/creative midfield. Like two or more injuries. Zendejas, most likely an outside-the-bubble guy, is probably ahead of McGlynn. And I'd imagine that we'd probably opt for Morris before McGlynn, as well. Maaayybe even Tim Tillman.

 

I wouldn’t take him and I’d only take one of Berhalter, Reyna, and McGlynn but I have this weird feeling McGlynn is going to make it. Which I could be completely wrong about but he’s been a consistent call up for Pochettino whenever healthy. Whereas I think rightly or wrongly Zendejas has very little chance.

 

I added a couple of more names to consider that I also think are most likely ahead of McGlynn: Morris and (less certain) Tim Tillman. Worth considering that Poch has generally used McGlynn as an inverted winger more than as a central midfielder, basically in direct competition with Zendejas, and similarly in competition with Reyna, Luna, and Aaronson (who despite not being a starter is almost certainly in). And Tillman. And Weah/Dest, depending how how we set up. To say nothing of Pulisic and McKennie.

 

I don't think Berhalter is the 26th guy. I think he's in under 25 somewhere. Reyna, or *gasp* someone else not named Reyna, will be the 26th.

 

Going through the act of assembling a roster, you really get a sense for how many ways those last few spots can go. This is, in part, due to Poch’s tinkering/unpredictability. The Cardoso injury unfortunately eases the congestion a little in center mid, but this is what I might bet on for the 26 + 4 alternates + <55 provisional-ers (likely starters and alternates in bold):

GK
Freese, Turner, Brady (or you pick ‘m)
ALTS/Provisional: Schulte, Celentano, Steffen
*Hurt: Klinsmann
**any of those guys could be #3. Shoot, so could Horvath or Kochen. But this is my prediction.

CB
Richards, McKenzie, Ream, Trusty, Scally (back 3)
ALTS/Provisional: M. Robinson, Banks (uncommitted), Blackmon, Campbell, Zimmerman
*Hurt: CCV
**Scally is my versatility pick for LCB/OB. I put him here and Freeman later, though they both have versatility. I picked Miles to miss out, but he could just as easily overtake Trusty or even Ream—if Tim fails to recover health/form. Heck, or Scally. I just give a slight nod to Joe’s versatility across the back line, which is tournament-valuable.

OB/WB
A. Robinson, Dest, Freeman, Arfsten
ALTS/Provisional: Tolkin, Lund, Jones, Paredes
*This one picks itself, unless quibbling with where Scally or Weah is placed. The 4th outside back frequently goes unused in normal 23-man rosters, so that’s something to consider here as well.

CM
Adams, McKennie, Tillman, Tessman, Roldan, Berhalter
ALTS/Provisional: Morris, Busio, T. Tillman, Musah, Sands, LDLT
*Hurt: Cardoso
**This one is the toughest pick. I’m not thrilled with the pairing/formation here, but I had to choose something so I went aggressive. McKennie I prefer playing higher, but for roster selection awkwardness I put him here. Tillman too, to a lesser extent. Six personnel chosen for a shift to 3 in the middle. Morris was the hardest to leave off for me. I just can’t see Poch taking him ahead of the others. Also, I expect to see Musah in the provisional roster, if leaked to us. “Yusuf” is not forgotten!

AM
Pulisic, Weah, Luna, Aaronson, Reyna
ALTS/Provisional: Zendejas, McGlynn, Gozo
*Zendejas is tough to leave out. The other alternates I can see as X-factor inclusions. But Luna and Brendo have the requisite heart and Gio the panache. Many want Roldan or Berhalter to stay home to make way for Ale, I just bet against it. Weah fits here for aforementioned roster awkwardness, but it feels right to me. Could see some fun names from this spot in the provisional, if leaked. Miljevic, Clark, Sullivan, Booth. But that’s just for the sickos.

FW
Balogun, Pepi, Wright
ALTS/Provisional: White, Sargent, Dike, Downs, Vasquez
Hurt: Agyemang
*This one picks itself. Would be shocked if Poch goes any other direction. Also feel like no alternates will be picked, if only 4 alternates are allowed (assuming one of those is a GK).

That’s 44 for the full provisional list, if anyone’s counting. And why would you? Beyond that 44 (and the 4 injured reserves), the list gets into nichefolk like Regan, Maloney and Harriel or fresh meat like Albert.

Formations and tactics change, so “starters” will be adjusted game to game. I’m just predicting a likely core.

Again, save for 3-4 spots I doubt Poch is debating much here. Third goalkeeper, last defender, last CM, and last attacker. Aside from potential injuries or a wildcard like McGlynn or Gozo or Banks slotting in, which are very low probabilities, we really only have 26 field players seriously challenging for 23 spots. In my estimation. Feel free to tear my logic apart