Jeff CarlisleApr 2, 2026, 09:10 AM ET
Close Jeff Carlisle covers MLS and the U.S. national team for ESPN FC.Multiple Authors
The March window has come and gone, and with it the final chance for players to prove themselves in front of U.S. men’s national team coach Mauricio Pochettino. The hope was that Pochettino would get some clarity as to which way the roster winds are blowing, but if anything, the picture surrounding the team seems cloudier than it was before. Pochettino doesn’t necessarily mind this, given his preference for making sure his players are comfortable with being uncomfortable, but the reality is that a combination of injuries and some lackluster performances have created additional uncertainty.
The present state of the depth chart also aligns with Pochettino’s comment, when he announced the most recent list of players on March 17, that this wasn’t his final roster. It makes sense given that so much can and probably will happen between now and the final roster announcement on May 26. And following a window in which the U.S. fell 5-2 defeat to Belgium and a 2-0 setback to Portugal, it seems as if there are more questions than answers.
With less than two months to go until the final FIFA World Cup roster is announced, here’s how the U.S. depth chart is playing out.
Goalkeepers (3)
Matt Freese | 27 years old | New York City FC
It was a bit of a surprise when Freese found himself on the bench for the Belgium match given that he had started 12 in a row, although he probably benefited from the night off given the collectively poor performance by the team’s defense. Reinstated to the starting XI on Tuesday, he was sharp enough against Portugal that he probably solidified his spot as the team’s starting keeper. Now he just needs to maintain his form at the club level.
Matt Turner | 31 | New England Revolution (on loan from Lyon)
Turner wasn’t the main culprit in the aforementioned defeat to Belgium, delivering some sharp saves, but he also gave up some juicy rebounds that were either converted into goals or should have been. His distribution also was suspect at times. That said, he at least he looks to have secured the No. 2 spot behind Freese.
Chris Brady | 22 | Chicago Fire FC
Brady has made some stealthy progress in terms of securing the No. 3 goalkeeper spot at the World Cup. He has been solid so far this season for Chicago, with a goals prevented mark of 1.17, and he was preferred to the Columbus Crew‘s Patrick Schulte, who was called in only when Roman Celentano was injured. At this point, he just needs to put his head down and stay consistent, and the spot is his.
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Center backs (5)
Chris Richards | 26 | Crystal Palace
Richards has been a mainstay in the back for most of the past year, and his absence because of a knee injury against Belgium reinforced that belief. It’s tempting to put him in bubble wrap for the rest of the club season, but sharpness is a goal now as well. He should get it at Palace.
Tim Ream | 38 | Charlotte FC
Has Father Time finally caught up with Ream? That will be one of the questions Pochettino faces in the remaining months before the World Cup. There’s still time for Ream to sharpen his form, and it should help if he’s paired with Richards.
Mark McKenzie | 27 | Toulouse
McKenzie endured a tough night against Belgium, but he remains the primary backup to Ream and Richards at the moment. His steady playing time at club level means he also should maintain that spot going forward.
Miles Robinson | 29 | FC Cincinnati
A groin injury meant that Robinson didn’t even get any game time to show what he could do in the most recent window. Does that make his spot vulnerable? It might if he can’t shake off the injury. That would be a brutal development for a player who missed out on the 2022 World Cup because of an Achilles injury.
Auston Trusty | 27 | Celtic
The March window wasn’t as successful for Trusty as November’s was, as he looked shaky in the first half against Portugal — including his positioning on the first goal — even as things improved for him in the second half. Out of the center backs on this hypothetical roster, his spot is the most under threat. Finding some consistency at Celtic in what has been an up-and-down season is critical at this stage.
Fullbacks (4)
Sergiño Dest | 25 | PSV Eindhoven
The hamstring injury Dest suffered on March 8 was a blow for the U.S. Just how big remains to be seen. He has publicly put forward a positive attitude with regard to his recovery, but when he’ll be back is still to be determined. For now, Dest is still a presumed starter, either at right back or right wingback, but there will be some doubts until he makes it back onto the field.
Antonee Robinson | 28 | Fulham
One of the positives from the window was the return of “Jedi.” Robinson hadn’t played for the U.S. since November 2024, primarily because of a knee injury, but he looked solid in the two games, and even produced an assist against Belgium when Weston McKennie redirected his corner kick. With there now appearing to be little depth at the position, the U.S. needs him on the field in a big way.
The March international window was Mauricio Pochettino’s last chance to see U.S. players in camp before he names his World Cup roster in May. Illustration by ESPNAlex Freeman | 21 | Villarreal
Freeman was one of the few players to improve his profile during the March window. He was plenty effective getting forward and held up well defensively. If he can carve out a few more minutes with Villarreal, he’ll be set.
Max Arfsten | 24 | Columbus Crew
Arfsten’s stint against Belgium was one to forget as his suspect one-on-one defending was exposed. His spot on the World Cup roster should be secure given the minutes he has already logged under Pochettino, but he’ll need to raise his game if he’s called upon this summer.
Central midfielders (5)
Tyler Adams | 27 | AFC Bournemouth
Just as Adams seemed to be fully recovered from the knee injury he sustained in December, he was felled by a quadriceps injury just days before the roster was announced, ruling him out for the window. Adams is expected to be back in the next week or two, and U.S. fans will be hoping he can get a consistent run of matches as he remains a vital cog in the midfield. The team badly missed his tenacity against Belgium and Portugal.
Cristian Roldan | 30 | Seattle Sounders FC
Roldan plays with a style and grit that Pochettino values. He’s also a glue guy in the locker room, meaning his value extends beyond the field. It was mildly surprising to see him log only 56 minutes in the two March friendlies, but as things stand, his name should among those called when the roster is named in May.
Johnny Cardoso | 24 | Atlético Madrid
U.S. fans are still waiting to see an inspired performance from Cardoso. He played 45 minutes against Belgium and then came off during a pre-planned substitution because of a minor leg ailment. It could be argued that his play against Belgium was his best in a U.S. shirt, but that is a low bar. He was … OK. At this stage, it feels as if Pochettino would be taking a gamble by naming him to the final roster, but for now he keeps his spot.
Tanner Tessmann | 24 | Lyon
Tessmann’s pairing with Cardoso just seemed awkward, for whatever reason. Operating beside Adams appears to be a more natural fit, especially with his height allowing him to win plenty of aerial duels. Tessmann has been scuffling a bit of late at Lyon. Can he finish the club season strong?
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Klinsmann hopes the USMNT learn from Belgium and Portugal defeats
Jurgen Klinsmann reacts to the USMNT’s back-to-back defeats at the hands of Belgium and Portugal.
Sebastian Berhalter | Midfielder | 24 | Vancouver Whitecaps
Berhalter didn’t exactly dazzle in the two matches, but compared to the competition, he still helped himself. His pinpoint delivery on set pieces is unquestioned, but he has come out second best at times in physical duels at international level. Pochettino will need to weigh those two areas carefully.
Attackers (6)
Christian Pulisic | 27 | AC Milan
The U.S. maestro is in a funk, no question. No goals in 2026 for club or country, and he has gone eight consecutive matches with the U.S. without scoring, the longest such spell of his career. He will score again, of course, but his form will be watched closely during the stretch run of the club season. The U.S. badly needs him at his peak.
Weston McKennie | 27 | Juventus
A goal against Belgium continued his fine run of form although he wasn’t as sharp against Portugal, including a giveaway that led to Francisco Trincão‘s 37th-minute opener. Pochettino doesn’t seem any closer to figuring out what McKennie’s best position is on this team. Might an Adams-McKennie pairing in the center of midfield be in the works? The pre-World Cup training camp is the last chance to find out.
Timothy Weah | 26 | Marseille
Weah looked way more comfortable operating from the wing against Portugal than he did as a right back against Belgium. Of course, he wasn’t having to defend Jérémy Doku on Tuesday either. It will be interesting to see if Weah keeps his spot if and when Dest returns.
Malik Tillman | 23 | Bayer Leverkusen
Tillman remains a confounding presence. He often doesn’t seem as if he’s doing much, but then at the end of the game, you see some decent numbers. He led the team in chances created Tuesday with two, but attempted only 14 passes. He’ll need to regain his mojo at club level to cement his spot with the U.S. going into the World Cup.
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Brenden Aaronson | 25 | Leeds United
The designated pest for the U.S. wasn’t used much in March — only 11 minutes — although he still seems likely to get on the plane to New York for the roster announcement. Like Roldan, he’s another hard worker who is good for the locker room.
Alejandro Zendejas | Midfielder | 28 | América
Like Gio Reyna, Zendejas has been hit by injuries of late. The difference between the two is that when healthy, Zendejas actually plays with his club, and in a creative role. He wasn’t quite healthy enough to take part in this window, but if he can achieve a semblance of fitness, he should be on the plane. The question is: will he?
Forwards (3)
Folarin Balogun | 24 | AS Monaco
At first glance, Balogun didn’t have the greatest of windows — three shots, with only one on goal — but he also wasn’t provided with much in the way of service. His club form still means he should be the starting striker when June arrives.
Patrick Agyemang | Forward | 25 | Derby County
Agyemang bagged a consolation goal against Belgium and had extended minutes against Portugal. Given that he was preferred over Ricardo Pepi, one gets the sense that the Derby County player has moved up a spot in the striker pecking order.
Ricardo Pepi | 23 | PSV Eindhoven
Pepi’s window was downright bizarre. He came off the bench against Belgium and his pressing helped create a goal for Agyemang. His reward? Watching Pulisic play as a central striker and failing to get off the bench against Portugal. You don’t want to read too much into this, but being overlooked had to grate on Pepi. His spot looks far from secure.
On the bubble
Roman Celentano | Goalkeeper | 25 | FC Cincinnati
After initially being named to the March roster, Celentano was forced to withdraw as a precaution to guard against injury. It doesn’t sound as if he’ll be sidelined for long, but the timing is rough nonetheless.
Patrick Schulte | Goalkeeper | 25 | Columbus Crew
His initial exclusion from the roster — he was called in to replace Celentano — was a head-scratcher given how he rebounded from a rough opening weekend in MLS play to turn in some solid outings. Now he appears to be behind Brady in the goalkeeper race.
Zack Steffen | Goalkeeper | 31 | Colorado Rapids
Already a long shot to make the World Cup roster, Steffen sustained a shoulder injury in March, although he was back in the lineup for Colorado’s most recent match. In another universe, he’s healthy for last year’s Gold Cup and rises up the depth chart. The injury bug scuttled those hopes.
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