USMNT 2026 World Cup depth chart: Who operates best in midfield? | OneFootball

In recent years, both the quality and depth of the USMNT midfield have grown considerably. Ahead of the 2026 World Cup, this looks like it could be a strength of the team, as there are players who have made a strong case to be starters, with several other players also making a strong case for a roster spot. In fact, there may not be room on the World Cup roster for everybody. It also remains unclear how everyone will fit into Mauricio Pochettino’s system and tactics. Nevertheless, let’s try to make sense of the USMNT midfield ahead of the 2026 World Cup.

The starters (we think)

It wouldn’t be a stretch to pencil in Weston McKennie and Malik Tillman as the starters in the USMNT’s World Cup opener. Despite occasional hiccups with his off-field behavior, McKennie has long been a lock to be in the starting lineup for the U.S. His skills and versatility make him a fit regardless of the formation and tactics. Unless he’s hurt, it’d be shocking if McKennie weren’t roaming the midfield for the U.S. throughout the 2026 World Cup.

Meanwhile, Tillman surely solidified a spot on the World Cup roster with his play during the Gold Cup. He probably did enough to position himself as a starter, assuming he continues his ascent following his move to Bayer Leverkusen this summer. Tillman can play centrally in the no. 10 position or play in a wide position, so he should fit whatever Pochettino wants to do tactically. In addition to his three goals and two assists during the Gold Cup, Tillman’s work rate and willingness to help defensively also make it easy to envision him not being on the field at the start of the World Cup.

Riddle wrapped in an enigma

Behind McKennie and Tillman, the USMNT has a set of players with plenty of talent and potential but loads of questions. Gio Reyna is the embodiment of that. On his best day, Reyna should be an automatic starter for the USMNT. Just remember how he slalomed through Mexican defenders in 2022 or his goal against Mexico in the 2024 Nations League final. However, a lack of health and consistent club form have set him back. But if he can find a good home and play consistent minutes, Reyna could have a big role to play next summer.

Yunus Musah also falls into that category. Like Reyna, he’s just 22 but was a part of the 2022 World Cup roster. He’s also in need of a new home after falling out of favor at AC Milan last spring. Musah has also had a hard time settling into a consistent role under Pochettino, who has sometimes deployed him as a winger. Despite those questions, Musah is talented enough to make an impact at the 2026 World Cup if he can improve his club form and find a home in Pochettino’s system.

Brenden Aaronson finds himself in a similar position. He played in all three Group Stage matches at the last World Cup and has often looked like a core member of the national team. However, he also struggled for minutes during the Gold Cup, failing to impress Pochettino and solidify a spot on the World Cup roster. After contributing nine goals and two assists in Leeds United’s English Championship title last season, Aaronson has an opportunity to prove himself in the Premier League and show Pochettino that he can contribute next summer. However, Aaronson could also be stuck behind Tillman and Reyna on the depth chart among attacking midfielders, making a World Cup roster spot far from certain.

The Newcomers

While McKennie, Reyna, Musah, and Aarsonson can all be considered World Cup incumbents, there is a new crop of midfielders hoping to earn their way onto the roster. Jack McGlynn might be the most intriguing of the group. He opened the USMNT’s summer with a spectacular goal against Türkiye. Despite losing his spot in the starting lineup during the Gold Cup, McGlynn continued to make appearances off the bench. His service on set pieces also gives McGlynn a skill set that Pochettino may want on the World Cup roster.

Of course, the same can be said of Sebastian Berhalter, who also contributed during the Gold Cup with on set pieces. He also offers a little more positional versatility than McGlynn, which can be useful during a long tournament. On the other hand, there were also moments when Berhalter looked out of his depth at the international level.

The USMNT midfield options extend even beyond players who made an impression during the Gold Cup. Gianluca Busio shouldn’t be overlooked as a useful midfielder, as he has 17 international caps and proven himself as a regular with Italian side Venezia over the past four seasons. Paxten Aaronson and Quinn Sullivan, despite not seeing much of the field during the Gold Cup, are also on the radar. Even Djordje Mihailovic and Benjamin Cremaschi could receive consideration if they perform at club level.

The bottom line

If nothing else, the USMNT knows that there is no shortage of options in midfield, including those with World Cup experience. McKennie is a stable force, while Tillman looks like a star on the rise. If any combination of Reyna, Musah, and Aaronson can start to play anywhere close to their best between now and the start of the World Cup, the U.S. could have a stacked midfield. It also doesn’t hurt to have players like McGlynn, Berhalter, and Busio on standby. It remains to be seen how things will play out, but the USMNT should feel comfortable with the look of its midfield heading into 2026.