The 2025-26 European Season is Make or Break for the USMNT Core | OneFootball

For many USMNT players, this European season isn’t just about solidifying a place on their respective club teams — it’s about trying to position themselves to make the 2026 FIFA World Cup squad. We’ve broken things down into tiers, as some players are dealing with specific challenges while others are kicking and scratching to capture Mauricio Pochettino’s attention.

For Mauricio Pochettino, things are far from ideal with the United States men’s national team. Failure to win the Nations League and a heartbreaking final loss to arch rivals Mexico at the Gold Cup have left a sour taste in many mouths. Worse yet, strong arguments can be made that the national team has regressed under the often-bewildered Argentine manager.

With a modest 10–6 record, Pochettino has found few answers — and has had even fewer time with a full-strength roster. And when it comes to his European-based contingent, many of whom can’t be relied on to show up for camps, it’s now make or break.

Below are the groupings of several USMNT players who need to make an impact in Europe, or at the very least, prove their value as the nation approaches a home World Cup.

The Locked Starters

Entering his third season at AC Milan, Christian Pulisic is coming off a career best 2024-25 campaign that saw him record 17 goals and 10 assists. But while statistically it’s been a successful run with Milan for Captain America, the club has had middling results, and is on its fourth manager since Pulisic joined the team.

Early signs under Massimiliano Allegri indicate Milan is still Rafael Leão’s team, with Pulisic being deployed on the wing or in the middle.

Playing a supporting role has served Pulisic well in the past and could work again this season. But another slow year for Milan might see Pulisic labeled a “good player on a bad team.” Talk in Italy about a potential overhaul if things don’t improve has picked up steam. So while staying healthy and performing well are Pulisic’s top priorities, the cloud of an uncertain future looms if Milan starts slow.

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Weston McKennie once again finds himself in a familiar situation at Juventus: an unsure future. In the final year of his contract, extension negotiations haven’t progressed, and just as there were last season, grumblings of a sale have bubbled beneath the surface.

But as usual, McKennie may just stay and once again become one of the team’s most serviceable performers — perhaps even its captain. Expect more of the same, provided Juventus rebounds from recent down seasons. If he’s sold, choosing the right club will be critical to maintaining his level heading into the World Cup.

Then, there’s Antonee Robinson, who has been the USMNT’s most consistent player. If he can reproduce even half of what he did last season at Fulham, Pochettino will sleep easier come next summer.

Should-Be Starters That Need to Perform

Ricardo Pepi has a massive season ahead at PSV. He needs to prove beyond any doubt that he’s the best striker in what remains a weak pool for the U.S. If he becomes a consistent scorer and starter, it’s a no-brainer — no other striker in the pool has Pepi’s poaching instincts. But he needs to shine.

Chris Richards ended last season strongly with Crystal Palace and capped it off with an FA Cup win. While many fans remember that strong finish, Richards was also prone to mistakes throughout the campaign. This season, the expectation is clear: he must show maturity and consistency, as he’s likely to be the leader of the U.S. backline at the World Cup.

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Tim Weah is fresh off a move to Marseille, following in the footsteps of his father George. The move to a new league was much needed, as he’s yet to establish himself as an everyday starter in his career thus far. While he’s proven himself to be a versatile and dynamic option, he needs to show that he’s more than just a utility player. Cementing himself as a staple in the Marseille lineup could go a long way for his confidence going into the World Cup.

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Tyler Adams and Sergiño Dest share a single goal: avoid injury. Adams, when healthy, is highly effective and is a key cog in the USMNT midfield. Dest, meanwhile, remains an enigma. Can he return to his earlier, confident form? He has one season to get back on track. On the bright side, there really isn’t any serious competition on the national team that can challenge him at fullback.

Ready for a Leap

Malik Tillman has seen his career skyrocket. Now back in the Bundesliga with Bayer Leverkusen, the 23-year-old has a high ceiling. The hope is he can carry over his strong PSV form to his new club and prove his worth on a bigger stage after an up-and-down Gold Cup.

Johnny Cardoso landed a big move to Atlético Madrid — but not because of his national team form, that’s for sure. He’s already worked under solid managers, but now steps into the intense world of Diego Simeone. The expectation? Add more bite to his game. The key question: can Cardoso finally translate his club success to the national team?

Tanner Tessmann’s move to Lyon has been unstable — an on-again, off-again starter. He did manage to end the season with more regular playing time as a pivot. If he wants a World Cup spot, he’ll need to elevate his game. After being one of the more puzzling omissions from the Gold Cup roster, he has something to prove.

A healthy Folarin Balogun improves the U.S. striker pool. But an on-fire Balogun could give the team real belief heading into a major tournament. At Monaco, he’s been inconsistent, and has struggled to stay healthy (sound familiar?). A strong season could give him the edge over Pepi in the striker battle, which will have a massive impact on how the U.S. will play at the World Cup.

Fringe Players With a Lot to Prove

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Center back Mark McKenzie is clearly not one of Pochettino’s favorites in defense. He’ll need to be rock solid in France to earn consideration. Same goes for Cameron Carter-Vickers, who’s either been injured or simply not in the conversation. Playing for Celtic may not be enough to impress the Argentine manager, and CCV will need a standout season.

Joe Scally is solid and reliable, but rarely spectacular. A season in which he can add more attacking punch could push him closer to challenging Dest for the right back role.

Another right back that has shown promise is Marlon Fossey. Now in his fourth season with Standard Liege, the 26-year-old Fossey deserves more looks after his two USMNT appearances. The next roster call-up will go a long way in revealing where he stands in the depth chart.

Brenden Aaronson was a major disappointment at the Gold Cup. In a midfield now packed with names — but not necessarily quality — a strong Premier League season with newly-promoted Leeds could help him rebuild his standing. Right now, Aaronson’s national team stock has plummeted. He’s very much on the outside looking in.

Gianluca Busio and Aidan Morris looked like they could be new midfield pieces, but as call-ups came and went, European-based players were oddly overlooked. Both now find themselves competing with MLS options. Morris has settled well in England with Middlesborough, but playing in the Championship won’t turn heads. Busio is back in Serie B after Venezia was relegated last season. While he’s thrived in the Italian second flight, a move to a mid-table Serie A side could help Busio’s case, as he has the tools to be a very serviceable link-up player alongside Pulisic, Weah, and McKennie.

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Noahkai Banks is only 18, but if he can put together commanding Bundesliga performances with Augsburg, he could sneak onto a team that’s still searching for stability in defense. The U.S. back line, even with experienced players, remains flimsy.

The U.S. also has a crop of strikers who are long shots, but not totally out of the picture. Damion Downs, Patrick Agyemang, and Haji Wright — all in the Championship — aren’t quite A-list names on paper, but poor seasons from higher-ranked strikers might open the door. Of the three, Wright appears the most capable of playing at a high level, plus he can also feature on the wing.

In Total Limbo

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Gio Reyna’s proposed move to Parma is stalled. Even if it goes through, there are no guarantees. A fully fit and confident Reyna could be a game-changer — but what version of him will we see? A lot of questions, and little time for answers.

Yunus Musah had a disappointing season at AC Milan. Despite rumors of a transfer, it looks like he’s staying. Can he finally show improvement and add something to his game?

Josh Sargent was left off the Gold Cup roster for “footballing reasons.” Pochettino doesn’t seem to rate him — and probably won’t if he stays in the Championship. He reportedly turned down a move to Wolfsburg in hopes of landing with a Premier League team, but it’s hard to imagine a top-flight team gambling on a striker who seems to only perform well in the second tier — a sign that Premier League clubs aren’t buying the Championship hype either.

Auston Trusty, the other half of Celtic’s American defensive duo, has neither impressed Pochettino nor Celtic fans. Early signs suggest he could start this season, but his form will need to improve drastically as Celtic fans have been critical of the American.