USMNT 2026 World Cup roster outlook: Defensive midfield | OneFootball

To advance in the 2026 World Cup, the USMNT must be sound and stable defensively. With the tournament less than a year away, things are looking good at center back with Chris Richards and Tim Ream. But a stable of defensive midfielders is also key to protecting the goal. Therefore, it’s worth taking a look at the players who could be on the USMNT World Cup roster at that position.

Start with the captain

For the U.S., the defensive midfield position begins with team captain Tyler Adams. At age 26, Adams has 50 caps and is the unquestioned leader of the national team. One could argue that he doesn’t contribute enough to the attack, despite his incredible goal against Mexico in the 2024 Nations League final. One could also argue that he hasn’t fully lived up to his promise as a player. But he was a key cog in helping an injury-plagued Bournemouth side finish ninth in the Premier League last season, which is no small feat.

Barring an injury, it’s hard to imagine the USMNT kicking off its World Cup campaign without Adams in the starting lineup. Admittedly, injuries have sidelined him or hindered his play in the past. But Adams has a stable club situation and faces quality competition in the Premier League, so there is little reason to think that he won’t be in good form and ready to play in the World Cup next summer.

The understudies

Behind Adams, the U.S. has players who are capable of filling in, starting with Johnny Cardoso. While a terrible mistake against Türkiye and a subsequent ankle injury limited his minutes during the Gold Cup, better days are surely ahead for the New Jersey-born but Brazilian-raised midfielder. A move to Atletico Madrid this summer is a good move that has a chance to elevate Cardoso’s game. If Adams were unavailable, he would likely be the replacement. Cardoso will also be useful as a late-game substitute when the U.S. is trying to hold a lead.

Tanner Tessmann is another deep-playing midfielder who looks like a strong candidate for the World Cup roster despite having just eight caps. Tessman left MLS in 2021, and after three years with Venezia in Italy, he now plays for French giants Lyon. While not quite 24, Tessman was a part-time starter for Lyon last season and still has room to grow. Should Mauricio Pochettino play a double-pivot with two holding midfielders, Tessman would be a candidate to play alongside Adams or Cardoso, adding to the depth the USMNT has at that position.

More options

The depth at defensive midfield extends beyond the trio of Adams, Cardoso, and Tessman. Aidan Morris has put himself into the conversation after putting in consistent performances for Middlesbrough in the English Championship last season. He was also solid in USMNT friendlies last fall and should be on the radar.

Luca de la Torre could also be part of the conversation. A loan move to MLS in the prime of his career was a questionable move, but he proved to be an industrious and useful midfielder throughout the Gold Cup. He could serve in a variety of roles for the USMNT, including an option as a double-pivot alongside Adams or Cardoso. Keep in mind that de la Torre was on the 2022 World Cup roster despite not playing in the tournament and has 31 international caps, so he does bring experience to the table.

Digging even deeper into the USMNT depth at this position, the likes of Sean Zawadzki, Emeka Eneli, and Lennard Maloney could also be considered long shots to make the World Cup roster. All three have at least one international appearance, and if any of them can stand out over the next several months, Pochettino could consider including them.

Outside of an injury, Adams and Cardoso are poised to be the USMNT’s workhorses in the defensive midfield at the World Cup. Further depth at that position is likely to be provided by Tessman, with Morris having a chance to earn his way onto the roster as well. However, taking any additional defensive midfielders seems unlikely. The good news is the U.S. appears to have enough depth at this position, just in case injuries pop up between now and the World Cup.