USMNT World Cup Bubble: Why Five Key Players Face Roster Uncertainty | OneFootball

The USMNT will reveal its official 26-player World Cup roster on May 26, but several established players face genuine uncertainty about their inclusion. Mark McKenzie has had a relatively strong season with Toulouse in France's Ligue 1, starting 27 of 29 matches, but has yet to become a key facet in Pochettino's USMNT. Part of that issue stems from the Stars and Stripes' constantly-changing formation, with McKenzie used to lining up consistently on the right of Toulouse's back-three, but having to shift his role to either a back-four or to the left or center positions of the back-three with the USMNT.

Formation Flexibility Creates Positional Competition

The USMNT can only bring so many center backs, and at this point, it's not clear which formation they will use, creating a foggy situation around fullbacks who can also play in the back three taking one of those roster spots. Crystal Palace's Chris Richards is a roster lock at the back, but after him, there's concern for every player. After jumping between a 3-4-3, 5-4-1, 4-2-3-1 and 4-3-3 formation in recent windows, it has become clear that Pochettino wants his end product to be in a 4-2-3-1, the same formation he fielded in the last game against Portugal. While the player pool has options to adapt, and each opponent will demand a different approach at the World Cup, we are going to base our prediction on the 4-2-3-1.

He's likely, but there's no assurance, as he contends with Charlotte FC's Tim Ream, Celtic's Auston Trusty, FC Cincinnati's Miles Robinson and potentially FC Augsburg's Noahkai Banks, creating a competitive environment where established players cannot assume inclusion.

Third Goalkeeper Battle Reflects Depth Questions

Schulte has made 34 in 14 starts, while Celentano has made 44 in 12. Whoever is selected will be behind New England Revolution's Matt Turner and New York City FC's Matt Freese in the pecking order, but will receive invaluable experience. It looks like it will come down to Patrick Schulte and Chris Brady, who are 25 and 22, respectively. They've both been in decent form in MLS, and neither is likely to touch the field in the 2026 tournament. So, with an eye on World Cup 2030, Pochettino and U.S. Soccer will give a nod to the future and take the young Chicago Fire keeper.

The goalkeeper competition illustrates broader roster dynamics where Pochettino must balance immediate tournament needs against long-term development considerations.

Gio Reyna's National Team Form vs Club Minutes

The final player, and the most controversial, is Gio Reyna, who Pochettino has said in no uncertain terms that his form for the national team is outweighing his lack of form and minutes in 2026 on the club level. He's started to play better for Borussia Mönchengladbach recently, but Reyna will be included on the roster for what Poch believes he can do in that national team jersey.

The 23-year-old has played just 487 minutes with Borussia Mönchengladbach this season and recently scored his first goal, an inconsequential one, in a 3-1 loss to Augsburg on May 9. This creates a precedent where national team performance can override club form, affecting how other bubble players are evaluated.

Impact of Johnny Cardoso's Injury

With Cardoso out, though, Aidan Morris and Cristian Roldan bring versatility and experience to the table, so you can pencil them in. The also-rans—Yunus Musah and Luca De La Torre—just haven't had enough time on the pitch in the run-up to the World Cup. However, 22-year-old Jack McGlynn could be an intriguing Wild Card if Poch wanted to add a young, dynamic midfielder to the group instead of the steady veteran hand of the 30-year-old Roldan.

Cardoso's absence creates a ripple effect throughout the midfield selection process, potentially opening opportunities for players who were previously on the periphery while closing doors for others who relied on specific tactical setups.

What This Means for Squad Construction

Barring a significant injury or worrisome fitness issue in the coming weeks, most of the 26-man roster is settled. A quick scan of the personnel and lineup choices since September is enough to narrow Pochettino's probable selections at a May 26 event in New York.

The uncertainty surrounding these five players reflects Pochettino's emphasis on tactical flexibility over positional certainty. Players who cannot adapt to multiple roles or formations face increased pressure, while those demonstrating versatility gain advantages regardless of their primary position. This approach prioritizes system fit over individual reputation, creating genuine competition even among established internationals.