Mauricio Pochettino’s USMNT Attacking Options | OneFootball

Whether we like it or not, the increase from 32 teams to 48 for the 2026 World Cup and beyond means there will be an extra round of matches. Indeed, following the group stage, a round of 32 will take place. This means that the winners will play eight games, rather than seven, to win the tournament.

As such, strength in depth is as paramount as ever this summer, especially with the temperatures soaring across the USA, Canada and Mexico. Being able to rotate players throughout the tournament may be a factor in who progresses far and who goes home early.

Mauricio Pochettino is certainly under a lot of pressure to lead the USNMT deep in the tournament, but he could count on a plethora of attacking options to help aid his cause.

Folarin Balogun should lead the line

Balogun has been in superb form for AS Monaco this season. At the of writing, he has notched 17 goals in all competitions, with five coming in the Champions League.

Furthermore, his form under Pochettino proves that he will be the undisputed No. 9 for USNMT this summer. Although he went scoreless against Belgium and Portugal in the previous two friendly matches, Balogun did score three goals across five games prior to those games.

But with the games coming thick and fast at the tournament, Pochettino will likely bring another two strikers.

Haji Wright should be his second choice. A total of 16 goals in 36 Championship games has helped push Coventry to the brink of promotion back to the Premier League.

Add in seven international goals – including one against the Netherlands at the 2022 World Cup – suggests that Wright is a solid option who clearly thrives on the big occasions.

Ricardo Pepi now has a greater shot of being called up to the squad, as Patrick Agyemang will miss the competition due to a ruptured Achilles when playing for Derby.

Pepi featured for only 19 minutes during the two recent friendlies, grabbing an assist against Belgium. However, he has played just five times since Pochettino took over as national team coach. Despite recovering well from a serious knee injury, both Balogun and Wright are ahead of him in the pecking order right now.

Two Critical USMNT Playmakers

Pochettino has experimented in recent matches, opting to use a 3-4-2-1 system in games against Australia, Paraguay and Uruguay. The result? Nine goals scored and just three conceded.

This could well be the formation that he uses in the opener against Paraguay on June 13, utilizing two number 10s in Christian Pulisic and Weston McKennie. The pair have been performing to a high level in Serie A this season. Pulisic has registered 13 goal contributions in 29 matches with AC Milan.

McKennie has scored nine goals and chipped in with seven assists of his own with Juventus, including some clutch contributions during Champions League.

Other Positive Midfield Options

Behind them, there is a whole host of players who are capable of making a positive impact in this position.

Malik Tillman is someone who has shone in recent years. A move to Bayer Leverkusen last summer has seen the attacking midfielder score six goals in the German top flight.

Brenden Aaronson is another who has played a key role for their club this term. Goals against Manchester United and Newcastle, along with a string of solid performances have helped Leeds move away from the drop zone in the Premier League. 

Add in nine goals across 57 caps, Aaronson should get the nod this summer.

What of Gio Reyna and Diego Luna? The former came off the bench against Uruguay and registered an assist, while Luna scored in the same game.

Reyna has struggled for gametime this season at club level, however, making just 14 appearances for Borussia Monchengladbach. Luna already has one goal from his first three MLS games this term.

Both have demonstrated their talents for the USMNT previously, but will Pochettino take both? That remains to be seen.

What we do know is the 54-year-old has a strength in depth across the forward area that previous coaches could only have dreamed of in the pursuit of success.