WC 2026 Roster Prediction #4
GKs
Starter: Matt Turner
Zach Steffen
Matt Freese
In consideration: Patrick Schulte, Ethan Horvath, Drake Callendar, Diego Kochen
With a fresh start at Lyon, I predict that Turner will win his starting spot back.
Fullbacks
RB Starter: Sergino Dest
LB Starter: Antonee Robinson
Joe Scally
Max Arfsten
In consideration: Alex Freeman, Caleb Wiley, Marlon Fossey, Shaq Moore, Bryan Reynolds, John Tolkien
Given how poorly we played in Concacaf Nations League, Jedi might have an argument to be the most influential player on our squad, certainly no worse than 2nd behind Pulisic. Every WC, there's a couple picks that defies logic, and I'm guessing Max will be one of them.
Centerbacks
Starter: Chris Richards
Starter: Tim Ream
Mark McKenzie
Cameron Carter-Vickers
Walker Zimmerman
In consideration: Miles Robinson, Auston Trusty, Noahkai Banks
Chris Richards cemented his spot, given his team-MVP performance in the Gold Cup. Pochettino shows his absolute faith in Tim Ream since the warmup auditions for McKenzie, Miles, etc yielded them almost no minutes next to Richards.
Midfielders
Starter: Malik Tillman
Starter: Tyler Adams
Starter: Weston McKennie
Sebastian Berhalter
Johnny Cardoso
Paxton Aaronson
In consideration: Yunus Musah, Luca de la Torre, Gianluca Busio, Jack McGlynn, James Sands, Aidan Morris, Tanner Tessmann, Timothy Tillman
Yunus's refusal of the Gold Cup call-up on top of his poor year may have bumped him out of the starting line-up, especially with Tillman's monstrous GC performance. In fact, Yunus might have been bumped himself off the WC roster completely in favor of Berhalter. I think Tillman earned Pochettino's trust, and will be the starting 10 next summer.
Wingers
Starter: Christian Pulisic
Starter: Timmy Weah
Gio Reyna
Diego Luna
Haji Wright
In consideration: Yunus Musah, Caden Clark, Alejandro Zendejas, Djordje Mihailovic, Brendan Aaronson
Diego Luna might be all the rage right now, but Pulisic and Weah are still my predicted starters on the wings. I don't see how Pochettino will continue to view Musah as a wing.
Striker
Starter: Folarin Balogun
Ricardo Pepi
Patrick Agyemang
In consideration: Josh Sargent, Damion Downs
This will come down to whomever is in form come next May. Sargent, Downs, Agyemang, Pepi, and even Wright will all grind it out in England to earn roster spots, but may all sit on the bench anyway behind Balogun, if healthy.
----------------Balogun-----------
Pulisic----------------------Weah
----------------Tillman----------
--------Adams----McKennie------
Jedi---Ream---Richards--Dest
---------------Turner--------------