WC 2026 Roster Prediction #4

 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--------------