Whenever we conduct this most-fun, super-serious exploration of the United States men’s national team, it usually revolves around how that USMNT coach would organize the USA for an upcoming World Cup.
Considering the 2026 World Cup is ongoing, this exercise is a bit trickier than that. For one thing, extreme recency bias has combined with the sick, sick world of scapegoating — mimetic desire is real — to produce ridiculous ideas about invaluable players.
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For example, Christian Pulisic did not have a good World Cup and has not had a good seven months. For some reason, that’s turned into takes so melty hot they make the villains at the end of “Raiders of the Lost Ark” look cool as cucumbers. No, he should not be done with the national team. Yes, he’s still one of the best to ever put on the shirt. And no, in the next World Cup his then-31-year-old body won’t be rolling up with a cane asking about the senior discount.
That said, this exercise has always purported to be one measuring value and the Yanks right now sure look to be in shorter supply at maybe eight of the 10 other positions on the field than Pulisic’s attacking role. In other words, his replacement-level American player at the moment doesn’t seem like nearly the downgrade it is if — say — Chris Richards or Tyler Adams were to be out of picture in 2030.
So let’s take a short-term look at a long-term plan.
Who are the 25 best players in the USMNT player pool right now? Wait, we might need two lists...
So how far down the line would we go after this World Cup to find Pulisic? Does he drop out of the top two, the top five?
Yes, and no. There are a few things to consider here — not just for Pulisic but for the rest of the team.
One of the biggest is that it seems unlikely to us that Mauricio Pochettino is going to return to the USMNT. A new coach is going to give Pulisic every chance to be a star in his system and may even design his system around the AC Milan star.
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There will also be favorites who disappear into the ether. The USMNT had players like Wil Trapp, Kyle Beckerman, and Aaron Long become regulars at times under different coaches and play... not-so-much under others. Max Arfsten and Cristian Roldan found favorable places under Pochettino and may not be the cup of tea of the next boss. In a similar way, Yunus Musah and James Sands could find new leases on life.
And how would a list look if Pochettino re-ups for another four years (which would seem to have an expiration date of approximately one year considering he’s one of the top available club coaches on the market. It’s just about the only reason I wouldn’t want him to sign a new deal).
Well, we imagine he’d immediately be figuring out the best man to pair with Adams or at least the best option to give Adams rest over the course of a tournament. Johnny Cardoso (injured) and Tanner Tessmann (still staring at his phone in disbelief, we imagine) could’ve changed games at this World Cup. Would he call up different goalkeepers for the Nations League in September? Would he demand the best players show up for the Gold Cup next summer?
Top 25 players in the USMNT pool right now (presuming new coach)
- Chris Richards, Crystal Palace
- Folarin Balogun, AS Monaco
- Tyler Adams, Bournemouth
- Christian Pulisic, AC Milan
- Antonee Robinson, Fulham
- Malik Tillman, Bayer Leverkusen
- Timothy Weah, Marseille
- Johnny Cardoso, Atletico Madrid
- Alex Freeman, Villarreal
- Tanner Tessmann, Lyon
- Weston McKennie, Juventus
- Sergino Dest, PSV Eindhoven
- Sebastian Berhalter, Vancouver Whitecaps
- Giovanni Reyna, Borussia Monchengladbach
- Joe Scally, Borussia Monchengladbach
- Haji Wright, Coventry City
- Auston Trusty, Celtic
- Cameron Carter-Vickers, Celtic
- Ricardo Pepi, PSV Eindhoven
- Mark McKenzie, Toulouse
- Brenden Aaronson, Leeds United
- Diego Luna, Real Salt Lake
- Alex Zendejas, Club America
- James Sands, FC St. Pauli
- Tim Ream, Charlotte FC
First names out: Jack McGlynn (Houston Dynamo), Zavier Gozo (Real Salt Lake), Aidan Morris (Middlesbrough), Yunus Musah (Atalanta), Andrew Thomas (Seattle Sounders)
Top 25 players in the USMNT pool right now (if Pochettino stays)
- Chris Richards, Crystal Palace
- Tyler Adams, Bournemouth
- Christian Pulisic, AC Milan
- Folarin Balogun, AS Monaco
- Alex Freeman, Villarreal
- Malik Tillman, Bayer Leverkusen
- Antonee Robinson, Fulham
- Johnny Cardoso, Atletico Madrid
- Weston McKennie, Juventus
- Sergino Dest, PSV Eindhoven
- Sebastian Berhalter, Vancouver Whitecaps
- Giovanni Reyna, Borussia Monchengladbach
- Cristian Roldan, Seattle Sounders
- Ricardo Pepi, PSV Eindhoven
- Timothy Weah, Marseille
- Auston Trusty, Celtic
- Tim Ream, Charlotte FC
- Miles Robinson, FC Cincinnati
- Tanner Tessmann, Lyon
- Joe Scally, Borussia Monchengladbach
- Brenden Aaronson, Leeds United
- Alex Zendejas, Club America
- Max Arfsten, Columbus Crew
- Haji Wright, Coventry City
- Matt Freese, New York City FC
First names out: Patrick Agyemang (Derby County), Diego Luna (Real Salt Lake), Mark McKenzie, (Toulouse), Aidan Morris (Middlesbrough), Matt Turner (New England Revolution),
