At the 2022 World Cup, the USA men’s national team thrived because of its midfield, which was dubbed “MMA” because it featured Weston McKennie, Yunus Musah and Tyler Adams. Three and a half years later, Musah is not in the squad and has been replaced by Malik Tillman. So, there’s a new nickname. For the … Read more
LOS ANGELES STADIUM — I knew this USA team could cook, but it threw some special sauce in on Friday night. The USA gave us a little bit of everything — and then some — in the first half of its win over Paraguay. Mauricio Pochettino’s team was dominant from the opening whistle to the … Read more
As much as modern World Cup squads are typically constructed using a forensic examination of data points collected over a four-year cycle combined with the gut feelings of experienced national team coaches and their staffs, the United States’ roster for the 2026 FIFA World Cup was always going to be different. USA boss Mauricio Pochettino … Read more
Back in March, on the day Mauricio Pochettino named the United Sates’ penultimate roster before this summer’s FIFA World Cup, I asked the U.S. men’s national team coach how he’d weigh the more consequential decisions looming two months later: if making his 26-player World Cup squad would depend more on their form and fitness in … Read more
In 2022, Christian Pulisic never looked happier. The U.S. national team headliner was sat at a podium in a tent next to the Americans’ training base in Qatar basking in the glory of his first World Cup goal — a game winner against Iran that sent the Americans to the round of 16. Normally almost … Read more
A familiar face isn’t included in Alexi Lalas’ current top-five power rankings of U.S. men’s national team players. But there is a good reason for that. Christian Pulisic, who is expected to be a key player for the USA at this summer’s World Cup, has recently been hobbled by injuries after a strong first half … Read more
Just because the UEFA Champions League is on hiatus until knockout play begins later this month doesn’t mean that many of the USA’s World Cup hopefuls around Europe have been idle with their clubs overseas this week. Although it wasn’t a good week for some hoping to make coach Mauricio Pochettino’s roster for the 2026 … Read more