Alexi Lalas Shocks Fans by Dropping Major USMNT Star from His Dream 2026 World Cup XI
Ex-USMNT standout Alexi Lalas has unveiled his preferred starting lineup for the 2026 FIFA World Cup, notably excluding Timothy Weah from his selection.
The United States squad aims to make an impact in the upcoming tournament, taking place primarily on American territory, with Mauricio Pochettino at the helm. Following a strong finish to the year with five consecutive matches without defeat and securing a promising group stage placement in December, anticipation for the USMNT has reached new heights.
Several positions in Pochettino's formation appear virtually guaranteed despite the coach's tendency to rotate his squads during his time in charge. Players such as Christian Pulisic, Chris Richards, and Antonee Robinson are expected starters provided they maintain their fitness.
Weston McKennie and Tyler Adams represent reliable choices in the central midfield positions.
However, Lalas included some unexpected selections in his World Cup roster, diverging from the preferences expressed by Landon Donovan and Tim Howard regarding the team composition.
Lalas's USMNT Starting XI for the 2026 World Cup (3-4-2-1)
Lalas's USMNT Starting XI for the 2026 World Cup (3-4-2-1)
Lalas began by selecting Matt Freese as the USMNT's first-choice goalkeeper, an unsurprising decision given how the keeper has displaced veteran Matt Turner for the number one position. Protecting Freese, the former USMNT star envisions a three-man defense featuring Miles Robinson, Chris Richards, and Tim Ream.
Robinson represents the first surprising choice from Lalas. While the center-back offers solid, well-rounded defensive qualities, Alex Freeman's outstanding performances during the Gold Cup and recent matches position him as the frontrunner for a starting role in Pochettino's defensive setup this June.
The wing-back positions feature Sergiño Dest on the right and Antonee Robinson on the left, while Weston McKennie and Tyler Adams anchor the central midfield. Adams suffered an MCL injury to his left knee in December, but the midfielder is anticipated to recover in time to complete the 2025–26 campaign with Bournemouth before joining the national team for World Cup duty.
Lalas's most debatable selections appear in the attacking third. The former defender chose Malik Tillman, Christian Pulisic, and Folarin Balogun for his front line, omitting Weah entirely. Despite experiencing irregular playing time and inconsistent form with the national team recently, the Marseille attacker remains widely considered the most reliable partner for Pulisic.
Bayer Leverkusen's Tillman, however, enjoyed a standout Gold Cup performance that clearly impressed Lalas. The 23-year-old contributed five goals and assists during the competition and played a crucial role in the USMNT's journey to the final, where they eventually lost to Mexico.
Whether Pochettino will choose to start the promising young playmaker over the experienced Weah remains uncertain, but the positive aspect is that either player could provide an impactful substitute option should the team require additional attacking threat.
Lalas's USMNT Starting XI: Matt Freese; Miles Robinson, Chris Richards, Tim Ream; Sergiño Dest, Weston McKennie, Tyler Adams, Antonee Robinson; Malik Tillman, Christian Pulisic; Folarin Balogun.