Five USMNT Stars Fighting for Their World Cup Survival Ahead of 2026

There is no greater honor for a soccer player than wearing his country's jersey at the World Cup, and very few will ever get the chance to do so on home soil. That's what makes a spot on the 26-man roster of the U.S. men's national team this summer so highly sought after.

Since taking charge of the USMNT program in the fall of 2024, manager Mauricio Pochettino has cast a wide net to explore every avenue for this summer. He has called up more than 80 players and fielded over 60 of them in friendly matches and at the 2025 Concacaf Gold Cup. Now, he faces the daunting task of cutting that pool by more than half.

For some players, their World Cup spot appears all but guaranteed—their loved ones can go ahead and book hotels. For many others, however, it remains uncertain and will only become clear on May 26. Perhaps their families have opted for fully refundable reservations. 

Here, Sports Illustrated examines five players who are at risk of missing out on World Cup selection.

5. Chris Brady (Goalkeeper)

While the third goalkeeper rarely sees the field at a World Cup, the experience can be pivotal, if not career-defining. Some nations use the spot to bring along a seasoned veteran in a non-playing role, while others opt for a younger player with an eye toward developing a future World Cup starter. 

That is the dilemma the USMNT faces when selecting a third goalkeeper—and where Chicago Fire's Chris Brady emerges as a compelling option. The 22-year-old is the youngest among the third-choice candidates, which also include FC Cincinnati's Roman Celentano and Columbus Crew's Patrick Schulte. He has been fairly competitive with both throughout the 2026 season, recording 39 total saves across 13 MLS starts so far. Schulte has posted 34 saves in 14 starts, while Celentano has recorded 44 in 12. 

Whoever earns the spot will slot in behind New England Revolution's Matt Turner and New York City FC's Matt Freese, but will gain invaluable experience. At the same time, the post-tournament picture may reveal no clear-cut No. 1, prompting Pochettino to reassess his options between the posts.

4. Mark McKenzie (Center Back)

Mark McKenzie has enjoyed a solid season with Toulouse in France's Ligue 1, starting 27 of 29 matches, yet he has not established himself as a central figure in Pochettino's USMNT plans. Part of the problem lies in the team's ever-shifting formation—McKenzie is accustomed to lining up consistently on the right side of Toulouse's back three, but has been asked to adapt to either a back four or to the left or central positions of the back three with the national team. 

The USMNT can only accommodate so many center backs, and with the preferred formation still unclear, the situation is further complicated by fullbacks capable of playing in a back three potentially occupying those roster spots. 

Crystal Palace's Chris Richards appears to be a lock at the back, but beyond him, uncertainty surrounds every other candidate. Could McKenzie make the cut? It seems probable, but nothing is guaranteed, as he competes with Charlotte FC's Tim Ream, Celtic's Auston Trusty, FC Cincinnati's Miles Robinson and potentially FC Augsburg's Noahkai Banks, who features next on this list.

3. Noahkai Banks (Center Back)

Noahkai is the most fascinating name among potential USMNT additions, and the appeal of a home World Cup along with a guaranteed future role could prove decisive in shaping his international path as a U.S.-German dual national. 

The 19-year-old was a regular fixture at the back for FC Augsburg in the Bundesliga this season, starting 20 matches and contributing to a ninth-place finish. However, he turned down a March call-up to the USMNT while weighing his options with the German national program. That said, should he choose to represent the U.S., he would be an immediate selection—a World Cup appearance would not only cement his commitment to the team but also bring a fresh dimension to the defensive unit. 

"It's a difficult decision regarding my nationality – I'm very torn," Banks said in a recent interview. "Hopefully, I'll have a long career ahead of me, so I want to think carefully and speak with my family...I don't want to make it dependent on a World Cup. I'm just happy to be in this position and to be able to make this decision. We'll see what happens."

2. Zavier Gozo (Forward)

Zavier Gozo has been in outstanding form, contributing six goals and four assists in his first 13 MLS appearances this season, and could make history as just the third teenager to feature on a USMNT World Cup roster, following Julian Green in 2018 and Yunus Musah in 2022. 

He has yet to attend a USMNT camp, which counts against him. However, his versatility as a right midfielder, right winger and right wingback could offset that concern, given the breadth of his skill set. 

His blistering pace, ability in one-on-one situations and dynamic attacking qualities make him a potential match-winner, and granting him World Cup experience at such a young age could shape the trajectory of his career—something he has openly acknowledged, expressing his ambition to one day move to Europe. 

USMNT assistant coach Jesús Perez has been attending MLS matches over recent weeks and was present for Real Salt Lake's game against FC Dallas before subtly indicating he had taken note of Gozo, as well as Diego Luna, who, if fit, is likely to make the squad. 

"[There were] a few players, young players on both sides," Perez told Apple TV that night. "Very important for us to keep an eye on some of them. Obviously, Luna is the one who has been in more games with us, but there are a few other players who caught our eye, and it's important to be here today."

1. Gio Reyna (Midfielder)

Gio Reyna's situation was shaped by one key remark from Pochettino back in March: "He's a very special talent and very special player. And I think to give the possibility [of playing for the U.S.], even if he's not playing too much in his club, it can be very useful for us."

Despite accumulating just 510 minutes across four starts and 19 appearances in the Bundesliga with Borussia Mönchengladbach this season, Reyna remains a viable option for the USMNT thanks to his vision, intelligent movement and close-control dribbling. 

While he has struggled to make an impact in key moments—including underwhelming performances in the March friendlies against Belgium and Portugal, and netting his only Bundesliga goal as a consolation strike in a 3–1 defeat—he possesses undeniable raw talent, even if current form is lacking.

Given all of this, conventional wisdom would suggest Reyna is an unlikely pick for the USMNT this summer. Yet, for Pochettino, that clearly isn't the conclusion—and it will ultimately come down to whether he continues to prioritize talent over form, or whether his thinking has evolved, considering Reyna has done little to strengthen his case.