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The 2026 World Cup roster cutoff is rapidly closing in on manager Mauricio Pochettino and his U.S. men's national team coaching staff. Given some of the contenders' recent outings, the selection process will be anything but straightforward.
The most recent week of club action saw U.S. players shine in the Premier League, with Brenden Aaronson recording a pair of assists across two matches and Tyler Adams finding his rhythm at Bournemouth after a lengthy injury layoff. In MLS, Diego Luna and Cristian Roldan each contributed multiple goal involvements, while the likes of Sebastian Berhalter, Zavier Gozo and other potential World Cup hopefuls also delivered impressive performances.
Though he doesn't feature in our top three stars of the week, U.S. forward Folarin Balogun is closing in on history in France after converting a penalty in Monaco's 2–2 draw with Auxerre, bringing his tally to eight goals in his last eight Ligue 1 outings. Should he score in nine consecutive matches, he would become only the third player to achieve the feat, joining Vahid Halilhodžić in 1984–85 and Zlatan Ibrahimović in 2015–16.
With another thrilling week wrapped up, Sports Illustrated breaks down the standout USMNT performers from the past seven days.
Diego Luna
Diego Luna's second start since returning from injury produced one of his finest displays for Real Salt Lake, as he netted a goal and two assists in the opening half while delivering an electric attacking presence across 70 minutes.
Although injury ruled him out of the March USMNT camp, his performance against San Diego highlighted the distinctive qualities that set him apart within the U.S. player pool and why he could force his way onto the World Cup roster.
Diego Luna, that was wild 😱
📺 Apple TV: https://t.co/qtmtgJxfmQ pic.twitter.com/1qd7Qblbi9
He got the evening underway with a sharp opportunistic moment, pressing aggressively on San Diego's goal kick and catching goalkeeper Duran Ferree off balance, before driving the ball into the net. While it was a notable highlight and reflected his predatory instincts, it was far from his finest contribution of the night.
His best moments came in congested areas, where he drew defenders toward him before releasing a quick pass out to a wide teammate. Earlier in the match, in the sixth minute, he also delivered a pinpoint cross after exploiting San Diego's defensive shift toward the opposite flank—positioning himself ideally for a switching ball before sending in the delivery to Sergi Solans.
Sergi of course had to get in on the fun pic.twitter.com/UW21Owku1T
While that delivery highlighted one of the key attributes Luna brings from a technical standpoint, his ability to read rapid transitions with an unselfish mindset was equally on display.
Below, we can see Luna anticipating a heavy first touch from the San Diego defender attempting to control the ball, yet he holds back rather than pressing immediately. Instead, he spots Solans already moving at pace, allowing his teammate to arrive first, before receiving a short pass, holding up play for Solans' run in behind and threading a perfectly weighted ball between the center backs.
With 56 touches over 70 minutes, including a goal, an assist and numerous other creative contributions, this match was a compelling demonstration of what Luna can offer the USMNT and the kind of attributes that can completely disrupt a team's defensive structure when deployed as a late substitute—which is likely the role he would fill if he earns a spot on the World Cup roster.
Brenden Aaronson
It was a standout week for Brenden Aaronson, as he contributed two crucial assists in victories over Manchester United and Wolverhampton Wanderers, helping Leeds United edge closer to Premier League survival with five games left in the campaign.
Combining twice with Swiss forward Noah Okafor across the two fixtures, his weekend assist featured a sharp interception driven by an aggressive press, before bursting up the right flank and exploiting open space on a near half-field run, capping it with a low, curling cross inside to set up the scoring opportunity.
🔥 "Okafor arriving, notches another one!" pic.twitter.com/SQ956vPvy0
While Aaronson hasn't scored for Leeds since January, his resurgent form arrives at a critical moment as Pochettino's World Cup selection deadline draws near. Given his ability and the level of competition he has faced in the Premier League, he could prove valuable for the USMNT, though he has yet to cement a defining role in this chapter of the Stars and Stripes.
The coming week is a significant one for both him and Leeds, as they face fellow USMNT midfielder Tyler Adams and AFC Bournemouth in a midweek clash, before turning their attention to a highly anticipated FA Cup semifinal against Chelsea at Wembley Stadium on Sunday.
Cristian Roldan
Cristian Roldan off the header! @SoundersFC take the lead.
📺 Apple TV: https://t.co/s62AirWRvu pic.twitter.com/lHExiUKooN
Picture this — Cristian Roldan lurking at the back post, converting corner kicks on the World Cup stage. This past weekend, the Seattle Sounders midfielder demonstrated some of the qualities he could bring this summer, beyond his wealth of experience and leadership, as he netted two nearly identical goals in a 4–1 victory over St. Louis CITY SC.
While St. Louis's defensive lapse made it appear straightforward, Roldan's clinical finishing of the same opportunity twice is commendable, and it was far from his only contribution in a commanding display by the Rave Green.
Cristian Roldan off the corner AGAIN! 🤯 pic.twitter.com/Ox5ji9f5uU
Beyond his brace, he combined with Albert Rusnák in swift midfield combinations and repeatedly found overlapping right midfielder Snyder Brunell up the right channel, creating numerical advantages against St. Louis CITY's fullbacks. Simultaneously, he registered 10 defensive actions, which granted his midfield partner Hassani Dotson greater freedom to venture into attacking areas and provide an additional outlet for Rusnák's buildup play.
The 30-year-old MLS stalwart will be hoping those standout moments caught the eye of Pochettino and his staff, with the Sounders icon eager to represent the USMNT at his home ground of Lumen Field against Australia in Group D.