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U.S. men's national team head coach Mauricio Pochettino is working against the clock, with his self-imposed World Cup roster deadline of May 26 making every passing week crucial for players fighting for a place.
The most recent weekend delivered a series of impressive showings around the globe, with Matt Freese delivering a brilliant goalkeeping display in MLS, even as he was undone by fellow USMNT World Cup contenders Sebastian Berhalter and Brian White. Meanwhile in Europe, Ricardo Pepi intensified the battle for the striker position.
Here, Sports Illustrated highlights three USMNT performers who shone over the past week as the World Cup approaches.
Ricardo Pepi
Ricardo Pepi delivered one of his finest outings of 2026 this past weekend, netting a goal and logging 82 minutes in PSV Eindhoven's 2–0 victory over Sparta Rotterdam on Saturday. Although his club had already secured the Dutch Eredivisie championship, the performance signaled a strong return to form for the USMNT forward, bringing his tally to 14 goals in 30 appearances across all competitions this season.
What truly impressed was his ability to generate chances. His goal came via a well-timed header from a lofted cross, and he created several other dangerous opportunities throughout the contest. Most memorably, he shadowed the last defender before making a sharp diagonal run behind him to meet the cross.
As illustrated in the images above, Pepi quickly read that his teammate would drive through midfield, bypassing multiple defenders before playing the ball wide for a cross aimed directly at the U.S. striker. It's a well-rehearsed move, elevated by sharp dribbling, and one that could easily be replicated in a USMNT context if Pepi continues to earn opportunities.
Matt Freese
OH MY, MATTY FREESE 😮💨 pic.twitter.com/LDWKmEI9lV
Matt Freese was single-handedly responsible for preventing a far heavier defeat for New York City FC this weekend, as the likely USMNT World Cup starter produced an extraordinary eight saves against the Vancouver Whitecaps' 10 shots on target.
The 27-year-old produced a string of vital stops throughout the game, but it was his lightning-fast reflexes and ability to make a second save within the same phase of play that truly caught the eye. In the clip above, he dives full-stretch to keep the scoreline level early in the match, scrambling back to the goalline to claw the ball away for a corner.
Yet it's the save below that leaves the biggest impression. Freese reads the wide cross but misjudges his kick-save attempt, leaving Vancouver's USMNT World Cup hopeful Sebastian Berhalter with an open goal. However, a well-timed block from Kevin O'Toole narrows the angle, buying Freese just enough time to spring back up and make the stop. That cross-box recovery is a staple of goalkeeping training at every level, and it paid dividends perfectly here.
#MattFreese is the only reason Vancouver isn't at 4: #NYCFC pic.twitter.com/pZJagyYuJd
While both Freese and his MLS rival, New England Revolution's Matt Turner, could feature in Group D matches against Paraguay, Australia and Türkiye, it's evident that Freese's abilities make him better suited for high-stakes moments and crucial saves, positioning him as the clear number-one choice.
Folarin Balogun
Folarin Balogun may well be the hottest striker on the planet right now, having found the net in his seventh consecutive Ligue 1 match as Monaco suffered a 4–1 defeat to Paris FC. The goal — his 11th of the season — moves him to sixth in the Ligue 1 Golden Boot race.
Although he appears set to start for the USMNT, his ideal role remains a topic of debate. Despite Monaco's difficult weekend overall, he carved out multiple chances playing in a two-striker system alongside Ansu Fati. The challenge is that there is no obvious strike partner for him on the national team. Christian Pulisic has shown flashes of that quality in the role at AC Milan, but has yet to replicate that effectiveness at international level.
Regardless, one thing is abundantly clear — Balogun knows how to find the back of the net, and he heads into this summer brimming with confidence, which is precisely the foundation any elite striker needs heading into a major tournament.