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If U.S. men's national team head coach Mauricio Pochettino truly wants to transform the squad into a world-class force by the 2030 World Cup, he'll need players who can own the wide positions.
We're talking elite attackers who can cover the full length of the pitch at blistering pace, take on defenders in one-on-one situations, break open defensive lines, and deliver pinpoint crosses into the penalty area. He'll need players who are composed in possession but bold enough to take risks in dangerous areas.
Pochettino has a number of compelling options within his player pool. As he evaluates his choices, here are the top long-term wide players available to him who are capable of controlling the flanks at the 2030 World Cup.
5. Tim Weah
26-year-old Tim Weah has fallen out of favor with Pochettino recently, yet he has demonstrated time and again that he possesses the quality to perform on the international stage.
Once a cornerstone on the wings for the USMNT and a key member of the squad's so-called "golden generation," Weah found himself largely on the bench at the 2026 World Cup. He managed just 18 minutes as a substitute in the group stage opener against Paraguay before logging under an hour in the dead rubber defeat to Türkiye.
Nevertheless, he brings several valuable qualities to Pochettino's setup. For one, despite his relatively young age, he is now a two-time World Cup participant with significant experience playing club football across Europe. The Marseille man has competed at the highest level, bringing vital veteran know-how and leadership to a squad undergoing a youthful transition.
Additionally, Weah is remarkably versatile. He operates at right back and right wingback in Ligue 1, having developed the ability to contribute across the full length of the pitch while maintaining a solid defensive presence. His most recent club outing against Angers illustrated this perfectly. He registered two assists from seven passes into the final third, while also making seven defensive contributions, including a crucial slide tackle.
4. Mathis Albert
What makes young Mathis Albert so exciting is his sheer untapped potential.
The 17-year-old Borussia Dortmund prospect, who earlier this spring became the youngest American ever to feature in the German Bundesliga, has already shown flashes of brilliance at both club and international level.
In his first senior USMNT camp this fall, Albert played an influential role in victories over both Peru and Chile. Against Peru, just five minutes after coming off the bench, he won his side a penalty kick, which Malik Tillman coolly converted. The youngster's tenacity and instant impact left a strong impression on Pochettino.
"First action on the pitch? Bang, aggressive. Receive and go," Pochettino said after the match. "...He goes 'I want to go, I want to play, I want to show.' That's what we need, and that's why I'm so happy."
Then against Chile, Albert got on the scoresheet himself in stoppage time, briefly becoming the youngest goalscorer in USMNT history at 17 years and 131 days old, before the record was reclaimed by his teammate Cavan Sullivan.
Albert's potential has attracted the interest of several top European clubs. By 2030, he could be a truly unstoppable force.
3. Sergiño Dest
Another original member of the "golden generation," 25-year-old Sergiño Dest established himself on the right flank at this summer's World Cup, starting four of the team's five matches.
Previously deployed as a right fullback for the USMNT, including at the 2022 World Cup, and still filling that role at club side PSV Eindhoven, Dest brings the defensive awareness that remains a valuable asset in a wide player.
However, it is his explosive pace and mesmerizing footwork that truly distinguish him. He failed to register a direct goal contribution this summer, yet those two qualities in particular kept opposing defenses on the back foot, creating vulnerabilities that his teammates were able to capitalize on.
He saw limited action under Pochettino during the fall international window, suggesting his place in the starting eleven is far from guaranteed.
2. Christian Pulisic
Regardless of how rocky Christian Pulisic's career has been of late, there was never any doubt he would feature in the upper half of this list.
When "Captain America" is firing on all cylinders, nobody comes close. He embodies the type of player that defenders dread facing, with a remarkable ability to glide through backlines as though skating on ice.
The 28-year-old's underwhelming World Cup showing—failing to produce more than 45 quality minutes on the biggest stage—may have disappointed the nation and cost him his status as the face of the USMNT; however, it would be a mistake for Pochettino to dismiss him entirely.
Pulisic is already working to revive his club career at AC Milan, forcing his way back into the starting lineup under new head coach Ruben Amorim.
1. Cavan Sullivan
If Pulisic is no longer the face of the USMNT, then Sullivan has taken that mantle.
The teenager may have only three senior caps to his name, but he has captured global attention with his performances on the pitch, having just turned 17 years old last month.
The Philadelphia Union standout took Major League Soccer by storm this summer and now has seven goals and 14 assists across 20 starts. He strung together 10 consecutive league matches with at least one goal contribution this fall and shattered a string of league records in the process.
Some questioned whether his talents would carry over to the international level; however, he answered those doubts emphatically. He became the youngest goalscorer in USMNT history at 17 years and five days old, netting against the team's fiercest rival, Mexico, of all opponents.
Sullivan's game is defined by his confidence. He has no hesitation taking on players, regardless of their age or experience. He is relentless and driven. He is both the present and the future of the USMNT.