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By this time next week, the world will know the official 2026 World Cup roster for the U.S. men's national team — 26 players carrying the weight of showing a frequently indifferent nation the brilliance of their sport while making a deep run on home turf this summer.
U.S. head coach Mauricio Pochettino is scheduled to unveil the final squad on May 26 in New York City, marking the team's first-ever live World Cup roster announcement. That group will then face Senegal and Germany in friendly matches at the end of the month for final preparations, before heading west to Los Angeles to kick off World Cup action in Group D against Paraguay on June 12.
With just five days to go, Pochettino has undoubtedly finalized his squad, with only minor details left to iron out. That reality must be especially nerve-wracking for players on the bubble, while those who are certainties can shift their focus toward earning a starting spot or simply staying fit.
Here's our stock up, stock down breakdown for the USMNT this week — the last one before the highly anticipated announcement.
USMNT Stock Up
Christian Pulisic
No, Christian Pulisic hasn't found the back of the net just yet, with the standout forward still enduring a scoreless run stretching back to 2025.
The 27-year-old may be showing signs of a revival, however. "Captain America" delivered a clever assist over the weekend to help club side AC Milan claim a vital 2–1 victory over Genoa — his first goal contribution since March and only his second since December.
In the 80th minute, Pulisic made a sharp, incisive run into the penalty area, throwing Genoa's defensive line into disarray. After receiving the ball with his back to goal, he deftly flicked it to the top of the box for teammate Zachary Athekame. Pulisic quickly cleared the space, giving Athekame the opening he needed to fire the ball into the net.
Despite recently losing his place in the starting lineup, Pulisic made an immediate impact just five minutes after coming on as a substitute. It was a moment of genuine quality from U.S. Soccer's marquee player and served as a reminder — perhaps to himself as well — of what he is capable of. It was also an encouraging sign given that Pulisic had been dealing with a thigh and gluteal strain just the week prior.
All eyes will remain on Pulisic to see whether he can build on this small burst of momentum as the tournament approaches. Regardless of his current form, the nation will look to him to be the driving force for the squad on the world's biggest stage.
Tyler Adams
Likely starting midfielder Tyler Adams gave Pochettino a compelling reminder on Tuesday of exactly why he deserves a place in the XI this summer.
The 27-year-old put in a commanding 90-minute shift in the holding midfield role during Bournemouth's pivotal Premier League draw against Manchester City. The Cherries kept the recently resurgent Cityzens in check, holding a 1–0 lead until the dying moments of stoppage time. While an Erling Haaland goal in the 95th minute leveled the score, it wasn't enough for City to stay in the title race — they needed all three points, but Bournemouth and Adams had done their job brilliantly, helping Arsenal clinch their first Premier League title in 22 years.
The USMNT standout registered an impressive 12 defensive actions and four tackles on the night. His ability to neutralize the threat of Haaland, Antoine Semenyo, and Bernardo Silva bodes extremely well ahead of the World Cup, where the Stars and Stripes are sure to face comparable attacking talent. There is little question that Pochettino was watching closely.
Max Arfsten
The 25-year-old Columbus Crew standout once again showcased his tactical flexibility — a quality Pochettino will be reluctant to leave off his roster this summer.
While Max Arfsten has primarily been deployed as a fullback or wing-back for the Stars and Stripes in recent appearances, with a greater defensive emphasis, his MLS club has chosen to utilize his attacking qualities in a more conventional wide role — something that paid dividends in the U.S. Open Cup quarterfinals against New York City FC on Wednesday.
Arfsten burst down the left flank in the 58th minute and, upon receiving the ball, did what he does best — cutting inside to put New York City center back Thiago Martins on the back foot. He then curled the ball perfectly into the corner of the net, past USMNT goalkeeper Matt Freese.
His strike proved to be the decisive moment, sending Columbus through to the semifinals of the knockout competition. Despite the impressive display, it likely still wasn't enough to earn Arfsten a starting berth, as he has been coming off the bench in recent outings.
USMNT Stock Down
Chris Richards
Crystal Palace center back and USMNT defensive cornerstone Chris Richards is now facing an indefinite spell on the sidelines after tearing two ligaments in his ankle.
Over the weekend, the 26-year-old was involved in a collision with Brentford's Igor Thiago, landing awkwardly on his ankle in the process. Although Richards managed to play out the remaining 15 minutes of the Premier League fixture, he required assistance to leave the pitch after the final whistle, visibly struggling to walk.
Richards will sit out Palace's final Premier League match against title-winning Arsenal on Sunday, and his availability for the Conference League final against Rayo Vallecano the following Wednesday remains uncertain — though the club is working to have him ready in time.
"Of course, he needs to get back and he needs to get back on the pitch to be available and it will really be a race against time," Crystal Palace manager Oliver Glasner said at a press conference on Thursday.
"He's in from the morning, from sunrise until sunset, having treatments and doing everything he can do to reduce the swelling, but of course, we have a great medical department. We will give our best and of course, he will give his best. Let's see if we can get it done."
This is a significant blow for the U.S. and Pochettino, who lean heavily on Richards's defensive composure and aerial presence. Whether he will be fit in time for the World Cup remains to be seen. He was already set to miss the start of the USMNT's World Cup training camp due to the Conference League final.