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As the final whistles echoed across stadiums following another weekend of global club football, numerous players made their way to airports to link up with their national squads for the upcoming two-game March international break.
For 27 United States players, this journey leads to Atlanta where they'll face UEFA giants Belgium and Portugal in friendly matches, providing a final opportunity to impress head coach Mauricio Pochettino before he finalizes his 2026 World Cup roster.
In this analysis, Sports Illustrated examines three standout individual displays from the weekend's action, along with how these performers might integrate into Pochettino's tactical framework for the approaching friendlies—and potentially the World Cup tournament.
Christian Pulisic's Anticipatory Movements
Christian Pulisic had endured 12 consecutive AC Milan fixtures without finding the net, but he broke his drought of goal contributions this calendar year by providing an assist during Saturday's thrilling 3–2 triumph over Torino. This marked his first assist since September 28, taking his Serie A tally to eight goals and three assists across 23 appearances this campaign.
The victory also reduced AC Milan's gap in the title race to six points, positioning them second behind league leaders Internazionale with 63 points accumulated.
CHRISTIAN PULISIC ASSIST 🚨
Put on a plate for Adrien Rabiot, and everyone can relax 🇺🇸pic.twitter.com/G1alfMMcHu
Although the USMNT forward's attacking output in basic statistics has stagnated, he has delivered consistently impressive displays recently and has become a regular starter in manager Massimiliano Allegri's 3-5-2 formation's front two, frequently partnering with Rafael Leão.
His setup for Adrien Rabiot's strike demonstrated his complete football intelligence as well. The opportunity arose during a second phase of possession after Milan recovered the ball with attackers already positioned forward. Pulisic, hovering near the penalty area's edge, moved inward from the left flank to create space on the right, as evidenced by his initial positioning shown below.
When possession switched sides, the American began orchestrating the attack. He identified the passing lanes available to Youssouf Fofana, and being positioned to face his own defensive half, spotted Luka Modrić making a forward run, before gesturing to Fofana to thread the inside pass. Pulisic then timed his movement perfectly to meet the Croatian's expertly weighted through ball. Notice his pointing gesture here—that communication created the goal.
Operating as a forward without traditional striker attributes and lacking imposing physicality, Pulisic depends on his tactical awareness to make an impact, and his reading of the developing play sequence proved crucial to his eventual assist for Rabiot.
Folarin Balogun Scores Seventh Goal in Seven Games
With Pulisic returning to the assist column, the prospect of him combining effectively with Folarin Balogun against Belgium and Portugal becomes exciting, particularly if Pochettino chooses to deploy Pulisic in his AC Milan role rather than out wide.
Balogun continued his remarkable scoring streak this weekend, netting his seventh goal in seven consecutive matches to help AS Monaco secure a 2–1 victory over Lyon with a composed penalty conversion. This strike elevated his season statistics to nine goals and four assists in 23 Ligue 1 appearances, while the victory moves Monaco to 46 points, just two behind the UEFA Champions League qualification positions in France's top division.
Balogun arriving at the national team camp in such exceptional form represents positive news for Pochettino's squad. During November's matches, when he displayed promising chemistry with Pulisic, USMNT defender Tim Ream described it as the "perfect example" of how Balogun's intelligent movement can enhance Pulisic's effectiveness.
Although Balogun operates in a front three at Monaco and would need to adjust to a two-striker system in possession, his knack for finding space and collaborating with wide players should mesh well with a dynamic attacker like Pulisic, as well as complement the heavy wingback involvement that Pochettino frequently employs.
Close to two dozen strikers have cycled through the USMNT's starting position since former manager Gregg Berhalter assumed control in 2019, but few have demonstrated Balogun's consistency for both club and country—and having a quality striker who enhances the team's most gifted player could prove vital for a successful tournament.
Max Arfsten's Defensive Transition
Max Arfsten emerged as one of the standout selections during Pochettino's roster restructuring initiatives throughout 2025 and is positioned to make a significant impression in the upcoming friendlies, as he competes for playing time at left wingback with Fulham's Antonee Robinson.
While club reputation might suggest Robinson would start, Arfsten's performances during the latter part of 2025 with the USMNT and his current form with Columbus Crew could see him earn greater responsibilities, despite some predictable criticism from sections of the USMNT supporter base.
Operating within a struggling Columbus team, Arfsten began this weekend positively, stretching the defense before taking a brief dribble and delivering a cross for striker Wessam Abou Ali's headed finish against Toronto FC.
Wessam Abou Ali puts @ColumbusCrew ahead in the opening minutes!
📺 Apple TV: https://t.co/BQFf6UteDD pic.twitter.com/eao3vckB8n
The most fascinating aspect of his 2026 campaign thus far has been his deployment on the left side of midfield within Columbus's 4-4-2 system and how he has modified his skill set for this position, while simultaneously maintaining strong defensive contributions, functioning almost like a wingback within a formation that doesn't traditionally feature them.
Transitioning to the USMNT as a left wingback will present challenges, especially considering the caliber of opposition that both Portugal and Belgium provide. Nevertheless, his dedication to and understanding of Pochettino's tactical approach could provide him with an edge over Robinson, provided he can cope with the elevated talent level.