Tim Howard Exposes Critical Flaw That Threatens to Crush USMNT's 2026 World Cup Hopes
The United States men's national soccer team finds itself nursing disappointment following their second consecutive defeat to Mexico under manager Mauricio Pochettino, this time in the Concacaf Gold Cup final during the holiday period. What began as a summer of mixed outcomes concluded in frustration as attention now turns to 2026 and hosting the World Cup on American territory.
With several key players missing from this summer's roster - including Christian Pulisic, Antonee Robinson, Tim Weah, Weston McKennie and others - supporters were particularly eager to see which players would rise to the occasion, deliver strong performances, and establish themselves for potential inclusion in the 2026 squad. While players like Tyler Adams and Chris Richards are anticipated starters when healthy, uncertainties persisted regarding defensive positions, goalkeeping, and especially the striker role. This forward position debate is nothing new.
Even with a fully fit USMNT roster, doubts would still exist about who will spearhead the attack next summer.
Former goalkeeper Tim Howard shared his thoughts with Sports Illustrated before the Gold Cup elimination rounds, addressing which position poses the greatest concern heading into the World Cup.
"Do I have worries at this moment? Absolutely," Howard states. "My understanding of the game tells me both wing-back spots will be reliable and strong. I believe the goalkeeper position will be dependable. It remains the striker role because what we're uncertain about - unlike those other positions - is whether we have a player during intense, rapid-fire matches like a Brian McBride, a Clint Dempsey, or a Jozy Altidore?
"You simply need someone who can dominate matches. I've experienced these situations where we're pleading 'Just assist us in any way. We'll handle the grunt work, but somehow deliver a goal when it matters most,' and they delivered. I'm unsure if we possess that quality among all the strikers we favor, or those returning from injury or displaying promise - we simply don't know when facing pressure in crucial moments whether we have a striker capable of producing those decisive instances, so that remains a worry."
Patrick Agyemang received the most minutes this summer, while supporters witnessed their first glimpse of Damion Downs as he converted the decisive penalty in the shootout victory over Costa Rica. Among the absent names are Folarin Balogun, Ricardo Pepi and Josh Sargent, plus players like Haji Wright and Jesus Ferreira.
Many believed Balogun, a former Arsenal youth system graduate, would provide the solution after displaying promising signs last summer. However, nobody has secured the position, an issue that has persisted since their 2022 FIFA World Cup appearance.