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Mauricio Pochettino has just 90 minutes of soccer remaining to put the finishing touches on the U.S. men's national team ahead of the 2026 FIFA World Cup, with a send-off friendly against Germany on Saturday afternoon serving as the final tune-up.
After giving 22 of his 26 players run-outs in a confidence-boosting 3–2 victory over Senegal last week, the Argentine manager sees the final friendly as a chance to solidify his core group, planning to limit the number of players used while still fine-tuning certain details.
"What we need to do from the beginning is to prepare in the best way that all the players have the possibility to play or to compete," Pochettino told reporters in Chicago on Friday, ahead of the sold-out fixture at Soldier Field. "A few players are not going to be involved. There's no place for everyone to play minutes, but we are going to try to make the best decision."
However, he offered no hints about what those final tweaks might look like or who he sees in the starting eleven. What has become clear, though, is that Pochettino is keenly conscious of the USMNT's scrutiny and the criticism he has frequently encountered for his heavy squad rotation in previous games as he works to identify his strongest possible group.
"If you play [with experiments] and something happens, or you take a risk, there's always the haters today in social media that would never agree if you play with the player that you want," he said. "No one is going to say anything if you make a good decision, but if something wrong happens, they say, you have no clue."
With only a handful of precious minutes left to determine the ideal approach heading into soccer's most prestigious tournament, Sports Illustrated attempts to get inside Pochettino's mind, forecasting his likely lineup for Saturday's showdown against the formidable German side.
No Chris Richards for Final Friendly
While Pochettino declined to give specific injury updates on other players, he confirmed that star center-back Chris Richards will miss the match, as the Crystal Palace defender continues his recovery from an ankle injury sustained last month. He also emphasized that no players will be placed at unnecessary risk as they would be in a high-stakes World Cup fixture.
"[Richards] is not ready to compete and to play," Pochettino said. "In the next few days, we have the possibility to assess him and his ankle, then to make a decision."
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USMNT Predicted Lineup vs. Germany
GK: Matt Freese—Having not featured at all against Senegal, with Matt Turner and Chris Brady sharing duties, the New York City FC shot-stopper is expected to play the full 90 minutes, and a strong showing could see him emerge as the frontrunner for the World Cup starting spot.
RCB: Alex Freeman—The Villarreal wingback and center-back brings a versatile skill set along with the ability to play out from the back.
CB: Mark McKenzie—With Chris Richards still sidelined, McKenzie is expected to step into that role. He'll need to perform at his peak, as questions around Richards's fitness heading into next week's World Cup opener are likely to linger.
LCB: Tim Ream—The USMNT's World Cup captain must demonstrate greater composure under pressure, having shown some vulnerability at times against Senegal.
RWB: Weston McKennie—Consistently adaptable in his roles for both the USMNT and Juventus, McKennie's ability as a possession-focused wingback could give the team the flexibility to shift its width throughout the game.
CM: Sebastian Berhalter—Pochettino described Berhalter as "a monster" for the energy he brings to the midfield. The MLS All-Star is expected to log significant minutes against Germany and at the World Cup.
CM: Tyler Adams—The engine that drives the USMNT's midfield, Adams will be eager to clock some important minutes against quality opposition.
LWB: Antonee Robinson—Equally effective as a defensive option or a wide midfielder, Robinson turned in an impressive display against Senegal and could find himself deployed in a more advanced role throughout the summer.
RW: Gio Reyna—Widely regarded as one of the most gifted players in the USMNT setup, getting Reyna more game time will be crucial in determining whether he can make a meaningful impact in key World Cup moments.
ST: Folarin Balogun—After finding the net against Senegal and having another goal ruled out for offside, Balogun will be looking to sharpen his finishing instincts ahead of the tournament's most critical matches.
LW: Christian Pulisic—Coming off a scintillating one-goal, one-assist display against Senegal, Pulisic will be keen to carry that revived form into the Germany clash and head into the World Cup brimming with confidence.