USMNT Star Yunus Musah Dreams Big: "World Cup Glory Calls to Every Player!"
The United States men's national soccer team stands 203 days from launching their 2026 FIFA World Cup journey, and Yunus Musah is working tirelessly to secure his place on Mauricio Pochettino's squad for that inaugural match on June 12.
Musah held a significant position during the 2022 World Cup in Qatar, featuring in all four contests as the USMNT advanced from a group featuring England, Wales and Iran before being eliminated by the Netherlands in the Round of 16.
This upcoming tournament takes place on American territory, with anticipation rapidly growing for a competition jointly hosted by Mexico and Canada.
"The World Cup represents the planet's premier sporting spectacle. Who wouldn't desire to participate in that? It's an enormous occasion that will stay with you permanently," Musah shares with Sports Illustrated. "You experience incredible moments as a team, and these are the ultimate matches any soccer player dreams of participating in."
The 22-year-old midfielder is establishing himself this season with a different club, having transferred to Serie A team Atalanta during the summer on a loan arrangement—he had previously spent two seasons with AC Milan, playing alongside fellow American star Christian Pulisic.
Thus far, Musah has found playing time limited, yet he maintains optimism about breaking into the Serie A club's starting formation soon and earning his way onto a highly competitive USMNT roster.
"[There have been] numerous chances to observe many different talents, and it's been an excellent opportunity for all," he explains. "We possess a substantial pool of players eligible for national team selection, which is advantageous, as you can summon many various individuals.
"I've participated with the national squad in numerous matches, so I clearly cherish it, and it's disappointing that I wasn't included, but I'm putting in effort to return."
While the restricted minutes at Atalanta may have prevented him from joining the USMNT in the year's final camp, where the team secured victories against South American World Cup-qualified nations, Paraguay and Uruguay, he remains close to selection.
Pochettino selected 71 players in 2025, with Musah ranking 24th in appearances, earning two caps during the March Concacaf Nations League finals. Currently, the emphasis is on the extended season and guaranteeing his inclusion for March friendlies, which might determine the final World Cup roster.
USMNT Players Demonstrating Their Skills
Competing in Serie A's spotlight, Musah joins three other Americans currently in Italy's premier division, including Pulisic, Weston McKennie at Juventus and former Inter Miami midfielder and U.S youth international Benjamin Cremaschi, who recently joined Parma.
Several current and former USMNT stars, including Pulisic and Clint Dempsey, have previously highlighted the prejudice against American soccer players and the additional challenges they face establishing themselves at European clubs compared to players from other regions.
Musah shares this viewpoint but remains optimistic that attitudes will shift as continued dedication pays off.
"I believe you must work considerably harder than others," Musah explains. "I've been fighting throughout my entire career. Wherever I've gone, I've needed to demonstrate my worth, which can be challenging because I've been playing for some time now and still must continue proving myself, which is frustrating, but that's our reality.
"We cannot alter it," he says regarding the preconceived notions about American players. "We must simply continue as we have been. We're performing exceptionally well, demonstrating to people our capabilities, and eventually, they recognize it.
"Americans are generally excellent athletes, but now you can observe that there are many talented soccer players in America too," Musah adds, having played with Valencia in Spain and previously at Arsenal's academy in England. "With four of us in the league for several seasons [Timothy Weah transferred from Juventus to Marseille during the summer], it has truly opened eyes to other Americans that competing at this level is achievable."
Despite previous reluctance toward American players, the current generation has eliminated much of the stigma, building upon the foundation established by Dempsey and other Americans who achieved success across the Atlantic.
This season, 25 Americans compete in Serie A, Bundesliga, Premier League, La Liga, and Ligue 1.
Establishing Himself at Atalanta
While the World Cup squad remains Musah's primary objective, his immediate attention centers on securing playing time with Atalanta, which recently appointed Raffaele Palladino as manager following Ivan Jurić's departure in November.
"During training sessions, I've actually felt excellent," Musah states. "I've genuinely felt like I've been enhancing small aspects, minor details, and it's been beneficial training and competing with these players so rapidly."
Across his initial eight appearances with the club, Musah has accumulated merely 188 minutes and one starting opportunity. Nevertheless, he's concentrated on rediscovering his form, recognizing the abilities he's previously demonstrated as one of the USMNT's most promising midfield talents.
"I've discovered this new adventure here at Atalanta and I'm attempting to find my path, to continue developing," he explains, having joined the club to secure more playing time after losing his starting position at Milan. "It's an outstanding club that performed brilliantly last season, which genuinely attracted me. I hope I can truly break into the starting lineup and excel."