USMNT Stars Dominate the Week as Unstoppable Midfielder Delivers Another Masterclass
USMNT head coach Mauricio Pochettino is set to announce his roster for March friendlies against Belgium and Portugal in the upcoming weeks—a training camp he's described as the last opportunity for players to secure their spot on the 2026 World Cup squad.
While the 2026 MLS campaign is preparing to kick off, American players competing across Europe have been performing exceptionally since January due to a packed match calendar. This has enabled U.S. players overseas to maintain their momentum leading up to this summer's major tournament—including Christian Pulisic, who returned to action for AC Milan this past weekend following his injury recovery.
Here's Sports Illustrated's analysis of the three USMNT players who delivered standout performances in the most recent fixtures.
Noahkai Banks
Noahkai Banks
German-American dual-citizen defender Noahkai Banks remains a long shot for the USMNT's World Cup squad—but the 19-year-old is certainly making his case.
Starting his 16th straight match for FC Augsburg, Banks delivered a steady performance as his team defeated FC Heidenheim 1–0, earning his fourth Bundesliga shutout this campaign. He completed 37 of 39 pass attempts, threaded three balls into the attacking third, and recorded nine clearances, with four coming through aerial duels.
Even more notable, Banks displayed wisdom beyond his young age—a development in his play that may stem from previous discussions with Pochettino, who played as a center-back during his career.
"[Pochettino] understands the role extremely well," Banks mentioned in a recent Bundesliga interview. "He assisted me with minor details like positioning, the subtle elements that separate players at the elite level. He provided guidance, and I hope to implement it moving forward.
"I'm content with the U.S., but you never know what lies ahead."
Weston McKennie
Weston McKennie
As Weston McKennie traveled back to Turin following a wild 3–2 Juventus defeat to Inter Milan on Saturday, he likely pondered how different this season might have been if Luciano Spalletti had been in charge from the start.
Since the Italian manager took control in early November, McKennie has emerged as one of the globe's most impressive performers. McKennie dominated the midfield against the Serie A table-toppers, providing assists for both of his team's goals to reach four since Thanksgiving—during this stretch, McKennie has also netted seven times.
The 27-year-old also registered two shots on goal and delivered five passes into the attacking zone, all while operating effectively as an advanced midfielder.
A string of disputed decisions, particularly the red card shown to Pierre Kalulu, led to Juventus' ultimate loss, but McKennie, whose contract expires this summer, certainly enhanced his prospects of securing a new, lucrative agreement.
Patrick Agyemang
Patrick Agyemang
Patrick Agyemang maintained his excellent run with a goal during an 88-minute performance in Derby County's 2–0 victory over Swansea City in EFL Championship play on Saturday, extending his tally to 10 goals and three assists across 25 league appearances this season.
While the 25-year-old has demonstrated his finishing ability throughout the campaign since transferring from Charlotte FC last summer, his evolution is evident. During his MLS tenure, most of his prime opportunities came from his pace on through balls played along the ground—seldom was he a threat in the air, despite his 6'3" frame and strong build.
Make it 10 Championship goals for Patrick Agyemang this season 🇺🇸
He TOWERS above the rest to head it home for Derby 💥 pic.twitter.com/7d4kWNNJf9
Since his arrival in England, his progress has been obvious. This weekend, he outjumped defenders to score from a corner, marking his sixth header this season—representing 60% of his total goals.
He also earned the most fouls with five and prevailed in 11 physical battles, demonstrating to Pochettino the disruption he could provide up front if chosen as one of the USMNT's forward options.