USMNT Stars Shine Bright: Ranking the Top 5 Players Who Dominated This Week's World Cup 2026 Qualifying Action
The United States men's national soccer team will conclude their 2025 friendly matches during the November international break, facing two 2026 World Cup qualifiers: Paraguay and Uruguay.
Following a victory over Australia and a stalemate with Ecuador in October, head coach Mauricio Pochettino aims for his team to maintain their positive trajectory, particularly since their next fixture won't occur until March.
Multiple key players, including Christian Pulisic, Weston McKennie and Chris Richards, will be absent from this squad, giving Pochettino numerous selection choices as fringe players attempt to secure positions in his 26-man World Cup roster.
Fortunately for the manager, several players are displaying excellent form. Here, Sports Illustrated examines the week's top five standout performances from USMNT players.
5. Auston Trusty (Celtic)
Celtic secured an emphatic 4–0 triumph over Kilmarnock in Scottish Premiership competition, with Trusty delivering an impressive display before traveling across the Atlantic to join the USMNT.
The 27-year-old defender registered the highest pass completion total in the contest with an impressive 98 successful passes, while contributing nine defensive actions during what proved to be a commanding performance by the Glasgow club, who remain seven points behind league-leading Hearts.
Collectively, this showing represented a crucial recovery following their 3–1 Europa League defeat to FC Midtjylland during midweek, where Trusty nevertheless excelled with 15 defensive interventions despite his team's struggles.
Though he operates within a four-defender system at Celtic, his uncommon selection for the USMNT may see him adapt to a three-center-back formation.
4. Joe Scally (Borussia Monchengladbach)
Joe Scally faces a pivotal international window as he receives his first genuine chance under Pochettino's World Cup preparations. Simultaneously, the adaptable fullback joins the USMNT while they test three and five-defender formations.
Fortunately, he arrives in excellent condition. The 22-year-old featured for the complete 90 minutes as Borussia Mönchengladbach defeated FC Köln 3–1. Despite Köln dominating possession and dictating play, Scally maintained composure in his performance, helping his team achieve their third consecutive victory.
He concluded the match having generated one scoring opportunity, delivered two passes into the attacking third, and registered three touches within the opponent's penalty area. In defensive phases, he made three ball recoveries, completed two tackles and won five individual battles.
3. Cristian Roldan (Seattle Sounders)
Cristian Roldan maintained his influential presence for Seattle Sounders FC throughout the MLS Cup playoffs, despite their campaign ending in a thrilling penalty shootout during Game 3 of their best-of-three encounter against Minnesota United.
Although Roldan won't have domestic competition to return to following the November international break, he produced a memorable performance in the 3–3 draw that preceded the 10-round penalty marathon. During regulation time, he completed two successful dribbles and won 10 duels, while also providing the assist for Jordan Morris's 88th-minute equalizer that forced the decisive shootout.
While the MLS stalwart's influence may differ from some elite European-based players, his reliability and current form could prove valuable for the USMNT considering the caliber of November's opposition.
2. Ricardo Pepi (PSV Eindhoven)
Ricardo Pepi netted a crucial goal for PSV Eindhoven in UEFA Champions League action, converting an opportunity during the third minute of second-half injury time to secure a 1–1 draw against Greek powerhouse Olympiacos.
His strike placed him alongside icons Cristiano Ronaldo and Sergio Agüero as the players with the most goals scored after the 90th minute in Champions League history (three each).
Pepi had previously achieved this feat in 2023 during a 3–2 victory over Sevilla, and again in 2024 in a 3–2 triumph against Ukraine's Shakhtar Donetsk.
Despite featuring for only 15 minutes as a substitute in PSV's 5–1 Eredivisie victory over AZ Alkmaar, he enters camp in excellent form with five goals and one assist across 12 appearances in all competitions.
1. Folarin Balogun (Monaco)
Folarin Balogun will serve as the USMNT's primary striker option during the November window, arriving in exceptional form. The 24-year-old scored his maiden Champions League goal, finding the net in a 1–0 victory over Norway's Bodø/Glimt.
He maintained that outstanding form over the weekend as well, netting his fourth Ligue 1 goal of the campaign during a 4–1 defeat to Lens, though his display was tarnished when he received a red card in the 45th minute—resulting in a suspension for Monaco's post-international break fixture against Rennes.
For the USMNT, this creates potential benefits indirectly, as there will be reduced club pressure regarding minute management knowing he'll be unavailable on November 22. Pochettino will undoubtedly hope Balogun's scoring prowess transfers to international duty, rather than his disciplinary lapses.