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U.S. men's national team head coach Mauricio Pochettino is set to unveil his final 26-man World Cup squad in two weeks before a live audience in New York City; however, numerous variables remain unresolved, with the injury situation being the most pressing concern.
The 2026 FIFA World Cup gets underway next month, with the U.S. hosting their opening match against Paraguay in Los Angeles on June 12. While Pochettino has likely gathered sufficient insight into what each candidate can offer the national team on soccer's biggest stage this summer, a string of recent injuries has thrown many assumed selections into question.
News that USMNT talisman Christian Pulisic would miss AC Milan's fixture against Atalanta on Sunday sent ripples through the soccer world. The 27-year-old attacker, ruled out at the last moment, reportedly sat out the club's final pre-match training session due to a muscular issue in his glute, and his timeline for returning to club action remains uncertain, with only two weeks left in the Serie A campaign as Milan push hard for a Champions League berth next season. Already enduring a scoreless stretch, questions linger over whether Pulisic will be in peak condition for the World Cup.
The potential loss of "Captain America" is not the only blow to the squad, however, compelling Pochettino to reconsider his selections.
Other Injury Hits to the USMNT Squad
Pulisic's fellow standout winger, Tim Weah, was also sidelined over the weekend—raising concerns about the depth Pochettino will have available on both flanks.
Weah is believed to have picked up an undisclosed injury last week, keeping him out of training on Friday and ruling him out of Marseille's Sunday encounter with Le Havre. The 26-year-old Brooklyn native also missed the Ligue 1 club's 3–0 defeat to Nantes on May 2 due to a yellow card suspension, with his last appearance for Marseille coming on April 26 against Nice.
No firm return date has been set for Weah; however, he could potentially feature as early as this week in the club's final league match of the season against Rennes on Sunday. Marseille are unlikely to rush his comeback, though, opting for a cautious approach to ensure he arrives at the World Cup fully fit.
USMNT depth midfielder Tanner Tessmann was also ruled out over the weekend with a muscle strain, missing Lyon's match against Toulouse on Sunday. He will sit out the season finale against Lens this weekend, with his return timeline still uncertain.
Despite Tessmann's role as a fringe player, the setback represents a significant challenge for the U.S. midfield, particularly given that fellow central midfielder Johnny Cardoso suffered a severe ankle sprain last week during training with club side Atlético Madrid, requiring surgery and effectively ending his World Cup hopes. Pochettino will now need to lean more heavily on backup midfielders Cristian Roldan of the Seattle Sounders and Sebastian Berhalter of the Vancouver Whitecaps.
Beyond the weekend's absences, U.S. left back John Tolkin (medial knee ligament), striker Patrick Agyemang (Achilles tendon), and goalkeeper Jonathan Klinsmann (broken neck) had previously sustained injuries, with the latter two already confirmed as unavailable for the World Cup.