World Cup 2026 Countdown: Five USMNT Stars Set to Shine This Weekend
The 2026 FIFA World Cup draws nearer for the U.S. men's national team, and every passing week grows increasingly crucial in the competition for manager Mauricio Pochettino's ultimate squad selection.
Although Pochettino and his coaching staff have identified a foundation of essential players, numerous positions remain open for competition after 71 athletes received call-ups to national team training camps throughout 2025. With only a handful of weeks remaining in the calendar year, players aim to begin the World Cup year in optimal condition.
The focus has now shifted entirely to Europe. With the MLS season concluded, players like Vancouver Whitecaps FC's Sebastian Berhalter and Orlando City SC's Alex Freeman, among others, find themselves watching from the sidelines.
Here, Sports Illustrated spotlights the five USMNT players worth monitoring in this weekend's matches.
5. Tyler Adams
Fixture: Man Utd vs. Bournemouth
Date and Time: Monday, Dec. 15 - 3:00 p.m. ET / 12:00 p.m. PT
Channel: USA Network, Telemundo Deportes, NBC Sports App
Bournemouth's ascent in the Premier League has been captivating to observe, and Tyler Adams has positioned himself as an essential component in Andoni Iraola's smoothly functioning system. Beyond maintaining consistently excellent performances, he also received recognition with the Premier League Goal of the Month award for November—marking the first occasion an American has claimed this honor.
Adams was absent from last week's goalless stalemate against Chelsea due to suspension, but returns to Bournemouth's lineup for their journey to Manchester United. The Cherries displayed exceptional form early in the campaign but have now gone six matches without victory—the 26-year-old faces the challenge of reversing this trend at Old Trafford.
4. Auston Trusty
Fixture: Celtic vs. St Mirren—Scottish League Cup final
Date and Time: Saturday, Dec. 13 - 10:30 a.m. ET/ 7:30 a.m. PT
Channel: CBS Sports Network, Paramount+, fuboTV
Auston Trusty exists on the periphery of Pochettino's considerations. Nevertheless, the center-back continues as an indispensable player for Celtic, which seeks its inaugural victory under former Columbus Crew manager Wilfried Nancy, who recently departed his MLS position for Glasgow.
Despite experiencing difficulties in the Scottish Premiership this season, currently positioned second behind Hearts, they possess an opportunity for silverware in the Scottish League Cup final against St. Mirren this weekend.
This represents a fixture where Celtic would typically feel assured, and competing at Hampden Park in Glasgow essentially provides a home atmosphere at this stage, yet without a victory on Nancy's record, the situation becomes more complex.
They should possess sufficient attacking prowess though—this marks their 30th cup final of the millennium—and Celtic along with Trusty are accustomed to triumph.
3. Weston McKennie
Fixture: Bologna vs. Juventus
Date and Time: Sunday, Dec. 14 - 2:45 p.m. ET / 11:45 a.m. PT
Channel: CBS Sports Network, Paramount+, fuboTV, DAZN USA
Weston McKennie flourishes when he enjoys his manager's confidence, and this describes his current situation at Juventus under Luciano Spalletti.
The 27-year-old has rediscovered his scoring ability in the Champions League, netting goals in consecutive matches against Bodø/Glimt two weeks prior and Pafos earlier this week. Although he possesses only one assist and zero goals in Serie A, this weekend presents an ideal opportunity to find the back of the net.
Juventus, having secured three consecutive Serie A victories and occupying seventh place with 23 points, face fifth-positioned Bologna, where a win would provide them the opportunity to surpass their opponents and enter the top five.
2. Malik Tillman (Bayer Leverkusen vs. FC Köln)
Fixture: Bayer Leverkusen vs. FC Köln
Date and Time: Saturday, Dec. 13 - 12:30 p.m. E.T / 9:30 a.m. PT
Channel: ESPN Select, fuboTV
Bayer Leverkusen endured a disastrous season opening, which resulted in Erik ten Hag's dismissal, but have subsequently discovered steady form and maneuvered their way back into the Bundesliga's upper tier.
USMNT midfielder Malik Tillman, who joined the club during the summer following an impressive Concacaf Gold Cup, has maintained regular starting status and represents a crucial element in their tactical approach, particularly when defending and seeking to force turnovers.
While he has recorded three goals and zero assists across nine appearances, and the statistical production may fall short of expectations thus far, Tillman's significance to the squad has enabled him to establish a role that should position him among the USMNT starters come summer.
Occupying fourth place with 23 points, Leverkusen will attempt to recover from last week's 2–0 defeat to Augsburg and maintain their Champions League qualification position, facing an FC Köln team sitting on 16 points in eighth place.
1. Christian Pulisic
Fixture: AC Milan vs. Sassuolo
Date and Time: Sunday, Dec. 14 - 6:30 a.m. ET / 3:30 a.m. PT
Channel: Paramount+, fuboTV, DAZN USA, FOX Deportes, Fox Sports
Rare are the players in world football experiencing campaigns as exceptional as Christian Pulisic's 2025-26 season. The 27-year-old USMNT standout tops the Serie A Golden Boot standings with seven goals and has contributed to Milan's position at the summit alongside Napoli.
Last week, he delivered a double as a substitute against Torino in a 3–2 comeback victory, elevating his tally to 13 league goals in a single calendar year for the first time in his professional career. Averaging a goal every 64 minutes this season, Pulisic has reignited his excellence following a muscle injury that sidelined him for multiple weeks.
This weekend, Milan confront eighth-placed Sassuolo, where Pulisic will aim to assist the Rossoneri in establishing themselves as the undisputed Serie A leaders. As an added element, he'll seek to accomplish this against Concacaf rival, Canada's Ismaël Koné, who has also discovered his rhythm in Serie A.