The March window has concluded, marking the last opportunity for players to showcase their abilities in front of U.S. men’s national team coach Mauricio Pochettino. The expectation was that Pochettino would gain some insight into the direction of the roster, but the situation surrounding the team appears to be more ambiguous than before. Pochettino is not particularly concerned about this, as he prefers to ensure his players are at ease with uncertainty; however, a mix of injuries and subpar performances has introduced further unpredictability.
The current state of the depth chart reflects Pochettino’s statement made on March 17, when he revealed that this was not his final roster. This is logical considering that numerous developments are likely to occur before the final roster announcement on May 26. Following a window where the U.S. suffered a 5-2 loss to Belgium and a 2-0 defeat to Portugal, it seems there are more uncertainties than certainties.
With less than two months remaining until the final FIFA World Cup roster is revealed, here is how the U.S. depth chart is shaping up.
Goalkeepers (3)
Matt Freese | 27 years old | New York City FC
It was somewhat unexpected for Freese to be on the bench for the match against Belgium, considering he had started 12 consecutive games. However, he likely benefited from the rest, given the overall poor performance of the team’s defense. Reinstated to the starting lineup on Tuesday, he performed well against Portugal, likely securing his position as the team’s starting goalkeeper. He now needs to maintain his form at the club level.
Matt Turner | 31 | New England Revolution (on loan from Lyon)
Turner was not primarily responsible for the loss to Belgium, making several key saves, but he also allowed some significant rebounds that were either converted into goals or should have been. His distribution was occasionally questionable. Nevertheless, he appears to have secured the No. 2 position behind Freese.
Chris Brady | 22 | Chicago Fire FC
Brady has made notable strides in his pursuit of the No. 3 goalkeeper position for the World Cup. He has been reliable this season for Chicago, with a goals prevented statistic of 1.17, and he was chosen over Columbus Crew’s Patrick Schulte, who was called up only due to Roman Celentano’s injury. At this point, he simply needs to remain consistent, and the spot will be his.
Center backs (5)
Chris Richards | 26 | Crystal Palace
Richards has been a consistent presence in defense for most of the past year, and his absence due to a knee injury against Belgium underscored that fact. It may be tempting to keep him sidelined for the remainder of the club season, but maintaining sharpness is also a priority. He should achieve that at Palace.
Tim Ream | 38 | Charlotte FC
Has Father Time finally caught up with Ream? This is one of the questions Pochettino will need to address in the months leading up to the World Cup. There is still time for Ream to enhance his form, and being paired with Richards should assist him.
Mark McKenzie | 27 | Toulouse
McKenzie faced a challenging match against Belgium, but he remains the primary backup to Ream and Richards for now. His consistent playing time at the club level suggests he should retain that position moving forward.
Miles Robinson | 29 | FC Cincinnati
A groin injury prevented Robinson from getting any playing time to demonstrate his capabilities in the recent window. Does this make his position precarious? It could if he is unable to recover from the injury. This would be a significant setback for a player who missed the 2022 World Cup due to an Achilles injury.
Auston Trusty | 27 | Celtic
The March window was not as fruitful for Trusty as November’s, as he appeared uncertain in the first half against Portugal, particularly regarding his positioning on the first goal, even though he improved in the second half. Among the center backs on this hypothetical roster, his position is the most vulnerable. Achieving consistency at Celtic during what has been a fluctuating season is crucial at this point.
Fullbacks (4)
SergiΓ±o Dest | 25 | PSV Eindhoven
The hamstring injury Dest sustained on March 8 was a setback for the U.S. The extent of its impact remains uncertain. He has expressed a positive outlook regarding his recovery, but the timeline for his return is still unclear. For now, Dest is still considered a likely starter, either at right back or right wingback, but doubts will linger until he is back on the pitch.
Antonee Robinson | 28 | Fulham
A positive takeaway from the window was the return of “Jedi.” Robinson had not played for the U.S. since November 2024, mainly due to a knee injury, but he performed well in both matches, even providing an assist against Belgium when Weston McKennie redirected his corner kick. With limited depth at the position now, the U.S. needs him on the field significantly.
Alex Freeman | 21 | Villarreal
Freeman was among the few players to enhance his standing during the March window. He was effective in advancing the play and held his ground defensively. If he can secure more playing time with Villarreal, he will be well-positioned.
Max Arfsten | 24 | Columbus Crew
Arfsten’s performance against Belgium was forgettable as his questionable one-on-one defending was exposed. His place on the World Cup roster should be secure given the minutes he has already accumulated under Pochettino, but he will need to elevate his performance if called upon this summer.
Central midfielders (5)
Tyler Adams | 27 | AFC Bournemouth
Just as Adams seemed to be fully healed from the knee injury he suffered in December, he was sidelined by a quadriceps injury shortly before the roster announcement, ruling him out for the window. Adams is anticipated to return in the next week or two, and U.S. supporters will hope he can achieve a consistent run of matches as he remains a crucial component in the midfield. The team sorely missed his tenacity against Belgium and Portugal.
Cristian Roldan | 30 | Seattle Sounders FC
Roldan plays with a style and determination that Pochettino appreciates. He also serves as a unifying presence in the locker room, meaning his value extends beyond the pitch. It was somewhat surprising to see him play only 56 minutes in the two March friendlies, but as it stands, his name should be among those called when the roster is finalized in May.
Johnny Cardoso | 24 | AtlΓ©tico Madrid
U.S. fans are still awaiting an impressive performance from Cardoso. He played 45 minutes against Belgium and was substituted during a pre-planned change due to a minor leg issue. It could be argued that his performance against Belgium was his best in a U.S. jersey, but that is not saying much. He was … satisfactory. At this point, it seems as though Pochettino would be taking a risk by including him in the final roster, but for now, he retains his position.
Tanner Tessmann | 24 | Lyon
Tessmann’s partnership with Cardoso appeared awkward for reasons unknown. Playing alongside Adams seems to be a more natural fit, especially with his height allowing him to win numerous aerial duels. Tessmann has been struggling a bit recently at Lyon. Can he conclude the club season on a strong note?
play1:57Klinsmann hopes the USMNT learn from Belgium and Portugal defeats
Jurgen Klinsmann reacts to the USMNT’s back-to-back defeats at the hands of Belgium and Portugal.
Sebastian Berhalter | Midfielder | 24 | Vancouver Whitecaps
Berhalter did not particularly shine in the two matches, but compared to his competition, he still improved his standing. His precise delivery on set pieces is unquestionable, but he has occasionally struggled in physical confrontations at the international level. Pochettino will need to carefully consider these two aspects.
Attackers (6)
Christian Pulisic | 27 | AC Milan
The U.S. playmaker is currently experiencing a slump, without any goals in 2026 for club or country, and he has gone eight consecutive matches with the U.S. without scoring, marking the longest such stretch of his career. He will find the net again, but his form will be closely monitored during the concluding phase of the club season. The U.S. desperately needs him at his best.
Weston McKennie | 27 | Juventus
A goal against Belgium continued his strong form, although he was less effective against Portugal, including a turnover that led to Francisco TrincΓ£o’s 37th-minute opener. Pochettino does not seem any closer to determining McKennie’s optimal position on this team. Could an Adams-McKennie pairing in the midfield be in the works? The pre-World Cup training camp will be the last opportunity to find out.
Timothy Weah | 26 | Marseille
Weah appeared much more at ease playing from the wing against Portugal than he did as a right back against Belgium. Naturally, he was not tasked with defending JΓ©rΓ©my Doku on Tuesday either. It will be interesting to see if Weah retains his position if and when Dest returns.
Malik Tillman | 23 | Bayer Leverkusen
Tillman remains an enigmatic figure. He often appears to be inactive, yet by the end of the match, he has decent statistics. He led the team in chances created on Tuesday with two, but only attempted 14 passes. He will need to regain his form at the club level to secure his position with the U.S. heading into the World Cup.
Brenden Aaronson | 25 | Leeds United
The designated disruptor for the U.S. saw limited action in March — just 11 minutes — although he still appears likely to be included in the roster announcement in New York. Like Roldan, he is another diligent worker who contributes positively to the locker room.
Alejandro Zendejas | Midfielder | 28 | AmΓ©rica
Similar to Gio Reyna, Zendejas has faced injury issues recently. The distinction is that when healthy, Zendejas actively participates with his club in a creative capacity. He was not quite fit enough to compete in this window, but if he can achieve a degree of fitness, he should be on the roster. The question remains: will he?
Forwards (3)
Folarin Balogun | 24 | AS Monaco
At first glance, Balogun did not have the most impressive window — three shots, with only one on target — but he also did not receive much service. His club performance still suggests he should be the starting striker when June arrives.
Patrick Agyemang | Forward | 25 | Derby County
Agyemang scored a consolation goal against Belgium and had extended minutes against Portugal. Given that he was chosen over Ricardo Pepi, it seems that the Derby County player has ascended in the striker hierarchy.
Ricardo Pepi | 23 | PSV Eindhoven
Pepi’s window was quite peculiar. He came off the bench against Belgium, and his pressing contributed to Agyemang’s goal. His reward? Watching Pulisic play as a central striker and not getting off the bench against Portugal. While it is unwise to read too much into this, being overlooked must have been frustrating for Pepi. His position appears far from secure.
On the bubble
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