GOAL US writers discuss the crucial club season for top USMNT players in Europe ahead of the 2026 World Cup
It's all about anticipation. It's a massive club season for the entire world, especially ahead of the 2026 World Cup. But for U.S. internationals playing in Europe, it's more than just performing for their clubs – it's also the opportunity to send a message to Mauricio Pochettentio as they jostle for positions on the World Cup squad.
Multiple players have transferred in hopes of bolstering their status and elevating their games – notably, Tim Weah joined Marseille, Johnny Cardoso moved to Atletico Madrid, Matt Turner went on loan to the New England Revolution and Malik Tillman joined Bayer Leverkusen. Others such as Gio Reyna and Josh Sargent, both of whom are expected to move, have yet to secure transfers.
For now, though, the focus is the 2025-26 European campaign, which has already started in some leagues and fully kicks off this weekend.
GOAL US writers debate expectations for Americans Abroad in the latest edition of… The Rondo.
Getty Images SportWhich USMNT player has the greatest expectations?
Jacob Schneider: It has to be Christian Pulisic. There is not another possible answer. He is the "face of the franchise" and the player with the highest of expectations in the player pool. With no European football this season, he will be able to focus on the domestic competition and domestic play for AC Milan, meaning congestion won't be as big a factor. And he will look to raise the bar in both goals and assists. This is his biggest year as a professional. Can he still be a star for Milan and the USMNT?
Tom Hindle: Pulisic. Every campaign is pivotal for the “LeBron James of soccer.” But this one could be particularly spicy. It’s a World Cup year, of course, and he’s had a tricky summer for reasons pretty much of his own making. Is all of the expectation on him fair? Not at all. But the USMNT needs their main man fit, firing, and winning stuff.
Alex Labidou: It has to be Pulisic, especially coming off a summer in which he controversially decided to skip the Gold Cup with the USMNT. Whether the public angst was warranted or not, the reality is U.S. Soccer and its fans are going to paying even more attention to his form with AC Milan. If he gets off to a slow start after electing for a longer break, the critics will reemerge.
Ryan Tolmich: Step right up, Christian! Obviously, standards are high after his performance last season, in which he established himself as the guy for Milan. Pulisic, though, is under a new sort of microscope after skipping out on the Gold Cup. As a result, there's a lot of weight on his shoulders, both from the U.S. and Milan, as he looks to help push the club back to where it belongs: towards the top of Serie A.
AdvertisementGetty Images SportWhich USMNT player has the most to lose?
JS: It's Gio Reyna. As things stand, he's not in the player pool for the World Cup, but these things can change. The names on the U.S. roster will fluctuate over the next 10 months, and there's always a chance to raise your stock. However, for Reyna, his stock is already so low – and he has yet to secure a transfer away from Borussia Dortmund. If he doesn't secure a move that allows him to flourish in the midfield, while getting regular first-team minutes, it will have all been for nothing. Time is being wasted. He's missing out on crucial preseason minutes, and he's not doing anything to boost his player value to the national team.
TH: See above. Also, Ricardo Pepi could do with finding a scoring touch early on. We were told last January that he was in the running for a (relatively) big Premier League move, and then he injured his knee. Struggle this year, and that might vanish. The soccer world forgets very, very quickly.
AL: Folarin Balogun was hailed as a major coup for U.S. Soccer when he committed to the national team in 2023. But outside of being one of the few bright spots at the Copa América, he has struggled with injuries and inconsistent form. With the World Cup less than a year away, the starting striker role remains wide open. Balogun’s chances of claiming it are as good as anyone’s, but he needs to find a sustained run of form – something that has eluded him since joining Monaco. Rather than leading the line in Ligue 1, he has slipped to third choice, with Monaco showing they can win without him. As talented as he is, if Balogun isn’t starting regularly in France, he could be on the outside looking in next year.
RT: It might just be Yunus Musah. It's very clear now that midfield spots are up for grabs and, if Pochettino needed to pick a World Cup team right now, Musah probably wouldn't be in the starting XI. That can change quickly, but not unless Musah really steps up this season. Four years ago, it was unthinkable that he would need to fight for a place. That's reality, though, for a player who needs to show he can take that leap forward.
AFPWhich USMNT player is under the most pressure?
JS: The striker core of Sargent, Pepi, and Balogun. There is still no starting striker for the USMNT. Both Pepi and Balogun are coming off injuries and played limited minutes in the past six months. Sargent continues to score for Norwich, but for the life of him cannot find the back of the net with the senior team. Others such as Damion Downs and Patrick Agyemang are in the picture, but there's no pressure on them to succeed. They're here because they earned it. For the trio above, the pressure is on them to perform – because the USMNT needs them to, and because they need to prove they have what it takes to be handed the reins to the No. 9 position.
TH: Pulisic is the obvious one, but that’s nothing new. A weird shout might be Balogun. He’s still living off the goodwill from one(!!) good season in Ligue 1 three(!!) years ago. Time to start finding the net, or he will certainly lose his spot through the middle.
AL: Tillman commanded the second-highest transfer fee for an American player, behind only Pulisic – and with it comes a similar level of scrutiny. The 23-year-old enjoyed a breakout 2025 Gold Cup under Pochettino and now joins one of Germany’s biggest clubs in Bayer Leverkusen, ensuring more eyes than ever on the attacking midfielder. But his path won’t be simple. Tillman is stepping into the shoes of Florian Wirtz, the talisman who led Leverkusen to a shock Bundesliga title two seasons ago, and he will play under Erik ten Hag – a manager whose time at Manchester United hardly inspired confidence. Considering Tillman could have enjoyed a comfortable role had he stayed at PSV, there are fair concerns about how he’ll perform if things unravel in Leverkusen.
RT: Take your pick among the strikers. The race for those spots will be tight and, ultimately, it will be defined by who scores the most this season. Pepi, Balogun, Sargent, Agyemang, Downs, Haji Wright – all will need to score in bunches if they want to go to the World Cup. Pepi learned that lesson the hard way last cycle. This time around, at least a few of those names will be left off. In the end, it will likely be those that don't score on the road to the World Cup.
Getty Images SportWhich USMNT player has the best chance to win silverware?
JS: It's either Pulisic at Milan, or Chris Richards at Palace. The Eagles lifted the FA Cup last spring, and recently the Community Shield vs. Liverpool – and now will compete in the Conference League and the domestic English competitions. For the UECL, they have to be looked at as a contender, even if they lose Eberechi Eze to a transfer. The , meanwhile, should be looked at as favorites, under Max Allegri, to compete for the Coppa Italia. In terms of regular-season glory, Pepi and Sergino Dest will help PSV fight for their third straight Eredivisie title.
TH: No one? It’s not exactly a season rife with opportunity. Perhaps the most obvious is Downs, only because Southampton are going to be way too good for the championship. Tinpot trophy allegations aside, he will have a winner’s medal around his neck come May.
AL: Cardoso's move to Atletico Madrid is massive, not only because he gets to learn under Diego Simeone, but the fact the Argentine manager has his club contending for trophies every season. While La Liga is likely out of reach, would anyone put it past Simeone to win the Copa Del Rey, or maybe have a surprise run in an open Champions League?
RT: Realistically, it's the PSV duo of Dest and Pepi as they look to make it three titles in three years in the Eredivisie. You could also go with Cameron Carter-Vickers and Auston Trusty to run through the Scottish league once again at Celtic. Bold prediction, though? Let's back one of Serie A's all-time great winners, Allegri, to whip Milan into shape as Pulisic and Musah become the latest to finish up Serie A's merry-go-round as champions.
