The countdown to the 2026 FIFA World Cup continues, and we’re just months away from seeing the world’s biggest sporting event hit the shores of North America.
The U.S. men’s national team take on Paraguay in its opener on June 12 in Los Angeles, so that leaves plenty of time to talk about who will be in the starting XI for Mauricio Pochettino’s squad.
We all have our thoughts, but let’s turn to FOX Sports soccer analyst Stu Holden on how he thinks the USA could line up for the World Cup:
Matt Freese has solidified his spot as the starting goalkeeper since last summer after a stellar showing at the 2025 Gold Cup. The NYCFC keeper looks to be the favorite for Pochettino and has the inside track over 2022 World Cup starter Matt Turner or other veteran options.
But what about the defensive backline? That’s where things get interesting amid debate about whether the team is better suited with three defenders or a more traditional four-man look.
Holden predicts a three-man lineup with Alex Freeman (newly signed to Spanish side Villarreal), Crystal Palace center-back Chris Richards, and 38-year-old Tim Ream.
“If you look at my back three, the thing I love about this lineup is it has a lot of flexibility. We’ve seen Pochettino play with four in the back, three in the back. He likes to build out with four. … But don’t get lost in the semantics of how the formation looks because that changes in and out of possession,” Holden said.
Flanking those three as wing-backs are Antonee “Jedi” Robinson and Tim Weah. It’s been encouraging for USA supporters to see Jedi return to Fulham amid a knee injury that kept him out for most of the season. Opposite to him is Weah, whose versatility may give him the inside edge over Sergiño Dest at the moment.
“Antonee Robinson is back and healthy, so great to see. I’m going to have him in the left wing-back position,” Holden said. “And then on the other side is Tim Weah, who’s been playing really well for Marseille. I like that he can get up, get back defensively. But also, with his speed, he’s a threat for opponents.”
Who does Pochettino lean on in the midfield? That will depend on if Tyler Adams, who has been out of action for his club Bournemouth due to an MCL injury, can get back into the mix. If so, Holden has him paired up with Lyon’s Tanner Tessmann, a surprising choice over all-everything midfielder Weston McKennie.
“[Midfield] é onde fica um pouco duvidoso. Tyler Adams, se conseguirmos recuperá-lo e saudável, eu o amo no meio do campo. Mas ao lado de Tanner Tessmann – adoro o tamanho dele, sua passagem daquela posição. E talvez eu tenha pensado em colocar McKennie lá, mas se você assistiu McKennie recentemente, cara, o cara está jogando como um atacante, marcando gols, dando assistências.”
Stu Holden sobre sua previsão de XI titular na Copa do Mundo dos EUA, transferência fracassada de Ricardo Pepi e muito mais
Isso significa que Holden tem McKennie, que está em uma forma incrível pela Juventus, mais à frente no ataque ao lado das ameaças de gol Christian Pulisic e Folarin Balogun.
“Eu amo aquele pequeno triângulo que os três podem formar. Mas também vi com McKennie um pouco de flexibilidade, um pouco de liberdade.
Pulisic tem lutado contra algumas lesões persistentes no AC Milan ultimamente, mas será um titular infalível no verão pelos EUA. Balogun, agora em sua segunda temporada completa no Mônaco, enfrentará forte concorrência de Ricardo Pepi, do PSV, que atualmente está com o braço quebrado e está prestes a se transferir para o Fulham. E não durma com dois atacantes do Campeonato Inglês, Patrick Agyemang (Derby County) e Haji Wright (Conventry City), que estão em alta ultimamente.
“Balogun ainda está na frente. E então Christian Pulisic, gosto dele na esquerda, cortando por dentro, também pode entrar e sair”, disse Holden. “Esta formação, para mim, é uma equipe na qual eu me sentiria muito confiante para jogar o primeiro jogo contra o Paraguai e conseguir a vitória”.
