Mauricio Pochettino's squad is ready to begin the World Cup, and I've dished out some superlatives to the members of the team ahead of the tournament.
Superlatives include the teams' most important player, most likely to lead the team in goals, biggest surprise, to play every minute, to get a red card, and more at the 2026 World Cup.
Find out which USMNT players have earned superlatives from me below:
Who will be the USA's most important player?
Weston McKennie - Midfield
Weston McKennie is arguably the best player on the USMNT, and in major tournaments you need your best player to step up. The spotlight will shine on Christian Pulisic, but McKennie will be doing a lot of the dirty work to get the USA through tight games.
McKennie is box-to-box midfielder who will track back defensively, but also get forward in the attack. Pochettino will need the 27-year-old on both ends of the pitch, and McKennie will be up for the task due to playing the same role with Juventus in Serie A.
Most Likely to Lead USA in Goals
Folarin Balogun - Forward
Folarin Balogun is in fine form in front of goal entering the World Cup, and will benefit from the depth of creators behind him. Balogun will stretch defenses, but he will also need to score some goals early on to avoid losing his spot to Ricardo Pepi.
I expect Balogun to rise to the moment and bury the chances service he gets from Pulisic, Reyna, Weah, McKennie, Dest, and others.
Most Likely USMNT player to have bigger role than expected
Cristian Roldan - Midfield
The United States' midfield is very strong going forward, but lacks major depth in deeper on the pitch. Adams and Cristian Roldan are the only true defensive midfielders on the roster, so Roldan should have a larger role than most fans expect.
Adams will likely start most games, but with Aidan Morris and Tanner Tessmann both not cracking the 26-man roster, Roldan is the only other deep laying midfielder.
Roldan is a like-for-like replacement with Adams, and can also play alongside him when Pochettino uses a defensive approach. Roldan is the definition of consistency. He will not shock fans with shifty dribbling, but he's great at minimizing mistakes - something crucial for a team defending a lead.
Most Likely Player to Get a Red Card
Sergino Dest - Wingback
Sergino Dest is a phenomenal player possessing create skills for a wingback, but defensively he can be a little reckless. Dest's speed and ability on the ball will wow some fans, but like Trent Alexander-Arnold of Real Madrid is is much better with the ball than without.
Dest can be a liability defensively, so it's not unlikely to see him be slightly late on a tackle and bring someone down in the box. Hopefully, for the USMNT's sake, I'm worng.
Most Likely to be the USMNT's Hero in the World Cup
Christian Pulisic - Forward
Christian Pulisic, nicknamed 'Captain America' is already one of the greatest American soccer players of all-time, and the attention will all be directed at him when the tournament gets underway.
Pulisic is a four time winner of the U.S. Soccer Male Player of the Year award (2017, 2019, 2021, 2023), tying Landon Donovan's record for the most in USMNT history, and is due to step up for his team on the biggest stage.
Pulisic has scored some timely goals for the Americans, but none would be bigger than scoring a winning in the knockout stages of the World Cup on home soil.
Most likely to play every minute of the World Cup
Antonee Robinson - Defender
Antonee Robinson often flies under the radar on the USMNT, but is by far the teams best option on the left side of defense. Robinson enjoyed an strong season at Fulham in the Premier League, and is a reliable defender on the left side of a back-four or back-five.
Robinson has 52 Caps for the USMNT, and his stamina will likely keep him on the field for at least three more. Robinson is much better defensively than MLS winger Max Arfsten, making him the more likely pick in every match the USMNT play.
Chris Richards is another name who could play every minute, but with an ankle injury leading up to the tournament could lead Pochettino to manage his minutes during the group stage.
Most Likely to earn a move to a bigger club after the World Cup?
Chris Richards - Defender
Chris Richards was immense for Crystal Palace's UEFA Conference League winning campaign this year, and will be vastly important for the USMNT defense at the World Cup.
Richards has been putting on fantastic displays for over a year now, but a few strong performances against the best attackers in the world could earn him a move to one of Europe's top clubs. Crystal Palace are known as a selling club, and Richards stock is likely to rise this summer.
Sebastian Berhalter is another name who could earn a move if he's able to showcase his attacking prowess at the World Cup. Berhalter has been lighting up MLS, but European clubs could come swoop for the Vancouver Whitecaps midfielder if he has a decent tournament.
Ricardo Pepi has also been on the verge of a bigger move for a little bit now, so I decided to go with someone else rather than the easy option.
Discover more from bet365
Read the latest World Cup news on site.
United States 2026 World Cup Odds.
Every Team to Qualify for the 2026 World Cup.
World Cup History & Records.
