USMNT big board: Did March losses finalize Pochettino's squad?

The March window has come and gone, and with it the final chance for players to prove themselves in front of U.S. men's national team coach Mauricio Pochettino. The hope was that Pochettino would get some clarity as to which way the roster winds are blowing, but if anything, the picture surrounding the team seems cloudier than it was before. Pochettino doesn't necessarily mind this, given his preference for making sure his players are comfortable with being uncomfortable, but the reality is that a combination of injuries and some lackluster performances have created additional uncertainty.

The present state of the depth chart also aligns with Pochettino's comment, when he announced the most recent list of players on March 17, that this wasn't his final roster. It makes sense given that so much can and probably will happen between now and the final roster announcement on May 26. And following a window in which the U.S. fell 5-2 defeat to Belgium and a 2-0 setback to Portugal, it seems as if there are more questions than answers.

With less than two months to go until the final FIFA World Cup roster is announced, here's how the U.S. depth chart is playing out.

Goalkeepers (3)

Matt Freese | 27 years old | New York City FC

It was a bit of a surprise when Freese found himself on the bench for the Belgium match given that he had started 12 in a row, although he probably benefited from the night off given the collectively poor performance by the team's defense. Reinstated to the starting XI on Tuesday, he was sharp enough against Portugal that he probably solidified his spot as the team's starting keeper. Now he just needs to maintain his form at the club level.

Matt Turner | 31 | New England Revolution (on loan from Lyon)

Turner wasn't the main culprit in the aforementioned defeat to Belgium, delivering some sharp saves, but he also gave up some juicy rebounds that were either converted into goals or should have been. His distribution also was suspect at times. That said, he at least he looks to have secured the No. 2 spot behind Freese.

Chris Brady | 22 | Chicago Fire FC

Brady has made some stealthy progress in terms of securing the No. 3 goalkeeper spot at the World Cup. He has been solid so far this season for Chicago, with a goals prevented mark of 1.17, and he was preferred to the Columbus Crew's Patrick Schulte, who was called in only when Roman Celentano was injured. At this point, he just needs to put his head down and stay consistent, and the spot is his.

Center backs (5)

Chris Richards | 26 | Crystal Palace

Richards has been a mainstay in the back for most of the past year, and his absence because of a knee injury against Belgium reinforced that belief. It's tempting to put him in bubble wrap for the rest of the club season, but sharpness is a goal now as well. He should get it at Palace.

Tim Ream | 38 | Charlotte FC

Has Father Time finally caught up with Ream? That will be one of the questions Pochettino faces in the remaining months before the World Cup. There's still time for Ream to sharpen his form, and it should help if he's paired with Richards.

Mark McKenzie | 27 | Toulouse

McKenzie endured a tough night against Belgium, but he remains the primary backup to Ream and Richards at the moment. His steady playing time at club level means he also should maintain that spot going forward.

Miles Robinson | 29 | FC Cincinnati

A groin injury meant that Robinson didn't even get any game time to show what he could do in the most recent window. Does that make his spot vulnerable? It might if he can't shake off the injury. That would be a brutal development for a player who missed out on the 2022 World Cup because of an Achilles injury.

Auston Trusty | 27 | Celtic

The March window wasn't as successful for Trusty as November's was, as he looked shaky in the first half against Portugal -- including his positioning on the first goal -- even as things improved for him in the second half. Out of the center backs on this hypothetical roster, his spot is the most under threat. Finding some consistency at Celtic in what has been an up-and-down season is critical at this stage.

Fullbacks (4)

Sergiño Dest | 25 | PSV Eindhoven

The hamstring injury Dest suffered on March 8 was a blow for the U.S. Just how big remains to be seen. He has publicly put forward a positive attitude with regard to his recovery, but when he'll be back is still to be determined. For now, Dest is still a presumed starter, either at right back or right wingback, but there will be some doubts until he makes it back onto the field.

Antonee Robinson | 28 | Fulham

One of the positives from the window was the return of "Jedi." Robinson hadn't played for the U.S. since November 2024, primarily because of a knee injury, but he looked solid in the two games, and even produced an assist against Belgium when Weston McKennie redirected his corner kick. With there now appearing to be little depth at the position, the U.S. needs him on the field in a big way.

Alex Freeman | 21 | Villarreal

Freeman was one of the few players to improve his profile during the March window. He was plenty effective getting forward and held up well defensively. If he can carve out a few more minutes with Villarreal, he'll be set.

Max Arfsten | 24 | Columbus Crew

Arfsten's stint against Belgium was one to forget as his suspect one-on-one defending was exposed. His spot on the World Cup roster should be secure given the minutes he has already logged under Pochettino, but he'll need to raise his game if he's called upon this summer.

Central midfielders (5)

Tyler Adams | 27 | AFC Bournemouth

Just as Adams seemed to be fully recovered from the knee injury he sustained in December, he was felled by a quadriceps injury just days before the roster was announced, ruling him out for the window. Adams is expected to be back in the next week or two, and U.S. fans will be hoping he can get a consistent run of matches as he remains a vital cog in the midfield. The team badly missed his tenacity against Belgium and Portugal.

Cristian Roldan | 30 | Seattle Sounders FC

Roldan plays with a style and grit that Pochettino values. He's also a glue guy in the locker room, meaning his value extends beyond the field. It was mildly surprising to see him log only 56 minutes in the two March friendlies, but as things stand, his name should among those called when the roster is named in May.

Johnny Cardoso | 24 | Atlético Madrid

U.S. fans are still waiting to see an inspired performance from Cardoso. He played 45 minutes against Belgium and then came off during a pre-planned substitution because of a minor leg ailment. It could be argued that his play against Belgium was his best in a U.S. shirt, but that is a low bar. He was ... OK. At this stage, it feels as if Pochettino would be taking a gamble by naming him to the final roster, but for now he keeps his spot.

Tanner Tessmann | 24 | Lyon

Tessmann's pairing with Cardoso just seemed awkward, for whatever reason. Operating beside Adams appears to be a more natural fit, especially with his height allowing him to win plenty of aerial duels. Tessmann has been scuffling a bit of late at Lyon. Can he finish the club season strong?

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Klinsmann 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 | 24 | Vancouver Whitecaps

Berhalter didn't exactly dazzle in the two matches, but compared to the competition, he still helped himself. His pinpoint delivery on set pieces is unquestioned, but he has come out second best at times in physical duels at international level. Pochettino will need to weigh those two areas carefully.

Attackers (6)

Christian Pulisic | 27 | AC Milan

The U.S. maestro is in a funk, no question. No goals in 2026 for club or country, and he has gone eight consecutive matches with the U.S. without scoring, the longest such spell of his career. He will score again, of course, but his form will be watched closely during the stretch run of the club season. The U.S. badly needs him at his peak.

Weston McKennie | 27 | Juventus

A goal against Belgium continued his fine run of form although he wasn't as sharp against Portugal, including a giveaway that led to Francisco Trincão's 37th-minute opener. Pochettino doesn't seem any closer to figuring out what McKennie's best position is on this team. Might an Adams-McKennie pairing in the center of midfield be in the works? The pre-World Cup training camp is the last chance to find out.

Timothy Weah | 26 | Marseille

Weah looked way more comfortable operating from the wing against Portugal than he did as a right back against Belgium. Of course, he wasn't having to defend Jérémy Doku on Tuesday either. It will be interesting to see if Weah keeps his spot if and when Dest returns.

Malik Tillman | 23 | Bayer Leverkusen

Tillman remains a confounding presence. He often doesn't seem as if he's doing much, but then at the end of the game, you see some decent numbers. He led the team in chances created Tuesday with two, but attempted only 14 passes. He'll need to regain his mojo at club level to cement his spot with the U.S. going into the World Cup.

Brenden Aaronson | 25 | Leeds United

The designated pest for the U.S. wasn't used much in March -- only 11 minutes -- although he still seems likely to get on the plane to New York for the roster announcement. Like Roldan, he's another hard worker who is good for the locker room.

Alejandro Zendejas | 28 | América

Like Gio Reyna, Zendejas has been hit by injuries of late. The difference between the two is that when healthy, Zendejas actually plays with his club, and in a creative role. He wasn't quite healthy enough to take part in this window, but if he can achieve a semblance of fitness, he should be on the plane. The question is: will he?

Forwards (3)

Folarin Balogun | 24 | AS Monaco

At first glance, Balogun didn't have the greatest of windows -- three shots, with only one on goal -- but he also wasn't provided with much in the way of service. His club form still means he should be the starting striker when June arrives.

Patrick Agyemang | 25 | Derby County

Agyemang bagged a consolation goal against Belgium and had extended minutes against Portugal. Given that he was preferred over Ricardo Pepi, one gets the sense that the Derby County player has moved up a spot in the striker pecking order.

Ricardo Pepi | 23 | PSV Eindhoven

Pepi's window was downright bizarre. He came off the bench against Belgium and his pressing helped create a goal for Agyemang. His reward? Watching Pulisic play as a central striker and failing to get off the bench against Portugal. You don't want to read too much into this, but being overlooked had to grate on Pepi. His spot looks far from secure.

On the bubble

Roman Celentano | Goalkeeper | 25 | FC Cincinnati

After initially being named to the March roster, Celentano was forced to withdraw as a precaution to guard against injury. It doesn't sound as if he'll be sidelined for long, but the timing is rough nonetheless.

Patrick Schulte | Goalkeeper | 25 | Columbus Crew

His initial exclusion from the roster -- he was called in to replace Celentano -- was a head-scratcher given how he rebounded from a rough opening weekend in MLS play to turn in some solid outings. Now he appears to be behind Brady in the goalkeeper race.

Zack Steffen | Goalkeeper | 31 | Colorado Rapids

Already a long shot to make the World Cup roster, Steffen sustained a shoulder injury in March, although he was back in the lineup for Colorado's most recent match. In another universe, he's healthy for last year's Gold Cup and rises up the depth chart. The injury bug scuttled those hopes.

Tristan Blackmon | Center back | 29 | Vancouver Whitecaps

Blackmon is the next man up in terms of the pool of center backs. He has played well for Vancouver, and is on Pochettino's radar. For now, he looks to have fallen behind Trusty, but he should keep his phone close in case Pochettino decides to look elsewhere.

Noahkai Banks | Fullback | 19 | FC Augsburg

Banks' hesitation in terms of which national team to represent -- either Germany or the U.S. -- is understandable, but it won't help his standing with Pochettino. It now looks as though the chance to play in this World Cup for the co-hosts has passed him by.

Joe Scally | Fullback | 23 | Borussia Mönchengladbach

The calculus seems simple. If Dest recovers, Scally will lose out. If he doesn't, Scally will shoehorn his way in. Scally does have versatility going for him, but he's not the only one with that trait.

John Tolkin | Fullback | 23 | Holstein Kiel

Tolkin's playing time has been consistent this season, with 28 appearances in all competitions, but with Antonee Robinson's return, securing a spot on the World Cup roster now seems unlikely. Tolkin is also looking at a second consecutive relegation with Holstein Kiel.

Yunus Musah | Midfielder | 23 | Atalanta (on loan from AC Milan)

Goals in back-to-back appearances in the beginning of March provided a glimmer of hope for Musah, but when it came time for the most recent roster announcement for the U.S., the midfielder wasn't included. It's incredible how far, and how quickly, Musah's profile has fallen.

Luca de la Torre | Midfielder | 27 | Charlotte FC

De la Torre's odds of making the roster remain long indeed. He has been in Charlotte's midfield rotation, but not as a consistent starter. To make the World Cup roster, that will need to change, along with the injury bug to strike the competition.

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Gomez: Pulisic has not been good for Milan or the USMNT in 2026

Herculez Gomez says Christian Pulisic's performances have fallen short of expectations for club and country in 2026.

Aidan Morris | Midfielder | 24 | Middlesbrough

Morris was given a golden opportunity to stake his claim to a roster spot when Pochettino handed him a starting role against Belgium. His play mirrored the team's: solid for long stretches mixed with a few backbreaking mistakes. With Adams set to return, Morris seems to be the one sacrificed.

Gio Reyna | Midfielder | 23 | Borussia Mönchengladbach

Reyna's inclusion on the March roster was much discussed, full of pros (talent) and cons (lack of playing time with his club). And then he played only 31 minutes across two games. It's a catch-22. Reyna isn't fit enough to play more but won't gain that fitness unless he plays with his club, which he isn't doing at the moment. That shouldn't be enough to earn a World Cup roster spot, but it's not out of the realm of possibility.

Diego Luna | Midfielder | 22 | Real Salt Lake

Even as Luna recovered from a knee injury just before the March window, his two substitute appearances weren't enough to get him on the roster. He's now relying on club form -- and probably some injuries to other players -- to make the final squad. It's not an ideal position, but Luna has caught Pochettino's eye before and could do it again.

Haji Wright | Forward | 28 | Coventry City

Could Pepi's lack of playing time mean the door is still open for Wright, another player who was felled by injury just before the window? It's certainly possible, but he'll first need to recover from the groin injury that kept him out. Getting his scoring touch back once he returns also will be needed.

Josh Sargent | Forward | 26 | Toronto FC

Sargent is still waiting for his first goal with new club, although his tenure in Canada spans only two appearances and 65 total minutes. That said, he'll need to acclimate quickly if he's to have any hope of rising up the U.S. depth chart.

Damion Downs | Forward | 21 | Hamburg SV (on loan from Southampton)

Downs' situation is even more dire than Sargent's, having failed to find the net in 20 appearances across two different leagues. This looks to be a tournament too soon for the 21-year-old.