USMNT World Cup roster watch: Tyler Adams returns as Folarin Balogun, Ricardo Pepi stay hot

In Mauricio Pochettino’s perfect universe, everyone in the U.S. player pool will maintain top health and fitness through the World Cup roster selection process and well into this summer’s soccer fun.

Reality, though, has other ideas.

And across six weeks until he announces his 26 selections, Pochettino will watch players return from injuries and succumb to them.

This weekend brought movement in both directions, largely positive.

Midfielder Tyler Adams appeared in a Premier League match for the first time since injuring a quadriceps on March 3. Entering in the 70th minute, he played a role in high pressure that forced a giveaway and triggered Bournemouth’s tiebreaking goal for a 2-1 stunner at front-running Arsenal. The Cherries are unbeaten in 12 games.

The 2022 World Cup captain is an almost sure U.S. starter when available — something he has not been since September because of injuries and the birth of a child. He’s got six matches left to hit his stride … and avoid another setback.

Tyler Adams of Bournemouth during the Premier League match between Arsenal and Bournemouth at Emirates Stadium on April 11, 2026 in London, England.

(Robin Jones - AFC Bournemouth via Getty Images)

Sidelined since injuring his leg at U.S. camp two weeks ago, midfielder Johnny Cardoso has resumed training with Atlético Madrid and could be ready for the Champions League quarterfinal’s second leg Tuesday vs. Barcelona or the Copa del Rey final Saturday vs. Real Sociedad.

Right back Sergiño Dest, a U.S. starter when healthy, is on track to return to PSV Eindhoven this season after injuring a hamstring March 8. The Dutch Eredivisie champions have four matches left.

“From what I hear from him personally and from the medical staff, it is going very well and it is likely that he will get some minutes this season,” coach Peter Bosz said. “So I am very happy about that.”

In contention for the No. 3 U.S. goalkeeping slot, Cincinnati’s Roman Celentano returned from an injury that had forced him to withdraw from national team camp.

With the good comes the bad. Less than a week after forward Patrick Agyemang was ruled out of World Cup selection with an Achilles tendon injury, left back John Tolkin suffered a possible ACL injury Friday for second-tier Holstein Kiel.

Behind Antonee Robinson and Max Arfsten in the U.S. pecking order, Tolkin wasn’t invited to the recent camp and was a long shot for the World Cup squad.

Nonetheless, his absence chips away at Pochettino’s pool, like the long-term injuries to Celtic center back Cameron Carter-Vickers (Achilles tendon) and St. Pauli defensive midfielder James Sands (ankle).

Miles Robinson, a regular call-up from a thin corps of center backs, has not played for Cincinnati since a groin strain at U.S. camp last month sidelined him for both friendlies.

As for those in action this weekend …

France

Striker Folarin Balogun remains in fabulous form, scoring in the 36th minute of Monaco’s 4-1 loss at Paris FC — his sixth straight match with a goal and eighth in the past nine games to raise his Ligue 1 count to 11 and his overall tally to 17 in 38 matches.

It was a far worse weekend for center back Mark McKenzie, whose 48th-minute red card for pulling down a free-running opponent contributed to a one-goal deficit turning into Toulouse’s 4-0 howler against Lille.

Tim Weah started at right wing back and went the distance in a 3-1 win over last-place Metz, leaving Olympique Marseille one point out of the third and final automatic Champions League berth next season.

Midfielder Tanner Tessmann entered in the 82nd minute of fifth-place Lyon’s 2-0 victory over Lorient.

Italy

Despite creating opportunities for himself and his teammates — and earning AC Milan’s best analytics score — Christian Pulisic remained without a goal over 16 matches for club and country in 2026 with 72 scoreless minutes in a 3-0 loss to Udinese.

Midfielder-defender-forward Weston McKennie served a yellow-card suspension for Juventus’ 1-0 win at Atalanta, which left midfielder Yunus Musah on the bench for the third time in four matches.

England

Three days after center back Chris Richards and Crystal Palace began the UEFA Conference League quarterfinals with a convincing win over Fiorentina, the Eagles scored twice late to defeat Newcastle, 2-1, for their third straight win and improve to 6-1-3 over 10 matches across all competitions.

Antonee Robinson went 69 minutes in Fulham’s 2-0 loss at Liverpool — his fourth consecutive Premier League start.

Just three points above the relegation zone, midfielder Brenden Aaronson and Leeds are at Manchester United on Monday.

In the second-flight Championship, forward Haji Wright went scoreless for the fourth consecutive match as first-place Coventry City settled for a 0-0 home draw with last-place Sheffield Wednesday. Nonetheless, Wright is enjoying a fine season with 16 league goals (17 overall) and Coventry is on pace for Premier League promotion after a 25-year wait.

In a 1-0 loss to Portsmouth, central midfielder Aidan Morris played 90 minutes for Middlesbrough, which is winless in six matches and, after flirting with first place, is now staring at the promotion playoff.

Germany

While right back Joe Scally logged 90 minutes for Mönchengladbach in a 1-0 loss at RB Leipzig, Gio Reyna didn’t play. Of the nine Bundesliga matches for which he has been in uniform in 2026, the midfielder has made three appearances totaling 34 minutes.

Midfielder Malik Tillman entered in the 90th minute of Bayer Leverkusen’s 1-0 win at Borussia Dortmund, leaving him with five minutes played over two matches since returning from U.S. duty.

Noahkai Banks, the dual-national center back weighing U.S. and German opportunities, remained on the bench for the third time in four matches as Augsburg drew with Hoffenheim, 2-2.

Spain

Right back Alex Freeman continues to struggle for playing time at third-place Villarreal, sitting out the 2-1 victory at Athletic Bilbao. The former Orlando City standout has gotten 58 minutes in five matches since arriving in late January.

Netherlands

In his 12th league start, PSV Eindhoven striker Ricardo Pepi scored his 11th Eredivisie goal, in first-half stoppage time as part of an 83-minute effort during a 2-0 win for the Eredivisie champions at Sparta Rotterdam. The Texan also has posted three Champions League goals.

Scotland

Center back Auston Trusty received high marks for the second consecutive weekend, playing all of Celtic’s 1-0 win over St. Mirren.

Mexico

Winger Alex Zendejas — who, despite another excellent campaign for Club América, didn’t receive a camp invitation last month — assisted on an early goal during a 1-1 draw with Cruz Azul.

Major League Soccer

New York City’s Matt Freese made eight saves in a 2-0 loss at Vancouver, while New England’s Matt Turner and Chicago’s Chris Brady earned shutout victories against D.C. and Atlanta, respectively.

Center back Tim Ream played 90 in Charlotte’s 2-1 loss to Nashville. Center back Tristan Blackmon went 90 for Vancouver. Arfsten started on the left wing against Orlando. Midfielders Cristian Roldan (Seattle) and Diego Luna (Real Salt Lake) were off.

Set-piece expert Sebastian Berhalter assisted on a first-half free kick for Vancouver …

… while Whitecaps striker Brian White scored late for his sixth goal of the season, the most among Americans in MLS.