By OkayGoal 
The U.S. men’s national team will want to get back on track this summer and winning the CONCACAF Gold Cup would be the best way to do so.
Mauricio Pochettino’s squad are back in action this June for a pair of home friendlies against Turkey and Switzerland before kicking off play in the summer tournament. After a poor showing in the Nations League Final Four last March, the USMNT will want to make the most of their final competitive action before the 2026 FIFA World Cup on home soil.
Pochettino will have plenty of key roster decisions to make ahead of the group stage, especially with Weston McKennie, Tim Weah, and Gio Reyna all unavailable due to their Club World Cup involvement.
Several players will be eager to force their way into Pochettino’s summer plans including Alex Zendejas, Damion Downs, and Diego Kochen.
Here is a closer look at SBI’s selections for Pochettino’s 26-player Gold Cup roster:
Goalkeepers
Matt Turner, Zack Steffen, Patrick Schulte.
Missed the Cut: Chris Brady, Matt Freese, Diego Kochen.
The USMNT’s No. 1 goalkeeper job remains up for grabs heading into the Gold Cup.
Matt Turner is the most likely candidate due to his past involvement in between the sticks, but a lack of consistent playing time could hurt his chances of remaining the No. 1.
Zack Steffen and Patrick Schulte will also fight for opportunities and could get the nod over Turner due to their respective club roles in MLS. Steffen has forced his way back into the picture since returning to MLS and also brings veteran experience to the mix.
Schulte is a young option, but also has played ample minutes in 2025, something that Turner hasn’t.
Defenders
Chris Richards, Auston Trusty, Cameron Carter-Vickers, Mark McKenzie, Sergino Dest, Joe Scally, Antonee Robinson, Caleb Wiley.
Missed the Cut: Tristian Blackmon, George Campbell, Marlon Fossey, Alex Freeman, Nathan Harriel, DeJuan Jones, Kristoffer Lund, Shaq Moore, Tim Ream, Miles Robinson, John Tolkin, Walker Zimmerman.
The USMNT’s defensive corps is flying high heading into the international window.
Chris Richards should be Pochettino’s No. 1 center back option heading into the Gold Cup, especially given his second half of the season for Crystal Palace. Richards helped the Eagles lift the FA Cup and overall has rode a strong run of individual form over the past four months.
Cameron Carter-Vickers and Auston Trusty both delivered strong seasons with Scottish Premiership winners Celtic, with Carter-Vickers holding the edge in overall appearances. Both defenders remain important to the USMNT’s defensive set up and should be considered as a starting option alongside Richards.
Mark McKenzie enjoyed a positive first campaign in Ligue 1 with Toulouse, helping the club finish 10th in the table. McKenzie has been in-and-out of the USMNT XI over the past two years, but remains a younger option for Pochettino to consider.
Antonee Robinson remains the USMNT’s No. 1 left back after delivering his best season yet in Fulham colors. However, Pochettino will have a key decision to make in regard to his No. 2 left back option.
John Tolkin and Caleb Wiley are both rising talents, but I’d expect Wiley to get the nod over Tolkin due to his added versatility on the wing.
At right back, Sergino Dest should be back in the squad after fighting to play a key role in PSV’s repeat as Eredivisie winners. Will Dest be the USMNT’s starter when the Gold Cup begins? We will see, but expect him and Joe Scally to fight for that spot.
Although Tim Ream is still playing at a high level with Charlotte FC, I’d expect Pochettino to go with his younger center back options. The same goes with Miles Robinson and Walker Zimmerman.
Midfielders
Yunus Musah, Brenden Aaronson, Aidan Morris, Tyler Adams, Johnny Cardoso, Tanner Tessmann, Diego Luna.
Missed the Cut: Paxten Aaronson, Max Arfsten, Sebastian Berhalter, Gianluca Busio, Caden Clark, Luca De La Torre, Maximilian Dietz, Eneka Eneli, Richie Ledezma, Jack McGlynn, Djordje Mihailovic, Matko Miljevic, Timothy Tillman, Sean Zawadzki.
Weston McKennie’s absence from the USMNT squad will be a big one, but there still remains ample talent in the group.
A healthy Tyler Adams will be key for the Americans, who can build around Adams in the heart of their formation. Adams enjoyed a stellar campaign with Bournemouth, staying healthy for majority of the campaign.
Johnny Cardoso and Yunus Musah will also fight for minutes after their busy campaigns in Spain and Italy respectively. Cardoso could use the Gold Cup as a springboard into a club move after previously garnering interest from Atletico Madrid and Tottenham.
Tanner Tessmann quickly adjusted to life in France, playing a large role in Lyon’s squad. Tessmann featured in multiple competitions, helping the French club qualify for next season’s UEFA Champions League.
Brenden Aaronson helped Leeds United earn Premier League promotion this spring and overall his work rate should earn him a spot on this roster.
Joining Aaronson in the fight for minutes should be Diego Luna, who impressed under Pochettino during the March window. Luna brings similar attributes to the table as Aaronson, but might have the leg up when it comes to final-third distribution and finishing.
Aidan Morris was durable for Middlesbrough during the EFL Championship season and I think did more than enough to get back into the USMNT picture. His aggressiveness and strong engine is something the USMNT definitely needs this summer and I expect Morris to fight for his opportunity.
Gianluca Busio, Paxten Aaronson, and Jack McGlynn are all on the cusp for me, but overall I see them just missing out.
Forwards
Christian Pulisic, Haji Wright, Damion Downs, Josh Sargent, Malik Tillman, Griffin Yow, Folarin Balogun, Alex Zendejas.
Missed the Cut: Patrick Agyemang, Brian Gutierrez, Brian White, Brandon Vazquez.
Picking the offensive players might be the toughest decision for Pochettino this summer.
Christian Pulisic is a shoe-in to make the roster, bearing anything happens to him in AC Milan’s final match of the season. Pulisic was one of the better performers in the Rossoneri squad, registering double-digit goals and assists in all competitions.
Malik Tillman was one of the key attacking players in the Eredivisie this season and now the 22-year-old will aim to translate that success over to the international level. Tillman has yet to truly make an impact with the USMNT, but here’s hoping he can this time around. Expect to see him out wide, or even as an extra midfielder at times.
Josh Sargent and Haji Wright both registering double-digit goalscoring seasons in England’s second-tier and likely will have their chances once again. Sargent mainly featured as a No. 9 for Norwich City while Wright featured as a striker and winger for Coventry City.
Folarin Balogun is another striker fighting to get back into the mix after missing time with Monaco through injury. Balogun returned to action this month and scored, but ended up back on the sidelines afterwards.
With Ricardo Pepi out of action, I expect Balogun to fight with Sargent and Wright for No. 9 opportunities.
Griffin Yow is a deserving call-up, especially given his run of form for Belgian side Westerlo. Yow has tallied eight goals this season and overall looks to be ready for the jump to the international level.
Tim Weah’s absence opens the door to additional winger help and that is where Alex Zendejas could help. Zendejas has been one of Club America’s best players this season, helping them to one league title and moving closer to a second.
Similar to Tillman, Zendejas has found it tough to deliver with the USMNT, but right now it’s hard to rule him out.
One new face to the fold will be Damion Downs. Downs, a dual-national forward, helped Cologne gain promotion back to the German Bundesliga for next season.
Downs scored 10 goals in the 2. Bundesliga this past season and overall has featured three times for the USMNT U-23’s. Getting the 20-year-old forward included this summer could be a major positive heading into 2026.
What do you think of our projected roster? Who made the cut that you are hoping is included? Who did we leave out that you think deserves to be part of the June squad?
Share your thoughts below.