3 game-changers (other than Christian Pulisic) the USMNT can trust to win them games

The 2026 FIFA World Cup is just around the corner, and the USMNT roster is likely close to being set in stone at this stage. Head coach Mauricio Pochettino will be keeping an eye on the club game to see if there are any standouts in the final weeks, but most decisions will now be made.

There are a couple of friendlies still to play, involving clashes with Senegal and Germany, but attention will then turn to the World Cup group stage clashes with Paraguay, Australia and Turkiye.

As one of the hosts for the competition, USMNT benefitted from a positive group stage draw, but it's not going to be an easy tark. Pochettino is going to need his key players to find form, and we are not just talking about the obvious standout player- Christian Pulisic.

With that in mind, we have taken a look at the possible difference-makers aside from Pulisic.

Antonee Robinson

Let's start with a less obvious one. When looking for difference-makers, it's not often you start at the back, but Robinson is one of USMNT's most important players heading into this World Cup.

The Fulham full-back, who regularly operates as a wing-back, is going to provide the legs to get USMNT going up the wing, and his pace is going to be vital in transition. Robinson has an excellent crossing ability, and while this season has been a little tricky for him due to injuries, the full-back managed 10 Premier League assists from the back last season, and that sort of ability is key for USMNT., especially against sides at a similar level to USMNT and below.

Robinson is going to drive USMNT forward, and even playing at the back, he is one of the most important cogs in the attacking machine.

Folarin Balogun

Balogun is likely the player Pochettino is going to rely on for goals. The AS Monaco striker has been in fine form this season, scoring 18 times and providing five assists in 39 appearances across all competitions, including the Champions League.

The young forward has really kicked on from last season, and he has the pace to get in behind and hurt opposing defences. You look at Australia and Paraguay and see plenty of opportunity for Balogun to cause problems and score goals, with the Turkiye game likely to be much trickier.

Balogun's Monaco teammate Lamine Camara said of Balogun this season: “On the field, you can see he gives everything for the team. He really fights. As his teammate, I'm really happy to play alongside him. There are efforts we have to make, and he makes them for us. Everything he does, he really puts into what's happening to him this season. I hope he keeps it up."

Balogun has been key to driving Monaco towards the European spots in Ligue 1, and he is going to be key to USMNT's hopes of progressing to the knockout stages this summer.

Weston McKennie

On paper, USMNT has few players as valuable as Weston McKennie, and that is likely to translate to the pitch, too. The Juventus midfielder has been very productive again at club level this season, scoring nine times and providing eight assists.

It has been refreshing to see how McKennie has managed to turn around his Juventus career after a difficult loan spell with Leeds United that looked as though it may lead the midfielder to being sold.

But McKennie has turned things around to be a key player for Juve, and he has even managed four Champions League goals, proving his ability to turn up in big games. As a player with top level experience, USMNT is going to rely heavily on McKennie this summer, and rightly so. He is a player with top-class ability, someone who is going to run the midfield, control the flow of the ball and - hopefully - provide and score at the top-end of the pitch.

One to watch: Brenden Aaronson

Just as a bonus point, it's worth keeping an eye on Brenden Aaronson if he gets on the plane, so to speak. The Leeds United attacking midfielder is another who has turned his career around with his club having come in for plenty of criticism earlier in his time there.

The 25-year-old creative attacking midfielder has four assists and five goals this season, and if Pochettino can get him into those pockets of space that he is so good at exploiting, Aaronson can do some real damage, especially against lesser teams.

Aaronson may be a bench player, but he can come on and provide goals and assists this summer.