Five USA players make the World Cup Group D All-Star XI
By James Fudge
The United States will be pleased with their 2026 World Cup draw, with the advantage of home support set to play a key role in their campaign.
Group D presents a favourable path, with matchups against Paraguay, Turkey, and Australia. It’s a well-balanced group featuring a mix of styles from across the globe, but on home soil, Mauricio Pochettino’s side will be expected to top the group.
The American Pitch takes a closer look at the strongest possible starting XIs from all four nations in Group D in a 4-3-3 formation.
Goalkeeper
While a strong case could be made for Matt Turner or Matt Freese, the race for the United States' starting goalkeeper spot remains wide open. This lack of a guaranteed number one forces us to look toward the other standouts in the group, specifically Galatasaray’s Uğurcan Çakır and Levante’s Maty Ryan.
In the interest of representing all nations (spoiler alert) in the group, I am selecting Mathew Ryan for this spot. His consistent shot-stopping ability throughout a seasoned European career and his indispensable leadership for Australia make him the number one for this lineup.
Right back
Choosing between Sergino Dest and AS Roma’s Zeki Çelik was a close call, but Dest earns the nod for his tactical importance to the squad. The PSV player has consistent Champions League experience and offers elite European quality, along with a dynamic attacking presence that makes him a strong fit.
Centre backs
This turned out to be a more straightforward decision than expected, largely due to the relative lack of defensive quality across the four teams. The United States can rely on Chris Richards as their leading centre-back, Turkey boast a solid pairing in Merih Demiral and Çağlar Söyüncü, while Paraguay’s Omar Alderete also deserves a strong mention.
Based on club form this season, however, the standout choices are Crystal Palace’s Richards and Sunderland’s Alderete.
Left back
It’s a close call between Antonee Robinson and Ferdi Kadıoğlu. While Robinson remains a player I rate highly, Kadıoğlu gets the nod here based on his current form and fitness. On that trajectory, he also looks more likely to have the stronger World Cup.
Midfielders
This is arguably the toughest area to call, with several strong midfield combinations to consider. You could build around the presence of a Tyler Adams or Hakan Çalhanoğlu in a deeper role, while relying on the creativity of Diego Gómez, Arda Güler, and Weston McKennie further forward.
Çalhanoğlu gets the nod for his form and consistency, contributing four assists this season, while Adams and Tanner Tessmann have lacked continuity due to injury and competition.
Further forward, the decision is more straightforward. Real Madrid’s Güler and Juventus’ McKennie get the nod, with the pair expected to pull the strings in attack.
Right wing
Güler could easily shift to the right to accommodate Paraguay’s Diego Gómez, while Julio Enciso was another strong option for that role. However, the final pick is Christian Pulisic, with the AC Milan winger crucial to USMNT and earning the nod thanks to his directness and return of eight goals and three assists.
Left wing
Tipped as a potential Young Player of the Tournament, he could shine even with Turkey navigating the qualifiers because if their key talents stay fit, they have the quality to go deep.
Kenan Yıldız is the standout choice.
Striker
There’s no clear standout in this category, with Omar Alderete, Kerem Aktürkoğlu, and an Australian striker all in the mix. That shifts the focus to the USMNT, where the decision comes down to Ricardo Pepi or Folarin Balogun. With the AS Monaco forward currently favoured in the starting role, Balogun gets the nod.
He brings proven goal output, 12 in Ligue 1 and five in the Champions League, and will be expected to carry that form into the World Cup.