The countdown to the start of the 2026 World Cup continues. Soon enough, Mauricio Pochettino will have to name his 26-man roster for the USMNT. Even after that, Pochettino will have some tough choices to make when it comes to his starting lineup for the tournament.
On the bright side, there are no fewer than five players who are absolute locks to be on the field on June 12 against Paraguay. Here are the five non-negotiable starters for the USMNT at the 2026 World Cup.
Chris Richards
Whether it’s a three-back setup or Pochettino moves back to two center backs, Richards is guaranteed to be one of them. The goalie position probably isn’t 100% guaranteed for Matt Freese, while the other center-back spots are very much up in the air. But it’s a given that Richards will be the lynchpin of the USMNT defense.
He might actually be the hardest player to replace if he were to get injured or suspended during the tournament. Richards has played at a high level of both club and country for a long time. He was massive in getting a watered-down roster to the Gold Cup final last summer, while being a key cog in Crystal Palace’s European success this season. Whatever Pochettino decides to do defensively at the World Cup, it all revolves around Richards.
Antonee Robinson
Again, it doesn’t matter if Pochettino plays four in the back or utilizes three center-backs with wing-backs; Robinson will be in the lineup. Granted, his form at Fulham hasn’t been great this season after missing so much time returning from a knee injury. However, Robinson played well during the March international window, registering an assist against Belgium.
When he’s in form, Robinson is dangerous on the left wing, in addition to working hard defensively. More importantly, the USMNT doesn’t have another natural left fullback who is anywhere close to Robinson’s ability or experience level, making his inclusion in the World Cup squad an easy choice for Pochettino.
Christian Pulisic
The biggest no-brainer for Pochettino is putting Pulisic in the lineup. Even though he hasn’t scored for club or country this calendar year, it’s impossible to imagine a starting 11 for the USMNT without him. Despite his poor form, opposing teams still have to respect Pulisic’s abilities, which can help open up opportunities for other players.
If Pulisic’s inability to score goals continues into the World Cup, it’s possible that Pochettino decides to bring him off the bench later in the tournament. But there’s no reason to think that Pulisic won’t be in the starting lineup when the USMNT opens the World Cup against Paraguay.
Weston McKennie
It’s still a question of where McKennie will be playing, but there’s no doubt he’ll be somewhere in the midfield for the USMNT. He can play several different positions, even changing his role in the middle of games. Pochettino knows that he needs a player like that on the field as much as possible.
Whether he plays in a deeper midfield role next to Tyler Adams or Johnny Cardoso or plays in a more advanced position closer to Pulisic remains to be seen. But with his versatility and knack for scoring goals at Juventus this season, McKennie is a non-negotiable starter for the USMNT, especially with Pulisic struggling to find the back of the net.
Folarin Balgogun
This might be a controversial pick; Haji Wright has made a strong argument for the starting striker spot this summer after everything he did for Coventry City this season. But Balogun has been the top choice for the last three years, and that’s not going to change. As good as Wright’s been this season, Balgogun has been just as impressive, and he’s done it against better competition.
He’s scored 13 goals for Monaco in Ligue 1, including a stretch of nine goals in 10 games heading into Monaco’s last two games of the season. Balogun also scored five goals in 10 Champions League games earlier this season. He’s in excellent form heading into the World Cup, making it easy for Pochettino to write his name on the team sheet without a second thought.
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