In recent years, particularly during Gregg Berhalter's tenure, the United States have focussed on recruiting dual-nationals. Of Mauricio Pochettino's current squad, many could have represented other national teams, including Sergiño Dest, Antonee Robinson, Malik Tillman, Gio Reyna, Christian Pulisic, Tim Weah and Folarin Balogun, to name but a few. However, quality players don't all choose the USA.
Before we get to the six USMNT-eligible World Cup players who have been called up by other national teams, a few clarifications. Despite wide-spread belief, Côte d'Ivoire winger Yan Diomande would not have been eligible to represent the United States. He did spend two years playing for DME Academy in Florida, but FIFA rules dictate that he would needed to have resided stateside for five years.
Meantime, the most high-profile American eligible player won't be at the World Cup and that is Trent Alexander-Arnold. He qualifies as American through his maternal grandmother, albeit does no longer, having accumulated 34 caps for England, but is not in Thomas Tuchel's squad for this summer. Lastly, on the subject of right-backs, Arizona-born Richard Ledezma earnt one USMNT cap in 2020, before turning them down to switch his allegiance to Mexico last year, having been on the provisional roster of both ahead of last summer's Gold Cup. However, he then did not make the cut for Javier Aguirre.
Alexander-Arnold would unquestionably improve the current U.S. team, Ledezma is a bit more debatable, so how many of these six World Cup players would improve Pochettino's lineup?
Esmir Bajraktarević: Bosnia & Herzegovina
Our first player actually has a USMNT cap on his résumé, but is now idolised in a different country. Esmir Bajraktarević began his senior career with the New England Revolution, having been born in Wisconsin, appearing 57 times for the Revs. This saw him make his international debut during a 1-0 defeat against Slovenia in an out of window friendly in San Antonio back in January 2024.
However, later that year, he filed a one-time switch to Bosnia & Herzegovina, and is surely glad he did. Last November, he scored his first goal for the Golden Lilies, a rocket against Romania in Zenica, before also converting the winning spot-kick to defeat Italy in the play-off final at Stadion Bilino Polje. The 21 year old winger, who impressed for PSV Eindhoven this season, certainly has the quality to be on the U.S. roster, but will instead likely need to star, if Sergej Barbarez's team are to make an impression on this tournament.
Nathaniel Brown: Germany
A player many USMNT fans were hoping would join the Stars and Stripes up until very recently is Nathaniel Brown. Born in Bavaria but to an American father, there was talk that he might declare for the USA, despite never representing them at youth level. Nevertheless, the left-back has been so impressive for Eintracht Frankfurt that die Nationalelf have swooped in instead.
Brown made his debut for Germany against Luxembourg in Sinsheim last October, starting their recent friendly wins over Ghana and Finland. Thus, he could well be Julian Nagelsmann's first-choice left-back, currently vying with David Raum for that spot, underlining that he defiantly would've improved the U.S. squad. US fans will get to see Brown first-hand in Saturday's friendly at Solider Field; maybe even he'll get booed against the country he never represented.
Zion Suzuki: Japan
There is currently plenty of uncertainty around who will be the US' number one goalkeeper, with Matt Turner and Matt Freese both battling for the gloves. However, there would not be a debate had they got their hands on Zion Suzuki. Born in Newark, New Jersey to a Ghanian father and a Japanese mother, he certainly had plenty of good options. Nevertheless, after growing up in Urawa, he was never in doubt that he wanted to represent Japan.
Suzuki will be the Samurai Blue's starting goalkeeper this summer, having accumulated 24 caps to date. Still only 23 years old, he has established himself as one of the best goalkeepers in Serie A at Parma, so would unquestionably improve the United States' team, possibly more than any other player on this list, given their relative weakness in this position.
Brian Gutiérrez & Obed Vargas: Mexico
As already alluded to with Richard Ledezma, there are always plenty of players eligible to represent both Mexico and the United States. Álex Zendejas and Ricardo Pepi chose to go for the Americans, but two members of the el Tri squad went in the opposite direction.
Born in Illinois, thereby starting his career at Chicago Fire, Brian Gutiérrez did twice pick up U.S. caps, featuring in January camp friendlies against Venezuela and Costa Rica in Florida last year. However, by the end of 2025, he had declared for Mexico, likely to be a key figure this summer, having scored against Ghana at Estadio Cuauhtémoc last month, starting Thursday's 5-1 demolition of Serbia too.
Meantime, it is not often that an American-born player joins one of the biggest clubs in the world. Having starred for Seattle Sounders, Obed Vargas signed for Atlético Madrid for a reported fee of $3.5 million earlier this year. Uniquely, he was born in Alaska, declaring that los Colchoneros was always the team he supported after facing Atleti at the Club World Cup. At youth level, Vargas represented both the U.S. and Mexico, but nailed his colours to the el Tri mast, featuring in six friendlies thus far, mot notably starting against Portugal at the Azteca. Had both gone for the US, no doubt Gutiérrez and Vargas would be in Pochettino's 26-man roster, potentially both starting.
Jonathan David: Canada
Last, but by no means least, one can certainly debate the best striker in CONCACAF. Some might say Raúl Jiménez, or possibly Folarin Balogun, but the correct answer might be Jonathan David. Born in Brooklyn to Haitian parents, his family emigrated to Ottawa when he was just six years old, meaning David was eligible to represent half of CONCACAF's entrants into this World Cup. Nevertheless, he only ever wanted to represent Canada, scoring a brace on his debut for the Canucks against the U.S. Virgin Islands in September 2018.
In total, David has netted 39 times in 76 outings for les Rouges, becoming their all-time leading goalscorer at the age of just 23. Of these goals, two have been scored against the United States, netting the winner at SoFi Stadium last year. So, David will be key as Jesse Marsch's team chase Canada's first-ever World Cup point, but he could have been a game-changer for their neighbours.
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