USMNT has a Tyler Adams Problem ahead of the World Cup

The release of the USMNT roster for the 2026 World Cup has come with no shortage of debates, questions, and talking points. It all starts with the early leak of the roster before Tuesday’s official announcement. But one of the biggest concerns with Mauricio Pochettino’s 26-man roster involves defensive midfielder Tyler Adams.

Of course, Adams was always a lock to make the roster. He could also be considered a guaranteed starter, especially with the absence of Johnny Cardoso due to injury. However, one glaring problem with the USMNT roster is that it lacks a bona fide backup and like-for-like replacement for Adams.

Missing in action

Two of the biggest surprise absentees on the USMNT roster were Tanner Tessman and Aidan Morris. With Cardoso out of the picture, it seemed like a safe assumption that both Tessman and Morris would be on the roster. If nothing else, at least one of them would warrant a roster spot to serve as the backup to Adams and another defensive-minded midfielder to help the U.S. protect leads late in games.

However, when the roster came out, Weston McKennie, Cristian Roldan, and Sebastian Berhalter were the only midfielders alongside Adams. While all three have their strengths, none fit the description of a true holding midfielder who can replicate the job that Adams does protecting the backline and providing defensive cover. Morris, in particular, brings the same type of gritty and aggressive approach to the midfield that Adams has long provided for the USMNT.

What’s the problem?

Of course, neither Tessman nor Morris would be starting for the USMNT during the World Cup. At best, they would come off the bench late in games. However, the current makeup of the roster has no bona fide backup for Adams, which is a potential problem that Pochettino has overlooked.

As instrumental as Adams is to the American midfield, he’s also injury-prone. He was out from mid-December to mid-February with an MCL injury, and then missed most of March and the early part of April with another injury, keeping him from playing in the USMNT’s March friendlies against Belgium and Portugal. Plus, he only recently started playing the full 90 minutes for Bournemouth.

Likewise, Adams can have durability issues, even if he avoids injury. During the 2022 World Cup, Adams was noticeably fatigued by the Round of 16. He was unable to track back as effectively as usual, which played a role in the goals the USMNT conceded to the Netherlands in its Round of 16 loss.

While there is plenty of time between games during the group stage, if the U.S. hopes to make a deep run in the knockout stage, there will be less recovery time, and Adams will surely need help in his defensive midfield role, especially against tougher competition.

In short, the U.S. needs another defensive-minded midfielder who can be used to give Adams some rest or play alongside him to give the USMNT a stronger defensive presence in the midfield. Perhaps Pochettino believes that in a three-back formation, Adams won’t have to work as hard to protect the backline. But given Adams’ injury history, it’s still irresponsible of him not to include one bona fide defensive midfielder as a backup.

What's the actual plan?

Without Morris or Tessman as options, what is Pochettino’s plan for the defensive midfield role beyond Adams? That is perhaps one of the biggest questions following the USMNT roster announcement. While there are some possible answers, they aren’t necessarily good answers.

In theory, McKennie can be deployed in a deeper role. But that also prevents him from exercising the freedom to move around the field. Berhalter is a box-to-box midfielder who doesn’t shy away from defensive responsibilities. But he’s not a true holding midfielder, and he lacks a track record against high-end international opponents. Roldan is also a versatile player with a strong work rate. But he lacks the size and physicality of players like Tessman and Morris in a more defensive role.

It’s also possible that Pochettino will utilize Alex Freeman or Joe Scally as deputies for Adams. Both surely possess the traits to play that position. However, neither has extensive experience playing as a central midfielder, as both typically play in wider positions. Plus, both are options to play on the right side of the USMNT’s three-back formation. 

Could this backfire during the World Cup?

In a perfect world, Adams would have a great World Cup and play virtually every minute for the USMNT. After all, he’s a critical part of the team’s success. But he’s too injury-prone to assume he can play every minute. It’s also not a good idea to force him to play every minute at the World Cup. Even if he’s healthy, there will be times when the USMNT will need a double-pivot of two defensive-minded midfielders.

Not having a player similar to Adams on the roster is a huge oversight by Pochettino. The coach undoubtedly thinks highly of Berhalter and Roldan. But it’s a mistake to think that either could adequately fill Adams’ shoes if necessary. Surely, there could have been a way to include either Morris or Tessman without sacrificing Berhalter or Roldan. Regardless of how Adams performs, this is a decision that could potentially come back to hurt Pochettino and the USMNT at the World Cup.

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