Only days remain before USA coach Mauricio Pochettino announces his final 26-man roster for the FIFA World Cup 2026™ on home soil. One of the most intriguing decisions facing the Argentinian tactician is what will his central midfield look like against Group D opponents Australia, Paraguay and Türkiye.
That will be conditioned by which defensive formation Pochettino utilises. In the past year, the former Tottenham, Chelsea and PSG coach has tinkered with both a back four and a centre-back trio with two wingbacks. A four-man defensive line was on display during the friendlies in March and it made for tough viewing, as the Stars and Stripes conceded seven goals in losses to Portugal and Belgium.
The returns were far better in late 2025 with a back three used in a 2-1 win over Paraguay and a 5-1 triumph against Uruguay. Many believe that Pochettino will revert back to that formation for the global finals, and have two central midfielders placed in front for protection.
That brings about the question of which players will be given this important task. The top two names that jump off the page are Tyler Adams and Weston McKennie, both of whom were important parts of the USA team that reached the knockouts at Qatar 2022.
Adams has been hindered by injuries in the intermittent years, but a strong performance last year in the 2025 Concacaf Gold Cup impressed Pochettino, and all signs point toward the ball-winning Bournemouth man getting the starting nod in a defensive midfield role.
McKennie’s case is an interesting one. The native Texan is capable of playing just about anywhere on the field, as has been the case the last two seasons with Italian giants Juventus. However, with the national team, his role is more defined as a motor in midfield, going box-to-box, disrupting, intervening and then kickstarting forays forward.
Those two will not be the only central midfielders Pochettino will be relying on though. Reason suggests that at least another three will be selected, but as to whom they will be is unclear.
Misfortune fell upon Johnny Cardoso, who suffered an injury with Atletico Madrid that rules him out of the tournament, while poor form and a lack of minutes means Qatar 2022 man Yunus Musah is likely on the outside looking in.
Tanner Tessmann has also run into injury problems recently at Lyon and is being shut down for the rest of the French domestic season, making his selection an uncertain one.
Seattle Sounders stalwart Cristian Roldan is a Qatar 2022 veteran and a favourite of Pochettino’s for his experience and selfless attitude. Following the 2-1 friendly win over Australia in which the experienced midfielder registered two assists, Pochettino referred to Roldan as the “perfect player”, so while he may not start for the Yanks, Pochettino’s comfort and familiarity with Roldan greatly helps the player’s case.
Two other players in this area of the field that can be considered candidates to make the co-hosts’ squad are Sebastian Berhalter and Aidan Morris. Berhalter has flourished in his time with the Vancouver Whitecaps and was a key member of the USA team from last year’s runner-up Gold Cup finish. The danger he poses on set pieces, which has long been one of USA’s strongest assets in World Cups, along with his tenacity and underdog spirit is exactly the type of energy Pochettino likes to see from his players.
Morris enjoyed a very good season in the English Championship with Middlesbrough and possesses many of the same blue-collar traits sought by Pochettino: work-rate, tireless running, ability to connect defence with attack and advance the ball. In the end, it will be a numbers game when it comes to selection, but the ill-timed injury for Cardoso might well mean a dream shot for Morris.
With USA facing two opponents in the group stage that like to play on the front foot in Australia and Türkiye, along with stingy and counter-attacking happy Paraguay, the performance of these USA midfielders will be crucial to their hopes of advancement.
