5 USMNT players with rising stock after World Cup tuneup vs Senegal

Getting three wins on the trot to wrap up 2025 left everyone in the USMNT camp feeling like something special was brewing. Paraguay, Uruguay, and Australia are not easy squads to outwork, but Mauricio Pochettino got the job done. Unfortunately, opening the 2026 FIFA World Cup run-up with two devastating losses to Portugal and Germany had fans fretting over the results more than the ticket prices. Those nerves have been settled once again thanks to a little bit of magic from Christian Pulisic, Folarin Balogun, and Sergiño Dest.

Dest’s seventh-minute opener got the party started in Charlotte. Now it’s up to Poch to make sense of it all before facing Germany. It’s the final tune-up before the World Cup opener, a rematch against Paraguay. Pulisic sounds ready to shoulder the USMNT’s offensive burdens.

“I felt this confidence. I’ve played really well in recent months too, but all people seem to care about is goals,” Pulisic said after the win. “So hopefully now people can stop talking about it. And I feel good and now obviously just a friendly…big games ahead and I got to be ready.”

Everyone knows if the AC Milan-based star can put on a pair of shorts, the USMNT has one player locked into the starting lineup. A few other fringe players made a great push for playing time against Senegal, leaving Poch to ponder some ideas.

Sergiño Dest dialed in

Dest dialed in early, scoring the opener and showing dangerous overlapping runs and defensive balance as a right wingback. His composed finish and ability to terrorize Senegal’s flank set the tone for the Americans. Essentially, if Pulisic is the bomb, Dest is the firing cap and fuse.

Pochettino’s decision to shove Dest higher as a wingback in a back three looked like a gamble on paper and a masterstroke in practice. In the seventh minute, Dest arrived to slam home Pulisic’s low cross, capping a 20-plus-pass move that touched every U.S. outfielder before it hit the net. PSV’s star attraction went a perfect three-for-three on his dribble attempts as well, showing the kind of iso-ball creating that would make the NBA Finals jealous.

The USMNT has plenty of talented defenders. Few can change a game with the ball at their feet like Dest. If there were lingering concerns about the 25-year-old’s form entering the World Cup, they disappeared in Charlotte.

Ricardo Pepi solves problems

Pepi doesn’t always end up on the scoresheet, but he’s the connective tissue that makes the front line hum. PSV’s talisman was right in the middle of Pulisic’s goal, collecting Alex Freeman’s defense-splitting pass and threading the ball through for the captain to run onto and finish. Beyond that, Pepi did the unglamorous stuff like holding play up, linking the lines, and dragging center backs out of shape that frees up Pulisic and Dest to do damage.

In a squad still bickering about its No. 9, Pepi quietly reminded Poch of what kind of plays affect winning soccer. Pepi didn’t find the net, but his 45-minute shift may have been his most influential in a USMNT uniform. The striker debate has raged for years; Pepi made the case that he’s the answer to problems, not part of them. Poch now has every reason to start the 23-year-old in the group stage. Others can provide the dynamic bench depth when needed.

Bet bank on Folarin Balogun

Elite strikers have short memories and killer instincts. That’s why Poch will bet the house on Folarin Balogun finding a way to bag a late goal at some point this summer. The Monaco striker came off the bench and delivered the game-winning goal with a clinical finish, adding sharpness and threat throughout his shift. Celebrated for elite poaching instincts and composure, it’s easy to see why the USMNT views Balogun as a game-changer for the last 30 minutes.

Balogun can chase a game if the USA needs a goal, and can also help park the bus as a lone striker when trying to bleed the minutes away. If the USMNT needs someone in the corner the same way Cobi Jones did against Mexico, the locker room would all hope it’s Balogun holding up the ball.

As for the goal? The finish was clinical. The movement was intelligent. The timing was perfect. Balogun consistently looked like the most natural goal scorer on the field, and that’s a trait the United States will need when opportunities become scarce in World Cup knockout matches. The debate with Pepi isn’t going away. Balogun arguably made the strongest argument of the night.

Antonee Robinson runs the show

Width and energy are always rewarded during World Cups. James Rodriguez made a career out of three great games leading Colombia, for example. Relentlessness is another trait worth gold. Well, Robinson (Fulham) runs the show on the left flank with tireless overlapping runs, dangerous crosses, and strong defensive contributions. The 28-year-old’s ability to stretch the field and transition quickly will create opportunities that Pulisic and Co. should finish.

Robinson created two chances and snuffed out Senegal’s counterattacks with trademark recovery speed. Fans call him Jedi for a reason. Antonee always shows up and is a force to reckon with, especially when that link-up play with Pulisic is on point.

Weston McKennie works overtime

Weston McKennie works overtime in midfield, breaking up plays, covering ground, and contributing to the build-up. Despite Senegal’s quality, his second-half efforts helped the U.S. control key moments and recover from defensive lapses that just happen when substitutes start flooding the field.

McKennie covered more ground than any American midfielder, breaking up plays and advancing the ball with his usual aggression. He finished with three tackles, two interceptions, and a passing accuracy of 89% despite the disjointed all-around play. His leadership and endurance are vital for the grind of a World Cup campaign. Those same qualities keep Juventus coming back for more at every transfer window.

Poch will have to worry about burnout later. McKennie is practically a lock for the First XI on the field in Game 1.

Now, of course, there were problems. First, Tim Ream looks woefully overmatched against Father Time. As the USMNT found out the hard way, Sadio Mane is far quicker than Ream’s retirement home-level pace. Neither keeper deserves a mention as a stock riser either. Without a Tim Howard type between the sticks, that feeling of uneasiness is not going away anytime soon.

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