The three USMNT players who will define success or failure in historic World Cup with $50m reward

Tyler Adams, Chris Richards and Antonee Robinson will all play huge roles for the United States in a historic World Cup.

So will Mauricio Pochettino, who began the week selecting his 26-man roster and ended it being surrounded by questions about potentially leaving the USA for a big job in Italy before the first Group D match is played.

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Pochettino was hired to maximize USA talent

“The biggest challenge has been that it took Pochettino so long to figure out what it what it took for this team to tick,” Tab Ramos, who recorded 81 caps and eight goals while representing the United States in three World Cups, exclusively told talkSPORT.

“He was hired about a year and a half ago, and just in this last FIFA window we were able to see what this team is capable of. And so it took a long time to figure that out. 

“Now, the good part is we have good players. And the best part is we have a group in which we should be favored to come in first place.”

Among the final 26, three US Men’s National Team players will most define summer success or failure for a squad that automatically qualified thanks to representing a host country, and has been predicted to advance as far as the quarterfinals in a World Cup that will reward the winning team with $50 million.

Below, talkSPORT looks at USMNT’s three most important names entering the final two pre-World Cup friendlies (Senegal on Sunday in Charlotte, Germany on June 6 in Chicago).

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Weston McKennie, midfielder

One of the biggest questions facing Pochettino is McKennie’s position vs Paraguay, Australia and Turkiye in the World Cup.

The Juventus star also must be in top shape.

“Weston McKennie has got to be fit,” former USMNT and Premier League goalkeeper Brad Friedel exclusively told talkSPORT.

To Ramos, McKennie’s versatility is a problem begging for a positive answer from Pochettino.

“If you followed him at Juventus at all, you know that at Juventus … I want to say (he’s) likely their overall best player this year, but it’s because he’s been a utility player,” Ramos said.

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“We need him to be in one position for our team. And that’s that eight that gets into the box and plays box-to-box, winning balls and actually getting goals for the team. 

“If he has a good World Cup, we have a real good shot at doing really well.”

Born: Little Elm, Texas

Club: Juventus (Italy, Serie A)

USMNT career: 64 games, 12 goals, seven assists

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Folarin Balogun, striker

An ex-Arsenal star — who chose the USA over England and Nigeria for his international team — is next on Ramos’ big three list.

The 5ft 10in Balogun has the potential to be a breakthrough name for USMNT and possesses the smooth inner confidence required for World Cup wins.

“Obviously, he’s doing well this year at Monaco and has done well for the National Team over the last six months, which means that he undoubtedly will be our number nine going into the summer,” Ramos said.

“He’s in good form and obviously any team that has a scorer in good form always has a chance to win a game if they’re organized.”

Born: Brooklyn, New York

Club: Monaco (France, Ligue 1)

USMNT: 25 games, eight goals, four assists

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Christian Pulisic, forward

Also known as US Soccer’s Captain America.

Pulisic has been stuck in a serious goal-scoring drought in 2026.

The pressure will only increase in Group D play, especially since Pulisic has the only name known to non-soccer fans in the USA.

“He’s a player that needs sort of no pressure, some calmness, and then he can perform, and that’s why I think you see he is streaky,” Friedel said.

“When you have Christian at the top of his game, he’s excellent. And he provides something for the US National Team that no other player can provide. But when he’s not at the top of his game, you can tell very much. What ends up happening — because we don’t have another player like him on the field — other teams can focus on him defensively.”

Like Fridel, Ramos drew a link between Balogun and Pulisic.

If Balogun can regularly score, Pulisic can see a more open field in front of him.

But when it came to picking the No. 1 name among USMNT’s most important players entering the 2026 World Cup, Ramos tipped his cap to Captain America.

“I’m going to have to leave the best for last and that’s Christian Pulisic,” Ramos said.

“Christian, last year, was likely up with the best players in Italy for Serie A Player of the Year, even this year. Although in the last month he’s not as hot as he’s been, he’s one of AC Milan’s best players. And on the (US) national team, he has not been able to show that level. 

“I think if he shows that level this summer with the quality that we have in Flo Balogun and the quality we have behind him, this team can really make some noise.”

Born: Hershey, Pennsylvania

Club: AC Milan (Italy, Serie A)

USMNT: 84 games, 32 goals, 19 assists

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