USA World Cup Spotlight: 4 Burning Questions After March Roster Release

Mauricio Pochettino faces tough decisions ahead of the World Cup as he evaluates his player pool

Mar. 18, 2026 at 1:25am

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Four key questions are answered after the U.S. men's national team's March roster release, including how close this group is to the final World Cup squad, whose hopes of making the team took a hit, the future of Noahkai Banks, and whether Pochettino will prioritize past experience or current form.

Why it matters

The March friendlies against Belgium and Portugal represent the last major evaluation period for Pochettino before he must finalize his 26-player World Cup roster in May. The decisions he makes now will have a major impact on the composition of the USMNT squad heading to the tournament.

The details

Pochettino called up 27 players for the March camp, but stressed that this is not the final World Cup roster. Several key players like Tyler Adams, Sergiño Dest, and Diego Luna were left off due to injuries. Pochettino said the roster is still "open" and that he wants to see how different player combinations work together. He also addressed the situations of players like Haji Wright and Noahkai Banks, whose hopes of making the World Cup squad may have taken a hit. Pochettino said he will prioritize finding the "right 26" players for the team, rather than just selecting the "best" 26.

  • The USA has not played together since November 2025.
  • The March friendlies against Belgium and Portugal will be the last major evaluation period before Pochettino announces the final World Cup roster in May 2026.

The players

Christian Pulisic

A USMNT mainstay who was called up for the March friendlies.

Weston McKennie

A USMNT mainstay who was called up for the March friendlies.

Chris Richards

A USMNT mainstay who was called up for the March friendlies.

Tyler Adams

The USMNT captain at the 2022 World Cup, who is expected to miss 2-3 weeks due to a quadriceps injury and was not included in the March roster.

Noahkai Banks

A 19-year-old German-born defender who has played 21 Bundesliga games for Augsburg this season and is still deciding whether to commit his international future to the USA or Germany.

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What they’re saying

“Everyone is saying this is the last opportunity. But it's not closed, it's open. It's still open. It's not the final roster.”

— Mauricio Pochettino, USMNT Head Coach (foxsports.com)

“What I can tell the players today that didn't reach the roster, it's not that they aren't going to have the possibility to be in the final roster. And the players that are in the roster, they cannot think they are going to be in the final roster.”

— Mauricio Pochettino, USMNT Head Coach (foxsports.com)

“He's not yet made a decision. He's thinking a lot; he is in a situation that is not easy for him [but] we are very focused on him…[I] h​​ope for the USA that the decision will be for our side.”

— Mauricio Pochettino, USMNT Head Coach (foxsports.com)

What’s next

The judge in the case will decide on Tuesday whether or not to allow Walker Reed Quinn out on bail.

The takeaway

Pochettino faces a difficult task in whittling down his player pool to the final 26-man World Cup roster, as he must balance past experience, current form, and fitness in making his selections. The March friendlies will be a crucial evaluation period, but the coach has made it clear that the door remains open for players to make their case in the coming months.