USMNT Roster Announced for March Friendlies Against Belgium, Portugal

Pochettino calls up strong squad for final tune-up before 2026 World Cup

Mar. 16, 2026 at 7:51pm

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The United States men's national team will convene for a pair of high-profile friendlies at the end of March in their last chance to prepare for the 2026 FIFA World Cup later this summer. Head coach Mauricio Pochettino has named a 26-player roster that is expected to closely resemble the final World Cup squad, with Christian Pulisic, Weston McKennie, and Chris Richards returning to the fold after missing the November international break.

Why it matters

These March friendlies represent the last opportunity for Pochettino to evaluate his player pool and finalize his plans before the World Cup roster is named in late May. With the experimentation phase over, this roster should provide a clear indication of who Pochettino views as his core group of players heading into the tournament.

The details

The USMNT will face Belgium on March 28 and Portugal three days later, both matches taking place at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta. Key storylines include the battle to back up starting goalkeeper Matt Freese, the competition for the second center-back spot alongside Chris Richards, and whether Tanner Tessmann or Aidan Morris will earn the nod to spell Tyler Adams in the defensive midfield role.

  • The USMNT roster will be announced sometime this week.
  • The matches against Belgium and Portugal will take place on March 28 and March 31, respectively.
  • The final 2026 World Cup roster will be named in late May, with the tournament kicking off shortly after.

The players

Matt Freese

The NYCFC goalkeeper has seemingly locked down the starting position for the USMNT, and will look to solidify his hold on the role in these friendlies.

Christian Pulisic

The AC Milan winger returns to the USMNT after missing the November international window due to injury, and will be a key figure in the team's World Cup aspirations.

Weston McKennie

The Juventus midfielder was left out of the November roster to focus on his club situation, but has since earned a contract extension and will be back in the fold for these March friendlies.

Chris Richards

The Crystal Palace defender, like Pulisic, missed the November camp due to injury, but is now healthy and expected to anchor the USMNT backline alongside Tim Ream.

Noahkai Banks

The 19-year-old Augsburg defender remains undecided between representing the United States or Germany at the international level, and is unlikely to be called up for these matches as his future remains uncertain.

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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

These March friendlies represent the final opportunity for Pochettino to evaluate his player pool and finalize his plans before naming the 2026 World Cup roster. The return of key veterans like Pulisic, McKennie, and Richards, along with the continued development of younger players, will be crucial as the USMNT looks to make a deep run in the tournament.