USMNT's Three Best Players of the Week: Pepi Fuels Striker Race, Freese's Stunning Stops

Ricardo Pepi, Matt Freese, and Folarin Balogun stood out for the U.S. men's national team over the past week.

Apr. 13, 2026 at 10:53pm

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A cubist, geometric painting depicting various soccer players and actions, with overlapping shapes and planes in a vibrant color palette, capturing the energy and competition of the USMNT's World Cup preparations.The USMNT's depth of talent is on full display as players compete for World Cup roster spots, with standout performances from the likes of Pepi, Freese, and Balogun.Vancouver Today

The latest weekend saw standout performances across the world from USMNT players, with Matt Freese putting in a shining goalkeeping performance in MLS, Ricardo Pepi turning up the heat on the striker competition in Europe, and Folarin Balogun continuing his impressive scoring run in Ligue 1.

Why it matters

With the 2026 World Cup roster deadline looming, every week is a critical chance for USMNT players to prove their worth to manager Mauricio Pochettino. These three players' performances have boosted their chances of making the final squad.

The details

Ricardo Pepi scored his 14th goal of the 2025-26 season for PSV Eindhoven, showcasing his ability to create chances and make skillful runs behind the defense. Matt Freese made several key saves for New York City FC, including a remarkable cross-box recovery to deny a sure goal, demonstrating the skills that could make him the USMNT's first-choice goalkeeper. Folarin Balogun continued his red-hot scoring form, netting in his seventh straight Ligue 1 match for Monaco.

  • Pepi scored his 14th goal of the season on Saturday, April 12, 2026.
  • Freese made his standout saves for NYCFC on April 11, 2026.
  • Balogun scored his 11th Ligue 1 goal of the season on April 13, 2026.

The players

Ricardo Pepi

A 23-year-old American striker playing for PSV Eindhoven in the Dutch Eredivisie, who has scored 14 goals in 30 games across all competitions this season and is a key part of the USMNT's striker competition for the 2026 World Cup.

Matt Freese

A 27-year-old American goalkeeper playing for New York City FC in MLS, who made several impressive saves in a match against the Vancouver Whitecaps and is a leading candidate to be the USMNT's starting goalkeeper at the 2026 World Cup.

Folarin Balogun

A 24-year-old American striker playing for Monaco in Ligue 1, who has scored 11 goals in 26 league appearances this season and is one of the USMNT's most in-form strikers heading into the 2026 World Cup.

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What’s next

With the 2026 World Cup roster deadline set for May 26, these three USMNT players will look to continue their strong form in the coming weeks to cement their places in Mauricio Pochettino's final squad.

The takeaway

The performances of Pepi, Freese, and Balogun over the past week have highlighted the depth and talent within the USMNT player pool as the team prepares for the 2026 World Cup. Their standout displays have boosted their chances of making the final roster and playing key roles for the national team in the tournament.