This is the 11th season we’ve ranked Power Four coaches at CBSSports.com, and this year’s top 25 might have the most changes year-over-year since we started. To start, four coaches climbed at least 15 spots from last year in our top 25, with three of them climbing at least 20 spots.

Furthermore, we also saw two of our top 10 coaches last season lose their jobs during the 2025 season. One of them remains in our top 25 this year, though he’s no longer in our top 10. He’s not the only coach to suffer that fate: four of our top 10 coaches in 2025 are no longer considered top 10 in 2026.

Oh, and we have a new No. 1. I don’t want to spoil anything, but let’s just say that our new No. 1 coach is the first in history to jump from outside the top 20 one year to the top spot the next. Any guesses?

2026 college football coach rankings: Jon Sumrall, Brent Venables headline Power Four coaches ranked 68-26

Tom Fornelli

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Before we get to the list, don’t forget to check out where the coaches who finished outside the top 25 were ranked. Also, if you haven’t read that story yet, I will remind you that there is no set criterion for how we ask our panel of 10 voters to rank coaches. It’s an inexact science in an inexact world, baby.

25. Bret Bielema, Illinois

Illinois has won eight or more games in a season only five times this century. Bret Bielema is responsible for three of them in the last four years. Bielema’s Illini finished 9-4 last year and have gone 11-7 in the Big Ten and 4-0 against the other three Power Four leagues over the last two seasons. 2025 rank 23 (-2), High 18, Low 32

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24. Jeff Brohm, Louisville

Louisville has been remarkably consistent under Jeff Brohm. They’ve finished each of his three seasons with four losses, but the problem is that after going 7-1 in the ACC in Brohm’s first season, they’ve gone 5-3 and then 4-4 last year. That’s led to Brohm sliding down our voters’ ballots, but for now, he remains one of the 25 best. 2025 rank 17 (-7), High 19, Low 45

23. Eli Drinkwitz, Missouri

Mizzou took a step backward last year, finishing 8-5 after posting a mark of 21-5 the prior two seasons. Quarterback injuries played a big role in that slide, but Drinkwitz’s Tiger teams have finished each of the last three years at .500 or better in SEC play. Still, if he’s going to climb into the top 20 or higher, he probably needs to start winning more games against the top tier of SEC programs. 2025 rank 24 (+1), High 16, Low 32

22. Kenny Dillingham, Arizona State

The Sun Devils didn’t return to the College Football Playoff in 2025, finishing 8-5, but they still went 6-3 in the Big 12. As a result, Dillingham only slips a bit in the rankings after a massive 46-spot climb last year. He lost his quarterback to the portal this winter, but Dillingham has a successful enough track record with signal callers that expectations remain high. There’s a reason you hear his name floated about at “bigger” jobs when they have an opening. 2025 rank 18 (-4), High 13, Low 27

21. Joey McGuire, Texas Tech

So I guess if you finish 12-2, win your conference, and get to the CFP after putting together an incredible transfer class, our voters will reward you for it. Yeah, I was not surprised to see McGuire climb 27 spots to No. 21 in our rankings this season, and you shouldn’t be either. This is a Texas Tech program poised to be a Big 12 powerhouse for a while. 2025 rank 48 (+27), High 15, Low 29

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20. Kirk Ferentz, Iowa

Kirk Ferentz falls a spot in our rankings this year, and it’s primarily due to one rogue voter. The lowest he finished on any of our ballots was 32nd, but that voter was the only one of us who had Ferentz outside their top 25. Every other vote placed him between 14 and 25. That was enough to drag him beneath a couple of names that, with all due respect to those coaches, Ferentz should not be ranked behind. 2025 rank 19 (-1), High 14, Low 32

19. Josh Heupel, Tennessee

It’s not a strong argument, but an argument can be made that Heupel’s 8-5 mark in 2025 was more impressive than his 10-3 mark and playoff berth in 2024. Given the losses the Vols team had, both natural (draft departures, injuries) and otherwise (The Nico Saga), there was potential to see them bottom out in 2025. It didn’t happen, and Heupel deserves plenty of credit for that. 2025 rank 16 (-3), High 15, Low 26

18. Willie Fritz, Houston

Willie Fritz has always been a favorite among many on our panel, and seeing him win 10 games with Houston last year gave us the excuse we’ve long wanted to rank him even higher this year (it was hard to justify coming off a 4-8 season in 2024). Fritz is one of the year’s bigger climbers, jumping 23 spots from 41st last year. If the Coogs flirt with 10 wins again this year, I can’t promise we won’t put him in the top 10 next year. 2025 rank 41 (+23), High 13, Low 27

17. Lincoln Riley, USC

Riley’s star continues to fade among our panel, but there’s still far too much respect for what he accomplished at Oklahoma to ding him too much. He was considered a top 25 coach by every one of our 10 voters, but I don’t know if that’ll still be the case next year if USC doesn’t make a serious playoff push in 2026. 2025 rank 13 (-4), High 12, Low 25

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16. Matt Campbell, Penn State

It’ll be interesting to see how Campbell is viewed by our voters going forward. For years, he received plenty of credit for his ability to punch up and play the underdog role at Iowa State. Now he’s at the helm of a Penn State program that wants to compete for Big Ten and national titles. An 11-3 record at Iowa State was viewed as an incredible achievement. At Penn State, it’s just another season. 2025 rank 10 (-6), High 11, Low 22

15. Rhett Lashlee, SMU

While I can’t speak for all our voters, there was a sense of “that was an impressive first season in the ACC, but I’d like to see you do it again” to Lashlee’s results last year. While the Mustangs didn’t quite do it again in 2025, they did still go 6-2 in the ACC. That’s a 14-2 mark in conference play since joining the league. In four years at SMU, Lashlee has gone 27-5 in conference play across two leagues. It’s starting to feel a lot more like signal than noise, and that’s reflected in his climb to the top 15. 2025 rank 22 (+7), High 10, Low 19

14. Mike Elko, Texas A&M

Mike Elko is one of the coaches who climbed from outside the top 25 last year into it this year. That tends to happen after a CFP berth. Elko has already delivered what Jimbo Fisher never could in College Station, and only needed two seasons to do so. He’s 12-4 in the SEC and has consistently fielded one of the more talented teams in a conference full of talent. Now all he has to do is maintain that level of success. That’s easy to do, right? 2025 rank 29 (+15), High 10, Low 27

13. James Franklin, Virginia Tech

How many Penn State fans are fuming that the coach they fired is ranked three spots higher than the coach they hired to replace him? Probably a few. Things clearly did not go as planned for Franklin at Penn State last season. It’s why he was fired, and it’s why he’s no longer in our top 10 after falling six spots in these rankings. Still, while Big Game James might’ve been given that moniker sarcastically, there are few coaches in the sport with the overall success Franklin has achieved in his career. Nobody will be surprised if Virginia Tech returns to the top of the ACC soon. 2025 rank 7 (-6), High 8, Low 20

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12. Kalani Sitake, BYU

Kalani Sitake finished 26th last year, just outside our top 25, but climbs 14 spots after another strong season at BYU. Sitake’s Cougars are 23-4 over the last two seasons and reached the Big 12 Championship last year. If they can figure out how to get over the Texas Tech hump and reach the CFP in 2026, Sitake will likely climb into our top 10. Maybe our voters will receive free cookies if he does. 2025 rank 26 (+14), High 5, Low 24

11. Dabo Swinney, Clemson

It seems the respect for Dabo’s past accomplishments has begun to wane among our panel. Swinney has won two national titles, so I don’t know how one of our voters can truly justify ranking him 28th (nobody else had him lower than 15th), but none of us can ignore recent results, either. Swinney has been slow or unwilling to adapt to the sport as it has evolved, and it’s having an adverse effect on Clemson’s performance on the field. 2025 rank 3 (-8), High 5, Low 28

10. Kyle Whittingham, Michigan

Kyle Whittingham didn’t want to leave Utah, but he probably can’t feel too bad about where he ended up. Whit has long been either in our top 10 or just on the periphery of it, so this spot is not a result of him being at a blue-blood program. However, like Matt Campbell at Penn State, I wonder how he’ll be judged going forward, given the very different expectations at his new job than at his last gig. 2025 rank 11 (+1), High 7, Low 18

9. Lane Kiffin, LSU

Lane Kiffin shies away from the spotlight as much as possible, but darn it, that doesn’t stop us from recognizing his abilities as a coach! OK, so, in all seriousness, a lot of things can be said about Kiffin and how he handles his business off the field. There aren’t nearly as many things that can be said about his ability as a coach other than “he’s pretty damn good at it.” He left a program that he had in the playoffs for one he believes gives him a better chance to win a national title. That means he’d better do it (and soon), or he could suffer the same fate as the LSU coach who we had ranked in the top 10 at this time last year, too. 2025 rank 12 (+3), High 7, Low 15

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8. Kalen DeBoer, Alabama

The way Alabama’s season ended leaves a sour taste in fans’ mouths. The Tide lost to Georgia in the SEC Championship by 21 points, and then followed up a first-round road playoff win over Oklahoma with a 35-point drubbing by Indiana in the Rose Bowl. Nobody at Alabama will be happy with four-loss seasons any time soon, but DeBoer has led two different programs to the playoffs in the last three seasons. That’s not an achievement that’s easily overlooked. 2025 rank 9 (+1), High 5, Low 14

7. Mario Cristobal, Miami

Mario Cristobal is genuinely one of my favorite kinds of coaches. He had plenty of successful seasons at Oregon before the Miami job, but as good as he was at so many aspects of the gig, he had shortcomings. However, unlike many people who choose to “block out the haters,” Cristobal acknowledged his shortcomings and then took a crazy approach: he went to work on fixing them. He surrounded himself with staff members who could help him. That’s what great leaders do! The result was a run all the way to the national title game, where Cristobal’s Miami team came a touchdown shy of winning a national title. 2025 rank 20 (+13), High 4, Low 11

6. Steve Sarkisian, Texas

The 2026 season might be career-defining for Steve Sarkisian. Texas began last season at No. 1 in the polls and quickly failed to live up to the expectations. They lost their season opener to Ohio State, and then lost a game they shouldn’t have against Florida before losing (again) to Georgia later in the season. That Florida loss ultimately kept Texas out of the playoffs. Now we enter the 2026 season, and the Longhorns will have similar expectations. Sarkisian has gone 35-8 over the last three seasons and is 13-3 in the SEC. He’s won two playoff games. But if Texas comes up short again, I don’t know what might happen, especially if Texas Tech and Texas A&M continue to succeed. 2025 rank 4 (-2), High 6, Low 10

5. Dan Lanning, Oregon

Dan Lanning has been at Oregon for four seasons and gone 48-8 with a conference record of 32-4 across two leagues. After winning the Big Ten in his first season, Oregon failed to reach the Big Ten title game last year, but won its first two playoff games since beating Florida State in the first CFP back in 2014. Lanning has achieved a lot, and many view him as the next coach to win their first national title. He has the resume of one of the five best coaches in the country, but until he breaks through with that national title, it’s hard to justify moving him up higher than this. 2025 rank 5 (0), High 4, Low 7

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4. Marcus Freeman, Notre Dame

The way Notre Dame’s season ended doesn’t sit well with me (I don’t care if you got screwed, you’re a football team, play football), but I didn’t let that affect how I ranked Marcus Freeman on my ballot. I was one of five voters to rank him fourth, and no one ranked Freeman lower than seventh. He has taken what Brian Kelly built at Notre Dame and improved upon it in many ways. Once viewed as one of the most overrated teams year after year, Notre Dame is now seen as a legitimate national title contender, and Freeman is a massive reason why. 2025 rank 6 (+2), High 4, Low 7

3. Ryan Day, Ohio State

Ohio State was unable to follow up its national title with another in 2025. The Buckeyes finished 12-2 overall and went 9-0 in conference play before falling to eventual national champion Indiana in the conference title game. They were also upset in their lone playoff game by the Miami team that would also lose to Indiana. So while Day finally got over that Michigan hump, nobody at Ohio State will ever be happy about finishing the season on a two-game losing streak. Given what he’s accomplished through his entire career, though, nobody on our panel even thought about ranking him lower than third. That said, Day didn’t garner a single first-place vote after picking some up last year. 2025 rank 2 (-1), High 2, Low 3

2. Kirby Smart, Georgia

Kirby Smart is in a similar boat to Day right now. He’s one of the most accomplished coaches in the country. He’s won two national titles, and every year his program is expected to compete for another. But last year ended on a sour note. The Dawgs won the SEC again but failed to win a playoff game. They have not won a playoff game since winning the national title in 2022. I don’t think that’s why Smart fell out of the No. 1 spot (it’s more about the accomplishments of the man who usurped him), but it probably played a role. Smart still received four first-place votes (one from me), but it wasn’t enough to hold onto No. 1. 2025 rank 1 (-1), High 1, Low 3

1. Curt Cignetti, Indiana

Google him, and you’ll now see “CBSSports.com’s No. 1 coach” come up in the results. Well, assuming Google still even shows search results anymore, anyway. Curt Cignetti has taken college football by storm. He’s done the seemingly impossible by turning Indiana into a national champion in only two seasons. It’s not simply that he did it, either, but how he did it. He went on the road and beat Oregon during the regular season. He beat No. 1 Ohio State in the Big Ten Championship. He crushed Alabama by 35 in the Rose Bowl and followed ig up with a 34-point win over Oregon in the Peach Bowl. Then he took down a Miami team that was peaking at the right time in the postseason. Cignetti and the Hoosiers overcame every obstacle in their path, often obliterating it beyond recognition and did something nobody could’ve dreamed of only three seasons ago. If he can do that, how can any of us be surprised to see him No. 1 here too? 2025 rank 21 (+20), High 1, Low 3

Even after a solid win over Zimbabwe, Super Eagles coach Eric Chelle has warned that his team still has a lot of work ahead.

Nigeria recorded a 2-0 victory in their semi-final clash in London, with Femi Azeez scoring both goals to secure the result.

However, Chelle said the match should not be seen as anything more than part of the team’s preparation process, as they continue building towards bigger challenges.

He explained that the players are still adjusting to his ideas and the demands of playing at a higher level.

“This is just a friendly game, not a World Cup qualifier. The players must keep working hard,” he said.

“They need to understand what I want from them and what the technical team is trying to build. At this level, it is not easy.”

“We made some mistakes with the ball, but we will go back and correct them in training,” he added.

The Super Eagles will now focus on the final of the tournament, where Chelle is expected to continue testing his squad and strengthening his playing style.

Real Madrid presidential candidate Enrique Riquelme has launched his campaign by promising to develop the club’s training ground into a hub for fans including swimming pools, padel courts and a basketball arena.

Renewables tycoon Riquelme is standing against Florentino Perez in the first presidential election in 20 years featuring a challenger.

Perez announced the election during an extraordinary news conference earlier this month in which he criticised journalists and La Liga and spoke of an “organised campaign” against him.

The 79-year-old has been in office since 2009 – and was previously president between 2000 and 2006 – but has overseen two successive trophyless seasons.

On Wednesday Riquelme, 37, presented plans to transform Madrid’s Valdebebas training ground into ‘La Ciudad del Socio’ – The Members’ City.

The project would turn the area into a vast social hub for Madrid’s members, with an exclusive hotel, swimming pools, a gym, tennis and padel courts, basketball courts, football pitches and activities designed to bring supporters closer to a club he says has drifted away from them.

He has also promised to build a 15,000-capacity arena to host concerts and Real Madrid’s basketball team.

Riquelme did not say how much the new development would cost or how the club would pay for it.

He also pledged to cut membership fees by 50% and make 10,000 season tickets available through a lottery to cut the number of members “holding for years in a waiting list”.

Riquelme accused Perez of wanting to “privatise the club,” after his opponent proposed to create a subsidiary that would allow outside investors to buy a 5% stake in Real.

“In the 1950s, Real Madrid was a members’ club. The members felt they were part of something. They knew they were the ones in charge. Between 2004 and 2026, Real Madrid lost its essence, and the members lost their club,” Riquelme said.

Perez’s proposal would require members to approve a change to the club’s statutes at an extraordinary general meeting.

Hardik Pandya had millions of followers on Instagram.© BCCI

File image of Randhir Singh© X (Formerly Twitter)

This week, NFL.com decided which players around the sport have “make or break” seasons afoot, and it just so happened that two Minnesota Vikings players earned the distinction: Kyler Murray and J.J. McCarthy.

Minnesota’s quarterback room suddenly has one of the NFL’s most fascinating camp decisions.

That’s right, the two men at the very top of the ticket have it all on the line, according to Nick Shook.

The Stakes Are Massive for Both QBs

NFL.com: It’s Make or Break for Murray and McCarthy

Shook’s list was 11 players deep, and the Vikings accounted for 18% of it.

He explained, “Murray has struggled with injuries and inconsistency in recent years and couldn’t survive the second coaching change of his career in Arizona. He also never got on the same page with former No. 4 overall pick Marvin Harrison Jr. in their season and a half spent together, a reality that proved damning to his chances of staying in Arizona.”

“McCarthy’s first season as the Vikings’ top dog was fraught with inconsistent mechanics and performance, and remarkably inconsistent availability from week to week due to injury. Head coach Kevin O’Connell — a former NFL quarterback who owns a reputation for pairing well with signal-callers (see: Sam Darnold’s renaissance season in 2024) — couldn’t make much progress with McCarthy, whose lack of consistency and participation doomed a team that still managed to win nine games despite owning zero stability under center.”

It’s been a while since the Vikings had a real summer quarterback competition; 2026 may be different.

Shook added, “In one season, the rosy outlook attached to McCarthy soured. Thus, Murray arrives with a chance to rehabilitate his reputation in a fashion the Vikings hope will mirror Darnold’s rebirth.”

“If Kyler succeeds, he’ll steal McCarthy’s job. If he struggles, McCarthy will have another (and perhaps his last) chance to command the top spot on the depth chart. In theory, one of the two will win out — or the Vikings will slide back into the QB market next spring.”

Why Murray?

Murray is at a career crossroads for one simple reason: he has one big shot in 2026 to latch on as the Vikings’ long-term quarterback — or hit the open market next March and potentially bounce around the league as a low-end QB1.

For example, if Murray posts his typical numbers — 3,900 passing yards, 30 total touchdowns, 600 rushing yards — in Minnesota, the Vikings’ front office and coaching staff won’t let him leave the building next offseason. It’s simply impossible that they would make the “Sam Darnold mistake” twice in three offseasons.

However, if Murray does not thrive in Minnesota, the Vikings might say “thanks but no thanks” for 2027, casting Murray onto the free-agent wire, where he’d likely sign with a quarterback-needy team like the New York Jets. From there, he’d try to establish himself once again or forge a “bridge quarterback” path heading into his 30s.

Murray can basically become Minnesota’s QB1 well into his 30s — fetching a huge extension next offseason — or take on a journeyman’s tale. The stakes are indeed high.

The Stakes for McCarthy

McCarthy has a similar-but-different outlook. Like Murray, if he doesn’t perform well, given the chance — let’s say he doesn’t take the next development step in Year No. 3 — Minnesota may not need him in 2027 and beyond. He’d become tradebait, especially if Murray lands a handsome extension with the Vikings.

On the other hand, if McCarthy dethrones Murray at training camp or takes his job during the regular season, well, the plan is back on. The Vikings drafted McCarthy as their big quarterback solution of the future after the Kirk Cousins era, and it would just work out best for anybody if he arrived in 2026 and looked the part.

There’s no rule stating that the Vikings must trade McCarthy if he has a quiet 2026 season — Minnesota controls his right through the end of 2028 — but it wouldn’t make much sense to keep him in the roster orbit if another team dangled a draft pick via trade next March or April, assuming Murray has the long-term juice as QB1.

A Duel in Eagan

And that’s what makes this summer so fun for onlookers. Both men are relatively young, especially McCarthy, so it’s not like the Vikings have short-term options. Murray and McCarthy, respectively, have high-profile and charismatic personalities. McCarthy isn’t doing battle with Joe Flacco, who would have a definite endgame sometime soon.

The betting odds favor Murray — to the tune of a -1000 moneyline, which is substantial — but McCarthy finished the 2025 season really, really hot, and some have brushed that aside.

While it’s never ideal to have quarterback uncertainty in July and August, this version for the Vikings should be exciting given the “crossroads” angle.

Dustin Baker is a novelist and political scientist. His second novel, The Invaders , is out now. So is … More about Dustin Baker

The clamour for Vaibhav Sooryavanshi’s inclusion into the senior team is growing deafening.© BCCI

The time is now. Mauricio Pochettino has named his 26-man squad to represent the United States at the 2026 FIFA World Cup. As a host nation alongside Mexico and Canada, there will be immense pressure on the Red, White, and Blue, but that also extends to Pochettino as the Argentine manager has made tough calls to set the roster. Diego Luna was someone who was expected to be in the squad, but he misses out while Gio Reyna and Alex Zendejas are in. Meanwhile, Tyler Adams is the only true defensive midfielder due to the absence of Tanner Tessmann and Aidan Morris. And a whopping 10 defenders were included. 

Let’s take a look at the 26 for 26 and what to know about them:

Goalkeepers

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Matt Freese

USA • GK • #24

ClubNew York City FC

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Age27

BirthplaceWayne, Pa.

Caps14

Already a USMNT cult hero after a penalty kick shootout against Costa Rica in the Concacaf Gold Cup, Matt Freese is ready to write his next chapter with the squad. That chapter will follow the Harvard thesis he’s already written on penalty kicks. Freese has put that into action during his career, where even with his club, New York City FC, he has been excellent in those scenarios. “Matty Ice” may be a nickname more akin to NFL quarterback Matt Ryan, but for Freese on penalties, he’s been quite deserving of that, including in open play, where he has a strong hold on his box. Freese may not have debuted for the USMNT until kicking off the Gold Cup in June of 2025, but he’s taken that chance and run with it, earning 14 caps since and putting himself in a strong position to be the number one in net for a World Cup on home soil.

Matt Turner

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USA • GK • #1

ClubNew England Revolution

Age31

BirthplacePark Ridge, N.J.

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Caps53

Matt Turner returns to the World Cup, this time as Freese’s understudy after serving as the starter in 2022. His origin story is unusual – he did not get serious about soccer until his late teens, when his peers were already on professional pathways, and went unselected in the 2016 MLS SuperDraft. After a few trying years in Europe, he is now back at the club where he broke out, the New England Revolution, and might just be the most in-form goalkeeper on the USMNT. In his last outing in U.S. colors, though, a chance to overtake Freese came and went – he started the USMNT’s 5-2 loss to Belgium in March, things not going to plan even if it would be hard to lay the blame at his feet. “I’ve stood in front of here and criticized myself many times but tonight, I felt like I did have some really good moments,” he said that evening. “I was able to make some good saves. I just wish I could have one or two of ’em back because I don’t think the scoreline really reflected the balance and flow of the game.”

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Chris Brady

USA • G • #25

ClubChicago Fire

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Age22

BirthplaceNaperville, Ill.

Caps0

Pochettino’s tenure has been marked by the opportunities he has handed to fringe talent when more experienced players were unavailable, Chris Brady amongst the bunch. The Chicago Fire academy product first joined the group for last summer’s Concacaf Gold Cup and has been a frequent invite since, making the step up after representing the U.S. at youth levels. The 22-year-old may be the only uncapped player on the roster, but his inclusion might be with an eye towards the future, the focus likely to shift to some of the national team’s up-and-coming goalkeepers once the World Cup is over.

Defenders

Sergino Dest

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USA • D • #2

ClubPSV

Age25

BirthplaceAlmere, Netherlands

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Caps37

Goals2

Consider Sergino Dest one of the missing pieces for a full-strength version of the USMNT. He has only played four games for the national team since Pochettino took charge in the fall of 2024, while sidelined with a series of injuries, but returned to play in May with PSV and should be ready to go when the World Cup begins. The Netherlands-born outside back is destined to play a key role for the U.S. team — he boasts an impressive pedigree, coming up through the prestigious Ajax academy in Amsterdam and later playing for Barcelona. Teammate Chris Richards once described him as “probably the most attacking fullback in the world,” making him a real asset for an attack-minded USMNT that will benefit from two very talented outside backs in Dest and Antonee Robinson. Dest is also known for his flair and might be good for one or two highlight-reel worthy moments this summer — watch out for a nutmeg!

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Antonee Robinson

USA • D • #5

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ClubFulham

Age28

BirthplaceMilton Keynes, England

Caps52

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Goals4

Antonee Robinson’s absence has been felt. The England-born outside back is one of the Premier League’s best, but a long-term knee injury meant he went almost 18 months without playing for the national team, though he finally made his long-awaited return for the USMNT’s friendlies in March. He was a sight for sore eyes even amidst defeats to Belgium and Portugal, his dynamic attack-minded play on the flank offering a stark reminder of why he won U.S. Soccer’s male player of the year award after a successful stretch of matches in 2024. It was a relief for the player, too, after undergoing knee surgery last summer and being pestered by the injury months later. “There was no sort of certainty on my end that I was going to be fit and available and make it [to the World Cup] because it just seemed like there was kind of no light at the end of the tunnel but thankfully, I feel like I’m past that point now,” he said in March. “It’s really exciting to be back with the boys.” Just don’t call him Antonee – he has gone by “Jedi” since he was a child, even in professional settings, earning the nickname thanks to his affinity for the “Star Wars” films.

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Tim Ream

USA • D • #13

ClubCharlotte FC

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Age 38

BirthplaceSt. Louis, Mo.

Caps80

Goals1

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The USMNT’s elder statesman, 38-year-old Tim Ream, has been a mainstay as he watched his teammates come of age from the last World Cup to this one. Ream presents himself as a conduit for the coaching staff to his fellow players and a calmly honest spokesman of sorts for all. His decade of work in England has earned him the respect of his teammates. “I’ve worked under a lot of different managers, a lot of different systems and what they’re doing here is not too dissimilar to what I did at Fulham for many, many years under Marco [Silva],” he noted after the U.S.’ 1-1 draw with Ecuador in October, reflecting on Pochettino’s switch to a back three that he later described as a “stroke of genius” from a tactical perspective. “For me, understanding and seeing the game from a different perspective, being a center back and being older, it doesn’t take long for me to grasp new ideas and tactics.” Ream may have another problem on his hands entirely – Father Time has been unkind to him in recent months, including in March’s defeat to Belgium, raising questions about whether or not the USMNT’s most consistent fixture will actually be in the lineup once the World Cup begins.

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Chris Richards

USA • D • #3

ClubCrystal Palace

Age26

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BirthplaceBirmingham, Ala.

Caps36

Goals3

A handful of players have wrestled for the title of the U.S.’ most important player at this World Cup, but as this summer’s tournament finally arrives, the crown rests firmly on Chris Richards’ head. The center back has become a steady force at center back, exuding not just competence but confidence at the same time — and a delightful sense of humor. He described center backs as “a little sick in the head” for their willingness to do soccer’s scut work, making him a professional and affable leader for the USMNT. He keeps the vibes high off the field, too — he was part of a group of players who recently treated their England-born and bred teammates to Chili’s, intent on providing them with an authentically American experience. “The Triple Dipper you have to get, but then I think it’s the endless chips and salsa, but then also there’s sports on TV, and also the chocolate molten lava cake, and it’s just like you’re sitting there and you’re looking at the ground, the tile,” he recalled. “You’re like, this is beautiful. This is nostalgia. This is really America.”

Mark McKenzie

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USA • D • #22

ClubToulouse

Age27

BirthplaceBronx, N.Y.

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Caps27

Goals0

Moving to Toulouse in France in 2024 from Genk, Mark McKenzie’s game has taken a massive step forward as he earned regular playing time in a top league. One of many players in this roster with MLS roots, coming from the Philadelphia Union system, McKenzie has yet to truly break out as a member of the national team, but making a World Cup roster for the first time in his career is a significant step. Someone who has also talked about the art of defending with Pochettino, it’s clear that McKenzie is doing what he can to soak up experience under the Argentine. 

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Miles Robinson

USA • D • #12

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ClubFC Cincinnati

Age29

BirthplaceArlington, Mass.

Caps38

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Goals3

The heart of the FC Cincinnati defense, Miles Robinson, is someone who consistently enters when Pochettino wants to close out a game. When you have 26 players available, not every single one needs to be a starter in the squad, and that’s where knowing your role is a moment to shine. Given the lack of depth at center back and Pochettino wanting to employ a back three during the World Cup, knowing that he’ll get consistency from players is important.

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Alexander Freeman

USA • D • #16

ClubVillareal

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Age21

BirthplaceBaltimore, Md.

Caps15

Goals2

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There may not be a player who has had a faster rise on the USMNT in the last year than Alex Freeman. Just over a year ago, he was making his first start for Orlando City SC, and now he has qualified for Champions League soccer with Villarreal and is on the way to his first World Cup. Freeman has come a long way since his debut facing Turkiye, where the challenge of defending against Kenan Yildiz was a moment that showed he belongs and can compete at this level. Freeman has improved at every challenge that has come his way, and when it comes to the World Cup, that will be no different. Closing out the season, being able to make regular appearances for Villarreal showed his improvement in LaLiga and at the World Cup, he can rise to yet another challenge. Not only will he be a backup at wing back, but if push comes to shove, the 21-year-old defender may also need to be used as a third center back, showcasing his versatility.  

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Max Arfsten

USA • F • #18

ClubColumbus Crew

Age25

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BirthplaceFresno, Calif.

Caps18

Goals1

From the Olympics to the World Cup, the Columbus Crew man has shown the path that youth players can follow if they’re put into the right situations. Able to come in as a wing back or further up the pitch as a winger, if Pochettino needs a change of pace. The USMNT are quite deep at wing back, but each one in the team can bring something different to the table.

Auston Trusty

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USA • D • #6

ClubCeltic

Age27

BirthplaceMedia, Pa.

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Caps6

Goals0

Auston Trusty has had a wild ride in Europe, from being part of one of the worst defenses in Premier League history with Sheffield United to representing Celtic in Champions League play. Because of his experience, there isn’t much that he hasn’t seen before, despite only being 27. Going through three managers and needing a final-day victory to win the Scottish Premiership title is something that has helped Trusty develop strong nerves, which will serve him well with the pressure of the World Cup on his shoulders. Trusty is also another player who will look for a strong showing in pre-World Cup friendlies in order to earn the third starting center back role ahead of facing Paraguay to kick off the group stage.

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Joe Scally

USA • D • #23

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ClubBorussia Monchengladbach

Age23

BirthplaceLake Grove, N.Y.

Caps24

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Goals0

No matter the national team, World Cup rosters are usually made up of players with multiple skillsets and Joe Scally fits the bill from that standpoint. The 23-year-old, one of the team’s young veterans who also made the trip to the 2022 World Cup in Qatar, has historically played as a fullback for the national team and at the club level with Borussia Monchengladbach. Pochettino, though, has opted to use Scally as a center back in a back three, which might end up being his role at the World Cup if some of his teammates become unavailable. “I have a great relationship with the coach,” he said this month. “He just pretty much reiterates to play well at your club, get playing minutes, so I think that’s the main thing, to kind of just keep doing that. It puts me in the best possible place to be there at the World Cup and arrive at that 100%.” He will also have a friend along for the ride – he and Gio Reyna first befriended each other as products of New York City FC’s academy and are now teammates at ‘Gladbach. “I think spending a lot of time off the field and my wife and his fiancée also becoming very close — and also our dogs,” Reyna noted. “We were already close, but it feels like we’ve gotten even closer.”

Midfielders

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Weston McKennie

USA • M • #8

ClubJuventus

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Age27

BirthplaceFort Lewis, Wash.

Caps64

Goals12

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The heart and soul of the USMNT, you don’t need to watch the team in action for long to see Weston McKennie’s importance to the squad. Some of his food takes may be controversial, but he keeps players motivated during training and pops up to do whatever is needed during a game. Pochettino has described Juventus as “Weston McKennie plus 10,” which is a nod to his versatility playing almost every position but goalkeeper, but also his importance to the squad, where he has become one of the first names on the team sheet. Given that McKennie is coming off a season where he scored nine goals and assisted eight more, this could be a World Cup that puts McKennie through the stratosphere. Even if things aren’t going well, he’s not a player who lets it get to him, as he has had to fight to get back into the Juventus XI multiple times during his career. McKennie also brings a danger from set plays where he can lose his marker and score with a header, so for all the right reasons, he’ll be a player who you can’t take your eyes off of when watching the USMNT in action.

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Tyler Adams

USA • M • #4

ClubBournemouth

Age27

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BirthplaceWappinger, N.Y.

Caps52

Goals2

The USMNT are one team when Tyler Adams is on the pitch and another one entirely when he isn’t. The 2022 World Cup captain has spent much of the last four years on the sidelines with different injuries, no one in the depth chart able to unseat him as the presumed starter at the base of the U.S. midfield. It is an appropriate position for Adams to play — he is the USMNT’s metronome, a player so talented Pochettino tried to recruit him for his Chelsea side a year before he took the U.S. job. He boasts a natural poise on the field, visible even as a 16-year-old who scored his first goal by outdoing the Blues in a friendly months after they won the Premier League title. Adams has described himself as fearless, to the point that he is clear-eyed about what he wants to accomplish this summer. “The journey that we’re on is growing the sport in America,” he said last year after two crushing defeats in the Concacaf Nations League finals. “We’re kind of trying to be the catalyst in doing that and with that, you need to have success so to give people optimism, obviously. I think for us, we need to make a bigger effort and [be] a team where people can get behind and support, whether it’s through passion, whether it’s through an amazing style of play, whether it’s through winning games, scoring amazing goals, whatever it is, but winning breeds that optimism for sure.”

Brenden Aaronson

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USA • M • #11

ClubLeeds

Age25

BirthplaceMedford, N.J.

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Caps57

Goals9

Not quite an eight and not quite a 10, Brenden Aaronson’s work rate has made up for his positionless play, keeping him in the lineup for Leeds United and in the mix for the national team. Another player who has had to prove himself time and time again, Aaronson has rebounded from moments like Leeds fans booing him off the pitch to providing a little bit of everything with four goals and five assists in all competitions. Even when it seemed like the 25-year-old had fallen down Pochettino’s pecking order during the September international break, Aaronson has been able to be a menace when pressing and make sure that he brings plenty to a squad even when he isn’t scoring. 

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Malik Tillman

USA • M • #17

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ClubBayer Leverkusen

Age23

BirthplaceNuremberg, Germany

Caps28

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Goals3

Malik Tillman is perhaps the greatest beneficiary of Pochettino’s open-door policy. The Germany-born midfielder was resigned to a spot warming the USMNT’s bench under ex-coach Gregg Berhalter, but became an important cog in the USMNT’s wheel during a transformational outing at last summer’s Concacaf Gold Cup. The U.S.’ attacking operation is likely to run through Tillman, who can pick out an impressive pass and has an eye for goal, too, crediting a foundational spell at PSV for his improved finishing and ability on free kicks — and for paving the way for a move to Bayer Leverkusen as Florian Wirtz’s replacement. The move actually introduced him to Pochettino’s back three set-up before the national team coach implemented it, Tillman finding it to be a perfect fit for his skillset. “We want to have possession as much as possible,” he said about Pochettino’s tactical approach. “We want to score goals. We want to play an attractive, offensive football, so I think this suits me very well … I really like the system.”

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Sebastian Berhalter

USA • M • #14

ClubVancouver Whitecaps

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Age25

BirthplaceLondon, England

Caps11

Goals1

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Compared to his teammates, who had started their national team careers in their early 20s, Sebastian Berhalter is a bit of a late bloomer. The midfielder laid low during stints at the Columbus Crew and Austin FC but things have trended upwards in recent years with the Vancouver Whitecaps, earning him a spot on the USMNT’s Gold Cup roster a year ago. He is one of a handful of fringe players who have made their moments count. Berhalter rounds out the depth chart, but comes to the World Cup with a special prowess for set pieces, which could make him a fairly frequent substitute this summer. Berhalter is a personification of Pochettino’s attempts to foster competition in a once tight-knit U.S. team. “Players like Sebastian Berhalter that scored unbelievable goals the other day that we didn’t call for different football decisions, this type of performance makes us to say maybe next time [he should be] with us,” Pochettino said in October, “but that is how you force the players that are here, seeing that type of behavior, attitude or performance, to improve.”

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Cristian Roldan

USA • M • #15

ClubSeattle Sounders

Age30

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BirthplaceArtesia, Calif.

Caps45

Goals0

Surprise standouts have had their moments on the USMNT’s road to the World Cup, Cristian Roldan amongst the most notable. The 30-year-old was part of the U.S. team in Qatar but had fallen off the radar almost completely – until a last-minute call-up in September. The spotlight finally landed on him when he notched two assists in the USMNT’s 2-1 win over Australia in October, after which Pochettino said Roldan possessed the attributes of a “perfect player” if you were to build one from scratch. It was a validating outing for a player who has spent his whole career in MLS while many of his U.S. teammates had cut their teeth in Europe. “I never really got the chance to play against the very best in the world,” he said after that game against Australia. “I didn’t play in the World Cup in ’22. I didn’t play in some of the bigger games with the national team. I never left Seattle and played in Europe, played in these [UEFA] Champions League games … I’m playing, I feel like, the best of my career. Unfortunately, it’s at age 30. I wish it was a little younger, but it’s great that number one, I’m getting seen, that I’m getting involved in camps and now feeling like I’m a part of the team.”

Giovanni Reyna

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USA • M • #7

ClubBorussia Monchengladbach

Age23

BirthplaceSunderland, England

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Caps36

Goals9

Gio Reyna might just be the most naturally gifted player in the USMNT’s player pool, but between a string of injuries, limited playing time at the club level, and a family feud, there was no guarantee he would make the cut for this summer’s World Cup. He seemed to know as much, too, in the final weeks before the squad was named, but was eager to make the point that he was willing to play whichever part was assigned to him. “Keep it pretty simple – I love the staff. I love the players,” he said earlier this month. “I love the national team. Obviously, whatever happens, happens. Really hoping and wanting to be there to make an impact and achieve something great with the team, but the decision is out of my hands and obviously just really hoping and waiting for the call-up.”  Reyna’s inclusion, though, feels like a signal that Pochettino values natural talent above all else — even if onlookers have only been treated to glimpses of it over a stretch of several years.

Forwards

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Christian Pulisic

USA • M • #10

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ClubMilan

Age27

BirthplaceHershey, Pa.

Caps84

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Goals32

If this is the USMNT’s golden generation, Christian Pulisic has been the team’s golden talent. He was already part of the senior national team’s set-up before he attended prom and has lived up to his potential in a lot of ways. He really started to prove himself as one of the sport’s notable attackers with his move to AC Milan in 2023, enjoying a handful of career-best seasons there. The face of his generation of USMNT players, though, enters the World Cup in the midst of a rough patch. He has not scored for club or country since Dec. 28, playing 22 games during that stretch. It is a problem Pochettino attempted to solve in March, positioning the versatile Pulisic closer to the goal in the hopes of scoring in the 2-0 loss to Portugal. It didn’t work that time, but Pochettino remained optimistic. “Unlucky, a shame a little bit that he didn’t score with the opportunity that he has. It’s normal,” Pochettino said at the time. “Yes, he feels frustrated, but that is what we want, what we expect, but he was fighting, he was committed in the phases that we demand more, and then with the ball, he’s going to score because he has the quality. I am sure that he is going to come back to his club, and in the moment he scores, he’s going to start to score again.”

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Folarin Balogun

USA • F • #20

ClubAS Monaco

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Age24

BirthplaceNew York, N.Y.

Caps25

Goals8

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After another strong season for Monaco, Folarin Balogun is making a case for being the top-scoring American player ever in a top-five league. With 45 goals in league play, he only trails Christian Pulisic (64) and Clint Dempsey (57) in half as many games played. Since Balogun has committed to the USMNT, that scoring has followed too. His ability to create space for himself to get shots off in tight areas is second to none in the squad, as for the first time in a while, the USMNT are entering the World Cup with a forward who should be feared. Integrating with the squad, Balogun is also stepping up as a leader. It’s easy to forget that he’s only 24, but performing under pressure from a young age will help Balogun in a World Cup on home soil, where the USMNT may face the most pressure of any team in the 48-team field. The narrative around this team has long been, “Oh, they do this well, but this team would be so great if they scored goals.” Balogun is here to bring these goals and then some, even if he isn’t touching the ball often.

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Ricardo Pepi

USA • F • #9

ClubPSV

Age23

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BirthplaceEl Paso, Texas

Caps35

Goals13

Ricardo Pepi, missing the plane for the 2022 World Cup in Qatar, was a surprise to many, but this season with PSV, he has done plenty to ensure that he can’t be left home again, scoring 19 goals for the club and not even letting a broken arm slow him down from contributing for his club or country. Able to play as a lone forward using his speed to beat defenders, or alongside another attacker, he brings versatility and a hunger to the attack. With transfer rumors to Fulham also swirling, this World Cup is a chance for Pepi to be able to show the world what he can do while helping the squad to a strong performance on home soil.

Timothy Weah

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USA • F • #21

ClubMarseille

Age26

BirthplaceBrooklyn, N.Y.

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Caps49

Goals7

Tim Weah describes himself as the USMNT’s Swiss Army knife, boasting both a wide range of on-field talents as a winger and a wing back and a diverse set of off-field interests. Weah has an appropriately layered personality for his unique origins — he is one of three players on the U.S. World Cup team with a former player for a parent, Weah’s father, George, still the only African player to win the Ballon d’Or. Weah’s soccer story, though, is rooted in the lesser-known Queens neighborhood of Rosedale, where his family coalesced in a pocket of Caribbean communities familiar to his Jamaican mother Clar. He scored the USMNT’s first goal at the 2022 World Cup, but his favorite memories from Qatar were the small moments watching movies and TV with teammates he’s known since they were in their teens. His tastes vary, naturally — “I watched the new ‘Dracula,’ absolutely loved it,” he said, referencing the film by French director Luc Besson. “I want to watch the Michael Jackson biopic. I haven’t watched that yet.” The foodie also has a fondness for cooking competition shows. “I love the Food Network. I watch Bobby Flay. I love it. I love ‘Iron Chef.’ There’s this new one – I don’t think it’s on the Food Network, but it’s this new one with Gordon Ramsay, ‘Next Level Chef’ … ‘Top Chef’ … It’s like a comfort watch. Food Network’s like a comfort watch for me because when I was a kid, I used to put it on all the time.”

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Haji Wright

USA • F • #19

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ClubCoventry City

Age28

BirthplaceLos Angeles, Calif.

Caps20

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Goals7

Pochettino’s tenure with the USMNT will be defined by the chances he handed out to a wide variety of players, several grabbing those opportunities with both hands. The list includes Haji Wright, who scored the U.S.’ last goal at a World Cup and returns to the tournament on the back of an 18-goal season for Coventry City. His road to the World Cup has been marred by injuries, but Wright has proven himself to be a capable option, truly standing out with both goals in a 2-1 win over Australia in October. “That is what we expect when you give the opportunity to the player, no?” Pochettino said at the time. “I think that is good news to have players that can compete for a spot in the World Cup. I think every time that we can have the possibility to provide the player — maybe they didn’t play too much in the last year with us — I think that is an important thing. It’s to say, ‘I am here and I want to play. I want to be part of this team,’ and with [a] performance like this, it’s for sure a player that performed like that, Haji can be close. It’s possible to be involved.”

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Alex Zendejas

USA • M • #26

ClubClub America

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Age28

BirthplaceCiudad Juarez, Mexico

Caps13

Goals2

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Out of the USMNT picture due to injuries since the September international break, when he scored off the bench against Japan, Alex Zendejas’ manager, Andre Jardine, has been one of the biggest leaders of the Zendejas to the World Cup campaign. Jardine called Zendejas one of the best midfielders in Liga MX, and he followed that lead, scoring six goals and assisting three more in 2026 while closing out the season as one of the most in-form American attackers. Zendejas brings something different to the attack, being so comfortable shooting or setting up his teammates, and he’s not going to take anything for granted following the difficulty of performing while dealing with injuries. Pochettino has continued to state that the door is always open for players, and Zendejas’ making it to the World Cup does show that.