Now that we're all looking forward to 2026, here are some guys to watch over the next 3.5 years.
(Not really any particular order, btw. Just posted as they came to me)
#USMNT #OnlyForward #WC2026
(Not really any particular order, btw. Just posted as they came to me)
#USMNT #OnlyForward #WC2026
Chris Richards
Center Back
Age: 22
Missed the 2022 World Cup to injury.
Athletic. Good with feet. High soccer IQ.
Playing at high level with Crystal Palace in the Premier league.
Can he stay consistently healthy?
Potentially the best CB we'll have in 2026.
Center Back
Age: 22
Missed the 2022 World Cup to injury.
Athletic. Good with feet. High soccer IQ.
Playing at high level with Crystal Palace in the Premier league.
Can he stay consistently healthy?
Potentially the best CB we'll have in 2026.
Ricardo Pepi
Striker
Age: 19
Highly recruited dual-nat chose the US over Mexico.
Played a large roll in '22 WCQ, but was controversially left off the final roster.
Will chase '26 with major chip on shoulder.
Striker
Age: 19
Highly recruited dual-nat chose the US over Mexico.
Played a large roll in '22 WCQ, but was controversially left off the final roster.
Will chase '26 with major chip on shoulder.
Malik Tillman
Attacking Mid
Age: 20
Incredibly talented, but raw.
Has ability to score magical goals, but can he be consistent?
Attacking Mid
Age: 20
Incredibly talented, but raw.
Has ability to score magical goals, but can he be consistent?
Paxten Aaronson
Attacking Mid / FWD
Age: 19
Younger brother of fellow USMNT player Brenden Aaronson.
Some say Paxten could be better.
Technically gifted. Plays bigger than his size, much like his brother.
Attacking Mid / FWD
Age: 19
Younger brother of fellow USMNT player Brenden Aaronson.
Some say Paxten could be better.
Technically gifted. Plays bigger than his size, much like his brother.
Taylor Booth
Center Mid
Age: 21
Good vision. Technical passer. Can play deep or more attacking.
Has shown the ability to finish when he has the opportunity.
Has been making a big rise over the last few months.
Center Mid
Age: 21
Good vision. Technical passer. Can play deep or more attacking.
Has shown the ability to finish when he has the opportunity.
Has been making a big rise over the last few months.
Caleb Wiley
Left Back
Age: 17
Has played major professional minutes at just 17 years old.
Extremely athletic and just as technical.
Possibly the highest ceiling of our upcoming LBs (imo) if he can put it all together.
Left Back
Age: 17
Has played major professional minutes at just 17 years old.
Extremely athletic and just as technical.
Possibly the highest ceiling of our upcoming LBs (imo) if he can put it all together.
Folarin Balogun
Striker / Winger
Age: 21
Not yet officially switched to the US, but looks likely if you read into his social media activity.
Quick, good movement on and off the ball. Good finisher. Can drop into midfield well.
Will he put his name in the US striker hat?
Striker / Winger
Age: 21
Not yet officially switched to the US, but looks likely if you read into his social media activity.
Quick, good movement on and off the ball. Good finisher. Can drop into midfield well.
Will he put his name in the US striker hat?
Alex Mighten
Winger
Age: 20
Fast. High energy.
Not afraid to take defenders on.
Right-footed left winger that's comfortable whipping in a left footed cross or cutting in.
Winger
Age: 20
Fast. High energy.
Not afraid to take defenders on.
Right-footed left winger that's comfortable whipping in a left footed cross or cutting in.
Konrad de la Fuente
Winger
Age: 21
Came up in the Barcelona academy.
Incredibly technical. Fast.
Drives at defenders.
Needs to find move to higher level and a coach willing to give him time.
Winger
Age: 21
Came up in the Barcelona academy.
Incredibly technical. Fast.
Drives at defenders.
Needs to find move to higher level and a coach willing to give him time.
Ulysses Llanez
Winger
Age: 21
Technical. Crafty. Gifted.
Needs to find consistent club situation.
I've always liked this kid.
Winger
Age: 21
Technical. Crafty. Gifted.
Needs to find consistent club situation.
I've always liked this kid.
Gianluca Busio
Center Mid
Age: 20
Creative, ball playing center mid.
Likes to sit deeper and penetrate defenses with his passing.
Needs to find a better club situation as Venezia seem to be a sinking ship.
Center Mid
Age: 20
Creative, ball playing center mid.
Likes to sit deeper and penetrate defenses with his passing.
Needs to find a better club situation as Venezia seem to be a sinking ship.
Paxton Pomykal
Center Mid
Age: 22
Injuries have put a damper to the early stages of his career, but Pomykal had a really solid year in 2022 and I think he'll get back in the mix, soon.
A sweet lefty.
Really high motor.
Good passer.
A lot to like.
Center Mid
Age: 22
Injuries have put a damper to the early stages of his career, but Pomykal had a really solid year in 2022 and I think he'll get back in the mix, soon.
A sweet lefty.
Really high motor.
Good passer.
A lot to like.
GaGa Slonina
Keeper
Age: 18
One of the highest rated prospects for the US.
Set to join Chelsea in January.
Has been one of the best keepers in MLS since age 17 (which was a year ago 🤣)
Could be really special.
Keeper
Age: 18
One of the highest rated prospects for the US.
Set to join Chelsea in January.
Has been one of the best keepers in MLS since age 17 (which was a year ago 🤣)
Could be really special.
Matthew Hoppe
Striker / Winger
Age: 21
Only American w/ a Bundesliga hatty.
Career somewhat "stalled" after a few "less than stellar" transfers.
But he has talent. He's got grit. He's got that Dempsey type fire in him.
We saw what he's capable of last summer in the Gold Cup.
Striker / Winger
Age: 21
Only American w/ a Bundesliga hatty.
Career somewhat "stalled" after a few "less than stellar" transfers.
But he has talent. He's got grit. He's got that Dempsey type fire in him.
We saw what he's capable of last summer in the Gold Cup.
John Tolkin
Left Back
Age: 20
Attacking LB. Comfortable with ball. Athletic. Fast.
Plays with an edge. A confidence, sometimes nearing cockiness.
Very interested to see how he continues to develop.
Left Back
Age: 20
Attacking LB. Comfortable with ball. Athletic. Fast.
Plays with an edge. A confidence, sometimes nearing cockiness.
Very interested to see how he continues to develop.
Diego Luna
Attacking Mid
Age: 19
Creative midfielder.
Great vision.
Great passer.
Fun to watch.
Will athleticism limit him at higher levels?
Attacking Mid
Age: 19
Creative midfielder.
Great vision.
Great passer.
Fun to watch.
Will athleticism limit him at higher levels?
Niko Tsakiris
Center Mid
Age: 17
A U17 playing up with the U20s.
Plays smart. Plays clean. Tidy in possession.
Center Mid
Age: 17
A U17 playing up with the U20s.
Plays smart. Plays clean. Tidy in possession.
Caden Clark
Attacking Mid
Age: 19
Injuries and a case of appendicitis have thrown a wrench into what was a steady climb to his career.
Last I checked, he's set to return to RB Leipzig after his loan back to RBNY this past season.
Has all the tools. How good can he be?
Attacking Mid
Age: 19
Injuries and a case of appendicitis have thrown a wrench into what was a steady climb to his career.
Last I checked, he's set to return to RB Leipzig after his loan back to RBNY this past season.
Has all the tools. How good can he be?
Jack McGlynn
Center Mid
Age: 19
One of the better left feet in the pool.
Can hit a nice set piece and been known to net the occasional free kick goal.
Love his vision and passing.
Confident kid. Been getting major professional minutes as a teenager. Big part of MLS Cup run.
Center Mid
Age: 19
One of the better left feet in the pool.
Can hit a nice set piece and been known to net the occasional free kick goal.
Love his vision and passing.
Confident kid. Been getting major professional minutes as a teenager. Big part of MLS Cup run.
Dante Sealy
Winger / FWD
Age: 19
Very intrigued by this kid.
Paxten Aaronson said he's "filthy"
Currently on loan at Jong PSV and playing well.
Left footed, crafty, fast.
Hope to see him stand out in the U20 World Cup next year.
Winger / FWD
Age: 19
Very intrigued by this kid.
Paxten Aaronson said he's "filthy"
Currently on loan at Jong PSV and playing well.
Left footed, crafty, fast.
Hope to see him stand out in the U20 World Cup next year.
Moses Nyeman
Center Mid
Age: 19
Signed at DC United at 15.
Played regularly as a teenager.
Recently moved to SK Beveren in Belgium.
Strong on the ball. Plays bigger than his size. Fast & technical.
Musah-esque.
Center Mid
Age: 19
Signed at DC United at 15.
Played regularly as a teenager.
Recently moved to SK Beveren in Belgium.
Strong on the ball. Plays bigger than his size. Fast & technical.
Musah-esque.
Justin Che
Center Back / Right Back
Age: 19
Currently on loan at Hoffenheim.
Tall. Extremely athletic. Very comfortable on the ball. Aggressive.
Versatile. Could probably play any position in an emergency.
A lot to like. An important prosect to watch for 2026.
Center Back / Right Back
Age: 19
Currently on loan at Hoffenheim.
Tall. Extremely athletic. Very comfortable on the ball. Aggressive.
Versatile. Could probably play any position in an emergency.
A lot to like. An important prosect to watch for 2026.
Jonathan Gomez
Left Back
Age: 19
Signed w/ Louisville in the USL at 15.
Headline transfer to Real Sociedad in 2021.
Really good in possession. Quick. Good at crossing.
Good defender, but a lot of room to improve.
Being pulled by US & Mexico; has big decision ahead of him.
Left Back
Age: 19
Signed w/ Louisville in the USL at 15.
Headline transfer to Real Sociedad in 2021.
Really good in possession. Quick. Good at crossing.
Good defender, but a lot of room to improve.
Being pulled by US & Mexico; has big decision ahead of him.
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