They're in!
U.S. men's national team head coach Mauricio Pochettino revealed his 2026 FIFA World Cup roster on Tuesday, marking a milestone moment for MLS NEXT Pro as some of the brightest stars in league history were named to it.
In the summer spectacle, former Orlando City B star Alex Freeman and Earthquakes II product Max Arfsten will be occupying the wings for the United States, and former Philadelphia Union II and Chicago Fire FC II's Matt Freese and Chris Brady, respectively, will be in a position battle for the starting goalkeeper spot.
Read more about their MLS NEXT Pro journeys below.
MLS NEXT Pro was Freeman's launching pad between the Academy and professional ranks for Orlando City SC. Starting in the inaugural MLS NEXT Pro season in 2022, Freeman honed his wingback craft with Orlando City B for parts of three seasons before becoming a regular first-teamer in Orlando and eventually a worldly transfer target that landed at Villarreal in Spain.
Also debuting with MLS NEXT Pro's inaugural season, Arfsten got his start with San Jose Earthquakes II in 2022. From there, he was still eligible for the 2023 MLS SuperDraft where he was selected by the Columbus Crew. At just 25 years old, he's already decorated his résumé with the 2023 MLS Cup, 2024 Leagues Cup, and an All-Star selection in 2025.
Considered by many to be the USMNT's GK1 come World Cup kickoff, Freese's rapid rise to stardom was accelerated by his days with Philadelphia Union II. A pathway player who debuted as a spot starter in MLS before MLS NEXT Pro came into the fold, Freese's dominant 2022 campaign with Union II was the stage where he broadcast his skills week in and week out before his eventual move to New York City FC where he's been the uncontested starter the last two years.
Fun fact: Freese was the first-ever goalkeeper to go three-for-three in shootout saves in MLS NEXT Pro history.
Chicago Fire FC goalkeeper Chris Brady will be battling Freese to earn World Cup minutes in the USMNT camp. A Chicago Homegrown, Brady originally signed his first professional contract with the Fire in 2020. His path to MLS and USMNT stardom grew with his five clean sheets in 12 starts in MLS NEXT Pro in 2022, paving the way to his GK1 status in MLS in 2023.
Not quite in MLS NEXT Pro alumni territory, Vancouver Whitecaps midfielder Sebastian Berhalter also spent a little time in MLS NEXT Pro in the inaugural season. He lined up with Whitecaps FC 2 for a match in 2022 on his rise to prominence in MLS.
U.S. Men’s National Team FIFA World Cup 2026 Roster by Position
Goalkeepers (3)
- Chris Brady, Chicago Fire
- Matt Freese, New York City FC
- Matt Turner, New England Revolution
Defenders (10)
- Max Arfsten,Columbus Crew
- Sergiño Dest, PSV Eindhoven
- Alex Freeman, Villarreal
- Mark McKenzie, Toulouse
- Tim Ream, Charlotte FC
- Chris Richards, Crystal Palace
- Antonee Robinson, Fulham
- Miles Robinson, FC Cincinnati
- Joe Scally, Borussia Mönchengladbach
- Auston Trusty, Celtic
Midfielders (6)
- Tyler Adams, AFC Bournemouth
- Sebastian Berhalter, Vancouver Whitecaps
- Weston McKennie, Juventus
- Gio Reyna, Borussia Mönchengladbach
- Cristian Roldan, Seattle Sounders
- Malik Tillman, Bayer Leverkusen
Forwards (7)
- Brenden Aaronson, Leeds United
- Folarin Balogun, Monaco
- Ricardo Pepi, PSV Eindhoven
- Christian Pulisic, AC Milan
- Tim Weah, Olympique Marseille
- Haji Wright, Coventry City
- Alejandro Zendejas, Club América
"We are confident this is the best group of 26 players to help us achieve success at the World Cup,” Pochettino said at the time of release. “These were very difficult decisions, and we are thankful to all the players who were part of this journey. This group is very focused and ready to give everything they have to represent the United States and deliver performances that will make the fans and the country proud.”
The USMNT begin their World Cup campaign in Group D with Paraguay, Türkiye, and Australia. They host Paraguay in their opener in Los Angeles, California on June 25.
