Landon Donovan and Tim Howard make their USMNT roster predictions: You won’t believe who they snubbed
Which 26 players should head coach Mauricio Pochettino take to this summer’s World Cup? Ex-USMNT players give their thoughts.
With the 2026 World Cup drawing closer by the day, expectation is on the rise in the host nations and especially in the United States, who kick off their campaign against Paraguay on June 12.
During the past 18 months, head coach Mauricio Pochettino and his technical team have been working hard towards the tournament. The USMNT played 10 friendlies last year as well and taking part in the Gold Cup and CONCACAF Nations League. Eighteen games in total plus two friendlies during this year’s international break in March.
Pochettino weighing up his options
That should have given the coach ample time to take a close look at his players: the first team regulars who are expected to feature in his World Cup roster, the borderline cases and also promising talent who could offer something different or new either now or in the future. Since taking the post, the Argentinean has used 61 different players in 24 games.
At this stage, Pochettino will have a clear idea of which 26 players will form his World Cup roster. It’s just a question of putting together a reserve list to have ready in case anyone gets injured between now and June.
As always, the questions on everyone’s lips is who will get the nod, who won’t, who deserves to go but misses out and who should be discarded on this occasion.
Two former USMNT players who know all about the pressures of playing at a World Cup have been discussing all of those issues at length. One name was put forward that might come as a surprise to some.
Landon Donovan, the second most-capped player in USMNT history who appeared at three World Cups from 2002 to 2010, has his doubts about one player in particular - right-sided midfielder Johnny Cardoso.
Pochettino has barely used Cardoso
In some ways it’s a surprising choice. Cardoso is a first-choice under Diego Simeone at Spanish giants Atlético Madrid who only this week, narrowly missed out on a place in the Champions League final.
Poch hasn’t been entirely convinced by Cardosa either, having given the player only a handful of run-outs since taking charge in 2024 - and just three starts.
“I think the Johnny Cardoso thing is going to be a challenge for people, really,” Donovan began. “It’s like ‘Oh, he plays at Atlético Madrid...’ - he just has not done it with the national team. The last time he played, he played one half then left camp. I can see a scenario where Pochettino brings him - because, you have 26 and the guy clearly has quality.
“It goes back to the question I said before the break. Is it your best 26 players or is it the best group of 26? And guys like [Sebastian] Berhalter and [Cristian] Roldán I think just make the group better even if they don’t touch the field,” he added.
Tim Howard agreed then offered, “Cardoso could take a Berhalter position. This is not gonna be a perfect science, we like to think it is but it’ll be interesting”.
All will be revealed on Tuesday, May 26, from 3:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. ET. in an event in New York, when Pochettino will confirm who is in and who is out of his USMNT 2026 World Cup roster. The event will be aired live by FOX Sports with Donovan as one of the hosts alongside Alexi Lalas, Stu Holden, Carli Lloyd, Rob Stone and Jenny Taft.
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