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With the 2026 FIFA World Cup on the horizon, former U.S. Men's National Team (USMNT) player Alejandro Bedoya has shared his predictions for the squad that will represent the United States with mlssoccer.com. Before coach Mauricio Pochettino announces the official roster in New York City on Monday (May 26), Bedoya, who played for the national team from 2010 to 2017, offered his insights on who might make the cut.
Bedoya believes that Pochettino will prioritize familiarity and team culture when selecting the 26 players. He expects the competition for the starting goalkeeper position to be intense between Matt Freese and Matt Turner. Turner has World Cup experience from Qatar 2022, while Freese had an impressive 2025 with the USMNT.
In defense, Chris Richards is seen as a lock, with Tim Ream also expected to be on the team despite his age. Bedoya favors Mark McKenzie and Auston Trusty as center backs, while Jedi Robinson is anticipated to start as left back.
In midfield, Tyler Adams and Weston McKennie are considered crucial for the team. Bedoya also highlights Malik Tillman and Diego Luna as key players, with Gio Reyna expected to provide a spark in attack.
For the forwards, Folarin Balogun, Ricardo Pepi, and Haji Wright are predicted to be the main strikers. Christian Pulisic is expected to be the team's superstar, with Tim Weah and Brenden Aaronson rounding out the attacking options.
As Pochettino prepares to finalize his squad, Bedoya's predictions provide a glimpse into the potential lineup for the USMNT's opening match against Paraguay on Friday (June 12) at SoFi Stadium.
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