With four friendlies left before the 26-man World Cup roster is locked, Mauricio Pochettino must use March’s matches against Belgium and Portugal in Atlanta to settle attack combinations, pin down Weston McKennie’s midfield role, and decide whether Gio Reyna can be trusted as a starter — answers that will shape the USMNT’s chances when they open the 2026 World Cup vs Paraguay in Los Angeles on June 12.
USMNT enters final March window with clarity urgently needed
Mauricio Pochettino’s U.S. men’s national team has four friendlies to finalize tactical identity and personnel before the 26-man World Cup roster is announced in May. Matches against Belgium and Portugal in Atlanta are high-quality measuring sticks against teams that will likely dominate possession, giving the USMNT a rare chance to test transition play and its new 3-5-2 structure under midseason European form.
Why these friendlies matter for the 2026 FIFA World Cup
These fixtures aren’t exhibition games — they double as rehearsal and audit. How Pochettino deploys Christian Pulisic, whether a consistent striking partner emerges, and the roles for McKennie and Gio Reyna will determine tactical balance and bench depth in Los Angeles. Poor answers now would force reactive roster fixes; confident answers offer a coherent plan for the tournament opener vs Paraguay on June 12.
1) Defining the attacking partnership to unlock Pulisic
Can Pulisic operate as a second striker in a 3-5-2?
Christian Pulisic’s club role at AC Milan has leaned toward a near-second-striker position, not the traditional left wing he often occupied for the USMNT. Deploying him as a free attacker who can drift wide to connect with advancing wingbacks fits Pochettino’s possession-first 3-5-2 idea and maximizes Pulisic’s ball-carrying and link-up strengths.
Which forward best complements him?
Folarin Balogun is the highest-end goalscorer available and should be first-choice to partner Pulisic, but his experience in a 4-3-3 at AS Monaco raises questions about his immediate fit in a two-forward system. Ricardo Pepi offers pace and mobility that could exploit spaces if Balogun needs time to adapt. This window must reveal whether Balogun can translate finishing into the 3-5-2 framework or whether Pepi’s dynamism is preferable.
2) Where does Weston McKennie fit in the midfield puzzle?
McKennie’s versatility is a technical and tactical asset — he can press, cover wide, and provide verticality from midfield. Pochettino’s public praise underscores McKennie’s importance; most likely he slots into a central role, possibly offset to the right, where he can shield the back three and pivot to cover advanced wingbacks like Joe Scally or Alex Freeman.
Playing McKennie centrally stabilizes the middle and allows more adventurous wingbacks. It also mitigates the need for a traditional holding midfielder by giving the team an athletic, positionally aware option who can switch between defensive cover and late runs into the box.
3) What is Gio Reyna’s role — revival or backup?
Gio Reyna remains an elite technician whose first touch and dribbling create match-defining moments. Yet persistent lack of club minutes in recent seasons makes his form an open question. This March window is the last realistic chance for Reyna to stake a claim as a starter against top opposition.
If Reyna produces creative control and chance-creation minutes against Belgium and Portugal, he re-enters the starting conversation. If he struggles to find rhythm, Pochettino will have to treat Reyna as a high-upside bench option rather than a dependable midfield starter.
Immediate implications and what to watch in Atlanta
Expect lineups that prioritize clarity: Pulisic centrally, Balogun or Pepi alongside him, McKennie anchoring midfield rotations, and a serious audition for Reyna. Defensive cohesion from the three center-backs and timing of wingback advances will expose whether this USMNT can control transitions against elite European possession sides.
Watch substitutions and minute allocation closely — they’ll signal Pochettino’s pecking order heading into May’s roster decision. Strong performances will solidify roles; mixed results will force hard choices and likely prioritize form and tactical fit over name recognition.
Bottom line
This March window is a make-or-break moment for Pochettino’s pre-World Cup planning. The USMNT can leave Atlanta with a clearer blueprint for a deep run in 2026 — or more questions that complicate selection and game plan in Los Angeles.
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The next few weeks will reveal whether this squad’s tactical evolution translates into reliable chemistry on the biggest stage.
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