The 2025 Concacaf Gold Cup will serve as a major opportunity for several United States men’s national team players to prove themselves to head coach Mauricio Pochettino.
Big stars will miss the tournament including Weston McKennie, Timothy Weah and Gio Reyna due to the Club World Cup. Christian Pulisic, Antonee Robinson and Yunus Musah will also skip the tournament due to rest.
This presents the chance for several fringe players to make a name for themselves and show why they should be considered for the 2026 World Cup roster.
A 27-man pre-Gold Cup roster has been released featuring 16 players from Major League Soccer. Here are five players who could make a case for being on the World Cup roster if they have a solid Gold Cup.
Five USMNT players who need a great showing at the Gold Cup
Matt Turner
Matt Turner’s job as starting goalkeeper for the USMNT is in serious jeopardy. It’s no secret that Pochettino isn’t a fan of how little Turner has played during the recent club seasons.
Turner went on loan to Crystal Palace for the 2024-25 season and logged just four appearances. Pochettino was critical of Turner’s lack of playing time and said he’ll consider looking at other goalkeepers for the U.S.
If Turner is given the start for the Gold Cup he’ll need to be at his best and then find a club to call home where he’s playing on a weekly basis.
Diego Luna
Diego Luna has only made four appearances for the national team but is quickly becoming a candidate for the World Cup roster. The Real Salt Lake attacking midfielder has shown flashes of brilliance with the U.S. this season including when he broke his nose against Costa Rica but refused to be substituted out of the game.
Pochettino was an avid supporter and even joked that Luna had “big balls.”
Luna, 21, has been excelling with Real Salt Lake and could become a candidate for the USMNT’s attacking midfielder role. If he bursts on the scene at this summer’s Gold Cup he will definitely be in the mix for the World Cup roster.
Jack McGlynn
Another 21-year-old midfielder looking to become a USMNT regular, Jack McGlynn looked great during the USA’s friendlies against Venezuela and Costa Rica in February. He was rewarded with an appearance in the Concacaf Nations League semifinal.
McGlynn is a crafty central midfielder who could find a place on the USMNT World Cup roster. With McKennie being absent for the Club World Cup there’s a good chance McGlynn will get meaningful minutes during the Gold Cup.
Brenden Aaronson
This summer’s Gold Cup might be the last chance for Brenden Aaronson to prove he can contribute to the national team. Pochettino notably chose not to include the Leeds United forward for the Nations League semifinals in March.
Aaronson has had his struggles on the national team with 47 appearances and eight goals. His last coming in September 2023 against Oman.
Aaronson had a so-so season in the EFL Championship with Leeds United. While his side earned promotion to the Premier League he recorded just nine goals in 47 appearances.
This summer’s Gold Cup is do or die for Aaronson’s World Cup roster hopes.
Damion Downs/Patrick Agyeman/Brian White
Alright we lied about the list being five players…
For this final spot we have three players from different backgrounds all attempting to be part of the USMNT’s striker situation.
Star players Folarin Balogun and Ricardo Pepi are the two front-runners for the USMNT’s starting striker position. After that it’s anyone’s guess.
Damion Downs is a 20-year-old dual-national from Germany who has been attracting attention with FC Köln. Downs had a solid season in the 2. Bundesliga and was called up for his first senior USMNT roster. He’s represented youth sides for the U.S. and Germany.
Patrick Agyemang made his debut for the USMNT this year and has logged three goals in his four appearances with the senior team. The 24-year-old has been Charlotte FC’s go-to striker and is clearly on Pochettino’s radar.
Brian White is an odd case of a player getting better with age. The 29-year-old Vancouver Whitecaps center forward has been electric this season with 15 goals in 20 appearances across MLS and the Concacaf Champions Cup. He’s led his side to the Concacaf Champions Cup final.
White made his debut for the national team in 2024 and has four caps to his name.
All three forwards have the potential to make a name for themselves at the Gold Cup this summer, but who will Pochettino bring on for the tournament? If one of the trio go off at this summer’s Gold Cup it will be hard to ignore one year out from the World Cup.
The USMNT’s Gold Cup campaign begins on June 15 against Trinidad and Tobago. The other two teams in the group are Saudi Arabia and Haiti.
