With the 2026 World Cup less than a year away, GOAL looks at the state of the central midfielders vying for spots next summer
Throughout Gregg Berhalter's tenure, the U.S. men's national team was built around the midfield of Weston McKennie, Yunus Musah and Tyler Adams. Nicknamed the MMA Midfield, that group was the backbone of the USMNT, and it was easy to see why. Young, energetic and athletic enough to go toe-to-toe with the very best, that group was supposed to make up the USMNT's present and future.
It still could. Nearly three years on from the World Cup in Qatar, all three are at major clubs in major leagues. All three have so much USMNT experience and the physical and technical qualities to play at the highest levels. The thing is? They aren't alone anymore. The midfield competition has exploded, and no one's spot is safe because of that fact – in a good way, for Mauricio Pochettino, anyway.
Players such as Malik Tillman and Johnny Cardoso are at big clubs themselves, having just made massive transfers to Bayer Leverkusen and Atletico Madrid, respectively. Both have real arguments to be USMNT starters but, like the MMA group, they also come with question marks.
There are no sure things in the center of the park and, just a year out from the World Cup, the midfield is the USMNT's most malleable position as Pochettino looks to sort it all out.
Post-Gold Cup, GOAL is looking at the state of the USMNT, analyzing the positional battles that will ultimately define next summer's team. Next up: midfielders.
AFPThe Starters: Tyler Adams, Weston McKennie, Malik Tillman
Realistically, the only one of the above that seems a lock is Adams, and even he doesn't feel as etched in stone as under the previous regime. The Bournemouth star didn't play to his highest level this summer. He, of course, can be a force in midfield, one that allows those next to him to play their game and not worry about all of the dirty things that he ends up doing. You also can't discount his leadership and, as a result, he's the best bet to start in midfield.
McKennie has partnered with Adams for much of their USMNT careers, and he's another one who is a true game-changer when he's in form. His presence on both sides of the field is huge and his ability to pop up with a set piece goal every now and then will be important in a tournament setting. For McKennie, though, it'll come down to how he's faring on the club level – and if he can find another gear under Pochettino, who is clearly laying down challenges.
That leads us to Tillman, who could be the newest face in this starting group. Prior to the Gold Cup, he hadn't gotten an extended runout with the U.S. But after a summer helping ignite the run to the Gold Cup final, he seems ready to leap right into the A-team.
His big move to Bayer Leverkusen should help him raise his game to a new level and, if that happens, the U.S. has one heck of a young playmaker – and one with much more room to grow for club and country.
AdvertisementGettyThe Backups: Johnny Cardoso, Yunus Musah, Tanner Tessmann
Underscoring the depth at the position, all three of these guys could be starting by the time the World Cup rolls around. Still, all three also have obvious areas that need improvement to make that happen.
For all of his club successes – and there are plenty given his recent move to Atletico Madri – Cardoso has never quite shone for the USMNT. Musah, in some ways, has the opposite problem. While he's generally been decent for the U.S., his inability to break through at Milan has limited his growth, leading to questions over his future.
Both Cardoso and Musah are supremely talented, but both have legitimate questions that need answers.
Tessmann, meanwhile, is in a decent situation in Lyon, despite all of the chaos surrounding the club. That seems to be behind them, allowing players such as Tessmann to focus on what's ahead. He was left out of this summer's Gold Cup squad in what could be a not-so-subtle message from Pochettino, who appears to have told several players from this second tier to step up, or step out of the way.
We'll see how Tessmann fares, but his abilities as a defensive midfielder could make him an asset, either as a starter or off the bench. Note: Diego Luna could also be included among this group as a No. 10, but for now, he'll be in the mix at winger.
Getty Images SportIn The Mix: Gio Reyna, Luca de la Torre, Sebastian Berhalter, Gianluca Busio, Aidan Morris
Numerous names here but, realistically, there's one that stands out.
Reyna, at the moment, probably isn't on the World Cup squad. So much of his future, both short and long-term, depends on where he ends up at the club level. On talent alone, he belongs with the USMNT, but he's put that on display so infrequently over recent years that it's hard to keep waiting. There's a chance, yes, but, on current form, Reyna has work to do.
As for the others, Berhalter and De la Torre played their way into the mix with strong Gold Cups, showing that, while imperfect, both have skillsets that can help the team. Berhalter's energy and set-piece delivery are assets. So, too, are De la Torre's passing and ability to control a game. They now need to crush it in MLS.
Busio and Morris have been in and around the team, but both will need to step up on the club level to earn spots going forward. Note: Brenden Aaronson and Jack McGlynn could be included in this group but, like Luna, are with the wingers at the moment. McGlynn, notably, will likely shift inside at some point.
Getty Images SportFor The Future: Paxten Aaronson, Benja Cremaschi
Aaronson was in the U.S. squad this summer but barely played after the USMNT mess in the pre-Gold Cup clobbering by Switzerland. In total, he played just nine minutes at the Gold Cup, which was somewhat surprising given his club successes this past season in the Eredivisie.
He looks set to get a real shot at Eintracht Frankfurt this season and, which could make for a huge leap forward for the younger Aaronson brother. Cremaschi, meanwhile, continues to improve with Inter Miami under the tutelage of Lionel Messi. With Rodrigo De Paul reportedly set to join the team, Cremaschi's development will be even more interesting as he hopes leap into the USMNT picture.
