While the UEFA Champions League is on hold until the finals later this month, many U.S. World Cup contenders will still see action with their respective European clubs this week.
It’s been a challenging week for some players hoping to make Mauricio Pochettino’s roster for the 2026 tournament, but several prominent U.S. athletes are poised for a potentially career-defining summer at what is expected to be the largest World Cup yet.
World Cup Watch: Are we witnessing America’s strongest lineup?
Players like hard-hitting forward Christian Pulisic haven’t had the best fortunes overseas, but here’s an update on some noteworthy American players:
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Tanner Tessmann has established himself as a reliable starter for Lyon. (Photo by Sébastien BOZON/AFP via Getty Images)
Tanner Tessmann, Midfielder, Lyon
Tessmann has been a consistent player, logging the full 90 minutes in five of his last seven Ligue 1 matches, including a draw against Lille. The Alabama native, who began his journey at FC Dallas in November, has helped Lyon maintain an unbeaten streak.
Folarin Balogun, Forward, Monaco
In January, the 24-year-old striker made five appearances for Monaco, netting one goal and assisting twice. He played a substitute role in a recent Coupe de France match against Strasbourg, almost narrowing the gap to 3-2 with a header that hit the crossbar.
Stu Holden discusses his predictions for the US World Cup starting lineup and Ricardo Pepi’s transfer situation.
Weston McKennie, Midfielder, Juventus
McKennie was just named Juve’s Player of the Month for January, contributing four goals in his last eight matches despite a recent setback in the Italian Cup, where Juve lost 3-0 to Atalanta. The 27-year-old Texan played the entire game.
Is Gio Reyna still a candidate for the World Cup? (Photo by Jürgen Fromme – firo sportsphoto/Getty Images)
Gio Reyna, Midfielder/Forward, Borussia Mönchengladbach
Reyna has been sidelined for the last two matches due to a muscle injury and has not contributed with goals or assists in 13 Bundesliga games this season. However, Pochettino has expressed interest in him, acknowledging that he performed well upon joining in November despite facing inconsistent playing time.
“He’s a player who joined us in November and initially performed very well, but hasn’t had the expected consistency,” Pochettino said. “We’re considering him in our decisions for March and the World Cup.” Reyna had scored in a friendly against Paraguay, who will be the USA’s first opponent in the group stages.
Malik Tillman, Midfielder/Forward, Bayer Leverkusen
Tillman has built on his two-goal performance in the previous week’s Champions League by scoring again in Leverkusen’s 3-1 victory over Eintracht Frankfurt. The 23-year-old has tallied six goals in 24 matches across all competitions during the 2025-26 season.
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Christian Pulisic is once again dealing with an injury. (Photo by Nicolò Campo/LightRocket, Getty Images)
Christian Pulisic, Midfielder/Forward, AC Milan
After aiming for a standout season last fall, Pulisic’s progress has been hindered this year due to injury issues. The 27-year-old missed Milan’s game against Bologna, suffering from a hip ailment diagnosed as “bursitis” by manager Max Allegri. Despite this set-back, he remains Milan’s leading scorer, although he has not contributed to any goals in the first five matches of the new year.
Johnny Cardoso, Midfielder, Atletico Madrid
Cardoso’s season has been marred by injuries, ending a streak of four consecutive starts for Atleti due to a muscle injury that kept him out of a recent Copa del Rey match against his former club, Real Betis.
Yunus Moussa’s opportunities are diminishing. (Photo by Marco Canoniero/LightRocket, Getty Images)
Yunus Moussa, Midfielder, Atalanta
At just 23, the clock is ticking for Moussa to solidify his place in the World Cup squad. After appearing for only 52 minutes in last week’s Champions League match, he has missed Atalanta’s last two games, including a goalless draw against Como and a decisive win over Juventus.
Haji Wright, Striker, Coventry City
Wright has struggled in recent matches, failing to find the net in the past two games where Coventry lost. He had an impressive start to the season, scoring nine times, but has only netted twice in his last 17 matches in the Championship. Nonetheless, USMNT’s assistant coach Miguel D’Agostino will be monitoring his performance closely as Coventry faces Oxford United this Saturday.
Fan Take: This update is crucial for soccer enthusiasts as it highlights the form of U.S. players across Europe, informing fan expectations for the upcoming World Cup. Successful performances could not only shape their careers but enhance the reputation and competitiveness of American soccer on the global stage.
