The weekend proved to be quite fruitful for U.S. World Cup prospects scattered across Europe, the U.S., and Mexico. Notably, Team Canada made history by netting four goals, four assists, and winning two matches, which propelled them to their first MLS Cup.
The weekend was also filled with unexpected excitement, especially for four standout players.
Let’s begin with an often overlooked candidate: Jonathan Klinsmann. He is the son of Jurgen, a former German football star and past coach of the U.S. men’s national team.
This 28-year-old goalkeeper, raised in Southern California, currently plays for Serie B’s Cesena in Italy. A former U.S. youth international, he has received multiple first-team calls, including a training camp invitation last November, though he hasn’t made his debut yet.
On Friday, he achieved a unique hat trick against Modena by saving a penalty, maintaining a clean sheet, and assisting the sole goal of the match. His performance earned him a near-perfect rating of 9.6 photomob.
Cesena, known as Cavallucci Marini or the Seahorses, are currently fourth in the standings, just four points from the lead. Klinsmann has been consistent, starting all 14 matches and allowing 14 goals while recording three shutouts.
The goaltending scenario remains uncertain for the U.S. team as they look towards 2026. Currently, Matt Freeze has been the top choice for New York City FC, having started in 12 consecutive matches. Although Matt Turner from New England, with his 52 caps and experience as the 2022 World Cup starter, seems likely for the backup role, others like Patrick Schuldt, Chris Brady, Roman Celentano, and Zach Steffen are also in contention.
With all MLS goalkeepers in their off-season and no competitive matches until February, Klinsmann has an excellent chance to establish his case as Pochettino prepares for friendlies against Portugal and Belgium in March.
It’s rare for a player to make it onto a World Cup squad without prior international experience, and as the situation stands, Freeze is expected to be the starter in both March matches—the final test before Pochettino announces the team in late May. However, competition for at least one or two of the three goalkeeper spots remains intense.
Bournemouth’s Tyler Adams scored from 45 yards, highlighting an unusual weekend for the USMNT.
(Lee Parker – CameraSport, Getty Images)
Klinsmann kept a clean sheet this weekend, while Tyler Adams scored a spectacular goal from about 45 yards. After gathering a pass in his own half and sprinting past midfield, the central midfielder noticed Sunderland’s goalkeeper, Robin Roofs, far off his line and smoothly curled a shot into the net, marking his second goal in four Premier League matches.
In Ligue 1, Olympique de Marseille was poised to take the lead when mid-table Toulouse equalized in stoppage time after a throw-in by American defender Mark McKenzie. His long throw set up a header from Santiago Hidalgo that made the score 2-2.
In a rare twist, Ricardo Pepi found himself in PSV Eindhoven’s starting lineup. The striker made the most of his first start in over two months, assisting Joey Wiermann’s early goal and netting a diagonal overhead kick in a 3-0 victory over Volendam.
Meanwhile, four other American players secured spots in the finals for both MLS and Liga MX.
MLS
Brian White of the Vancouver Whitecaps scored twice in the first half, leading his team to a 3-1 away victory against San Diego FC, clinching their first MLS Cup appearance. Fellow midfielder Sebastian Berhalter played the full match, while Luca de la Torre played the second half for San Diego.
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Mexico
American winger Alex Zendejas scored during Club América’s 2-1 quarter-final win against Monterrey. However, Monterrey advanced with a 3-2 aggregate score due to a stoppage-time goal.
Italy
After scoring the winning goal against Inter Milan the previous week, Christian Pulisic missed AC Milan’s 1-0 win over Lazio due to a thigh injury. Though he wasn’t seriously hurt and watched from the stands, he could return for the Coppa Italia rematch with Lazio on Thursday.
Weston McKennie helped Juventus secure a 2-1 victory over Cagliari just four days after scoring in the Champions League. Yunus Musa did not see any game time in Atalanta’s 2-0 victory against Fiorentina.
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England
Chris Richards made his 90th appearance as Crystal Palace lost 2-1 to Manchester United. Brendan Aaronson came on in the dying moments of Leeds’ 3-2 defeat to Manchester City.
Antonee Robinson hasn’t played in almost two months and remains sidelined with a knee issue, but there is hope for a return soon. Coach Marco Silva shared that he’s improving and participating in individual training, with updates expected in the near future.
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Patrick Agyeman scored his third goal in the Championship for Derby County, though his effort in the second minute was canceled out in a 2-1 loss against Middlesbrough. Aidan Morris, a usual starter, missed the game due to injury.
Josh Sargent assisted Norwich City in a 3-1 victory over Queens Park Rangers, bringing his combined goal tally for club and country to 15.
Injured striker Haji Wright could find it hard to reclaim his position from Ellis Sims, who scored five times in three consecutive games against Championship leaders Coventry City.
Germany
Gio Reyna‘s role for Mönchengladbach may increase ahead of the U.S. squad’s November games. The 23-year-old forward came on as a substitute in the 73rd minute during a 0-0 draw with RB Leipzig, having logged just 35 minutes in his last two matches after returning from international play.
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Joe Scally, Reyna’s teammate, started his fourth consecutive game. Meanwhile, Malik Tillman played 74 minutes in Bayer Leverkusen’s 2-1 loss to Borussia Dortmund, and Bayern’s James Sands saw St. Pauli go down 3-1 against unbeaten Bayern Munich.
Defender Noah Ohio participated in Augsburg’s 3-0 loss to Heidenheim, conceding all three goals in the first half. John Tolkien came off the bench in the 74th minute during Holstein Kiel’s 1-0 home defeat to Hertha Berlin.
France
Tim Weah had a noteworthy performance in Marseille’s 2-2 draw with Toulouse while Folarin Balogun and Tanner Tessman were substituted late due to what seemed to be minor injuries.
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Balogun’s Monaco defeated Paris Saint-Germain 1-0, but he did not score, ending a six-match goal streak. Traditionally a defensive midfielder, Tessman stepped into the backline during Olympique Lyonnais’ 3-0 victory over Nantes. His versatility might provide an extra layer of defense for the national team in the future.
Others
At PSV Eindhoven, Pepi had a rare start at right-back while Sergiño Dest collected his 13th start in 14 games as the team leads the Eredivisie with 12 wins, a loss, and a draw, showcasing a +27 goal difference. Johnny Cardoso was on the bench for Atlético Madrid’s 2-0 win over Oviedo, marking his third day back after a two-month absence. Auston Trusty continues to be a reliable presence for Celtic, who achieved their fourth straight Premiership victory with a 2-1 win over Hibernian.
Fan Take: The recent performances of these U.S. hopefuls indicate a promising depth in talent as the national team gears up for the 2026 World Cup. With young players like Klinsmann and Adams stepping up their games, fans can hope for a competitive showing on the global stage.
