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USMNT Strikers Shine as Pepi, Balogun, and Wright Reunite in 2025
12 Nov
Summary
- Pepi, Balogun, and Wright train together for the first time since 2024
- Trio of strikers have scored goals for USMNT in recent games
- Berhalter spent years searching for a reliable striker, now has options
As of November 12th, 2025, the U.S. men's national team has assembled a formidable trio of strikers for their upcoming friendlies against Paraguay and Uruguay. Ricardo Pepi, Folarin Balogun, and Haji Wright have all reported to camp, marking the first time they've trained together since the summer of 2024.
Pepi, fresh off a Champions League goal and three in his last five club games for PSV, is back in the USMNT fold. Balogun, who has scored three goals in his last four matches for Monaco, and Wright, who has netted eight times for Coventry City in the English Championship, have also joined the squad.
This represents a significant shift for the USMNT, which has struggled to find a reliable striker for much of the past decade under Gregg Berhalter's tenure. In that time, 16 different players have started up top for the national team, with none truly seizing the position. However, Pepi, Balogun, and Wright have all shown their ability to find the back of the net in recent international appearances.
Balogun's goals against Japan and Ecuador, followed by Wright's brace against Australia, marked the first time since 2020-21 that the USMNT has gotten goals from its No. 9 in three consecutive games. With the trio now together, head coach Mauricio Pochettino has options to deploy them in various formations, including a potential 3-5-2 that could suit the current personnel.
As the World Cup in 2026 approaches, the USMNT's striker situation appears to be in a much stronger position than it has been in years, providing a boost of optimism for the team's future.
