USMNT's World Cup Lineup: Pochettino Plays Chess

As the 2026 World Cup approaches, U.S. men's national team coach Mauricio Pochettino is carefully considering his starting lineup for the opener against Paraguay. The team's final pre-tournament match against Germany, taking place on Saturday afternoon at Soldier Field, is a critical opportunity to finalize strategies and assess player condition.

Pochettino has expressed that his intended starters were solidified before March but acknowledges the need for flexibility. He artfully dodged direct questions about his starting XI for the Germany match, emphasizing the difficulty of pleasing critics regardless of his decisions. The coach highlighted the importance of preparing the team in the best possible way, weighing the risk of injuries against the need for match sharpness.

Both the USMNT and Germany are dealing with injury concerns. For the U.S., defender Chris Richards is sidelined, while Germany faces potential absences for young midfielder Lennart Karl and goalkeeper Manuel Neuer. Despite these challenges, Germany boasts a formidable squad with talents like Jamal Musiala and Florian Wirtz.

Attacking midfielder Malik Tillman, born in Germany, expressed excitement about facing his homeland before the World Cup. Meanwhile, players like goalkeeper Matt Freese, striker Haji Wright, and midfielder Brenden Aaronson, who have had limited playing time, are expected to feature against Germany. Aaronson, in particular, is eager to prove his form after a strong club season with Leeds United.