Getty/GOAL, USMNT World Cup Projection: Pulisic back, questions in midfield,

COLUMBUS, Ohio – Just three international windows separate the U.S. men’s national team from the selection of the 2026 World Cup roster. It’s a crazy thought. The tournament is closing in and, after a September that included more experimentation from Mauricio Pochettino, the player pool, in general, remains in a state of flux.

Part of that is by design. Even after the USMNT’s 2-0 win over Japan, Pochettino reminded players that the door remains open – and it’s up to them to walk through. There are some locks in this player pool, for sure, but Pochettino  says spots remain up for grabs, and that there’s still much work to be done to finalize the roster.

For someone such as Alejandro Zendejas, who stood out in this September window, it was more of a case of playing himself into contention rather than onto the squad. For someone such as Josh Sargent, who didn’t get the goal he so desperately needed, the dream isn’t over – even if the window is closing.

Pochettino appears to want some of these battles to come down to the wire, and he wants the winners of them to have earned them when all is said and done.

So who’s in and who’s out? What are the tough calls Pochettino will have to make? Which youngsters have a realistic shot of making the squad for 2026? GOAL takes a look.