After an underwhelming 2024 Copa América campaign, the USMNT made a seismic change to its managerial personnel, hiring one of Europe’s most seasoned managers for his first taste of international football.
Mauricio Pochettino has been entrusted to lead the United States out of such a dismal period.
All eyes are on rejuvenating this youthful talent pool ahead of a 2026 World Cup on home soil.
With this at the forefront of most American minds, fans were left a little disconcerted when the first 25-man roster of the Pochettino era held much resemblance to those that Gregg Berhalter had produced before his dismissal.
The decision not to call up any uncapped players may have been wise to avoid creating disharmony among the existing group, but many fans have grown frustrated by their performances in recent competitions.
Whilst Pochettino may not be looking to put his stamp on this USMNT roster immediately, the USA has a wealth of budding stars plying their trade within their home country or even excelling overseas in the European leagues.
This tactical analysis and USMNT scout report will begin to nominate four players who may well capture the attention of their new head coach before a home World Cup.
Even though they may not jump straight into their nation’s starting eleven, our analysis will highlight that these players certainly possess impressive skill sets which can provide significant value to a roster needing an inventive spark.
Jack McGlynn Scouting Report
The Philadelphia Union are littered with talent emerging through the ranks, and central midfielder Jack McGlynn has cemented himself as one of the brightest homegrown stars in the MLS.
Jack McGlynn Radar Map
Usually picking up pockets of space inside the left channel, McGlynn has stood out over the past couple of seasons as an impressive ball distributor, whether it be short, intricate passing or, most notably, his ability to find teammates with long balls.
It is fascinating to see how Jack McGlynn’s style of play can differ between the tactical systems for club and country.
His experience at the Olympics was a great indication of his ability to connect with other upcoming prospects.
McGlynn ranks within the 99th percentile in the MLS for switches of play (1.54 per 90), which would undoubtedly suit a more expansive international setup with elite wingers and attack-minded full-backs looking to occupy advanced positions on the flanks.
He dictates play in a way that is incredibly similar to the quarterback role in American football.
He unlocks opposition defences by fitting surgical passes into tight windows of opportunity.
This was on display when the Union hosted Minnesota FC, as McGlynn showcased his impressive ability to switch plays.
He did so in a manner that caught the defence napping so his teammate could receive the ball with a desire to flash it across goal then.
It is often the disguise in his chance creation that causes significant issues for defenders.
His body position originally suggested that he would look to recycle possession back towards his defensive line.
Looking at the statistical data behind his most powerful trait, McGlynn is currently operating within the top 5% of all MLS midfielders for metrics such as shot-creating actions (4.46 per 90), progressive passes (10.30 per 90) and passes into the final third (8.03 per 90).
McGlynn’s deficiencies in overall performance might explain why his international experience has been limited to one senior appearance.
His shortcomings often hold back McGlynn out of possession, and his limited ability to progress the ball in the form of ball-carrying and beating defenders within the midfield.
However, as recently as this summer’s Olympic games, we saw how McGlynn’s game is still developing.
The American displayed his ability to evade pressure with tight ball control against an excellent French side, not just finding opportunities in open space but also breaking the lines with inventive play in uncertain territory.
It might seem counterintuitive to shoehorn McGlynn into a USMNT midfield, which would require a lot more balance, especially under challenging games against more formidable opposition.
But he does stand out as an excellent option for generating an offensive spark later in games, coming off the bench to help unlock fatigued defences.
Kevin Paredes Scouting Report
The next player in our scout report, Kevin Paredes, has captured the attention of Bundesliga fans because of his explosive nature and impressive versatility.
Kevin Paredes Radar Map
Kevin Paredes has looked to build off an impressive 2023/24 season for both his club and nation, as the VfL Wolfsburg player has conveyed his expertise all over the pitch.
He has likened his game to that of Alphonso Davies, following in the footsteps of another North American superstar who has had to develop his defensive qualities when making the transition to European football in Germany.
From this learning curve, we now see Paredes operate in a more attack-minded wing-back role for Wolfsburg.
He is confident in his ability to negate opposition threats within his own third while also remaining proactive when his side is attacking.
At this summer’s Olympic Games, Paredes played on the complete opposite flank in an advanced right winger role, where he could use his explosive movement and quick feet to craft significant chances when inverting onto his left foot.
Even out of possession, we saw in their match against France how Paredes’ proactive defensive attitude helped solidify the American’s pressing efforts, as Paredes’ early pressure could nullify any opportunities for the French to build out quickly.
Perhaps his developments in out-of-possession play have allowed Paredes to see much more of the field at Wolfsburg, as the flying full-back ranked second in the Bundesliga for the most tackles per 90 from U21 players last season (2.6).
It highlights how he may be performing in comparison to some of his fellow countrymen in the defensive department, as USMNT starter Joe Scally could only record 1.6 per 90 with Mönchengladbach.
A versatile figure like Kevin Paredes could definitely be helpful for Mauricio Pochettino’s tactics.
We have grown to see how valuable players who can display prowess in multiple positions can be within international football.
The US Soccer 2023 Young Player of the Year will hopefully benefit from another year of competitive action with Wolfsburg and certainly look to be knocking on the door of the senior setup once 2026 rolls around.
Benjamin Cremaschi Scouting Report
Having already highlighted an impressive central midfielder plying his trade in the MLS, it is essential to note that the US international setup was desperate to gain the services of another with a much different skill set.
Benjamin Cremaschi Radar Map
At just 19 years old, Benjamin Cremaschi has become a fan favourite at Inter Miami.
Footballing legends appreciate his energetic nature and ability to cover ground both in and out of possession.
His presence within the Inter Miami midfield complements Sergio Busquets and even Lionel Messi, as Cremaschi offers excellent ball security and confidence in possession.
Cremaschi has shown his talents all over the midfield for both club and country.
He can happily play as a box-to-box eight, defensive-minded pivot, or even more advanced player just behind the striker.
From these positions, we see his excellent mobility used for offensive purposes.
The midfielder can make late box-crashing runs or even lead his side’s attacking sequences when darting in behind the defensive line, as highlighted below in their match against Charlotte FC.
Cremaschi possesses the maturity and innovation to progress his side up the pitch through ball-carrying, as we saw when Inter Miami faced off against Toronto FC.
When deployed in more of a deep-lying role at the base of midfield, we see how Cremaschi is able to remain composed under pressure, driving forward between two oncoming pressors before moving the ball into the final third.
This example supports the fact that Cremaschi currently ranks within the 97th percentile for take-on attempts in the MLS (3.33 per 90).
However, Cremaschi’s work rate in both defence and attack separates him from the aforementioned Jack McGlynn.
Cremaschi has cemented himself as an energetic pressor who is constantly looking to regain possession proactively, whether in a deeper role breaking up play before the opposition can enter the penalty area or blindside pressing as he tracks back.
The midfielder can also exert his imposing presence within his own and the opposition’s penalty areas, as Cremansci expertly denied a dangerous crossing opportunity against Nashville SC.
Cremaschi’s 6.49 ball recoveries per 90 minutes in the MLS per season would undoubtedly make him an impressive option for national team selection should he commit to the USMNT instead of Argentina.
Joshua Wynder Scouting Report
Even though the 2026 World Cup may come a bit too soon for Joshua Wynder to impose himself on Pochettino’s squad, US fans are undoubtedly optimistic about one of their critical defensive prospects.
Joshua Wynder Radar Map
Wynder became the most expensive export from the USL Championship when he switched from Louisville City to Benfica.
Now, the 6’3” central defender is beginning to display the qualities that were so endearing to top teams across Europe.
After finding regular playing opportunities with Benfica B, Wynder has stood out thanks to his vertical prowess and contributed some huge goals early in the season; however, his work within the defensive third has seen the most development.
His size and athleticism are an integral part of his instinctive defensive style.
Wynder isn’t afraid to step up to deny the opposing striker time and space on the ball, looking to deny fast, forward progression at any opportunity.
Wynder typifies the modern ball-playing defender.
Thanks to his passing range, he is comfortable on the ball and has the talent to progress his side up the pitch.
We see how this can come into action when Benfica B were facing Chaves, as Wynder was caught off-balance and in an uncomfortable position when receiving the ball in the face of opposition pressure.
In order to mitigate any negative consequences, we see how Wynder could manipulate his body position and have the confidence to drive up the pitch between the two Chaves pressors, eventually finding space to link with his midfield teammate.
In fact, Joshua Wynder was often regarded as a promising defender when playing in the USL Championship.
Still, he was often labelled as ‘too docile’ in possession to have any real effect on his side’s build-up.
From his early performances in the Liga Portugal 2 this season, Wynder is anything but docile.
He drives up the pitch into space and looks to unlock opposition defences with long passes in behind for his wingers to run onto.
Conclusion
Mauricio Pochettino will be looking to build a positive optimism heading into the 2026 World Cup.
That harmony can work wonders for team performance at a major tournament in familiar surroundings.
The following players have certainly made significant progress in enhancing their chances of international selection, whether by experiencing new styles of play in Europe or helping to grow the standard of the game on home soil.
Without a dramatic jump in overall performance and stature, it would be ambitious to suggest that these youth prospects could breach the starting eleven.
Still, each one represents an impressive niche which could undoubtedly provide significant value to their new boss.
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