USMNT striker race remains open ahead of World Cup

Mauricio Pochettino cannot simply buy his preferred forward for the US national team, a contrast with club life when transfers can quickly reshape a squad. With provisional World Cup rosters due 11 May and final friendlies in May and June, the window for players to make an impression is nearly closed, and several positions across the pitch remain unsettled.

The biggest uncertainty sits up front. Folarin Balogun arrived as a clear contender after his switch to the USMNT, earning praise for his movement and work ethic, but a difficult season at Monaco — with only a handful of goals and a last Champions League strike on 9 December — has softened that momentum.

Ricardo Pepi provided a direct challenge at PSV before a forearm injury and an expected mid-March return complicated his hopes of joining the May camp. Derby’s Patrick Agyemang has emerged as the form striker in the US pool, scoring regularly in the Championship after an uneven start.

United States