STADIO GRANDE TORINO, TORINO, ITALY – 2026/05/24: Weston Mckennie of Juventus Fc looks on during the Serie A football match between Torino Fc and Juventus Fc. The match ends in a tie 2-2. (Photo by Marco Canoniero/LightRocket via Getty Images)
LightRocket via Getty Images
Every four years, the World Cup captivates new American soccer fans and leaves them wanting more of the beautiful game.
The good news is that everyone you see playing for the U.S. national team – as well as many of the other participants in the 48-team tournament – plays a nearly year-round schedule for their club side in leagues around the world that are easier than ever for American audiences to watch.
Here’s where each member of manager Mauricio Pochettino’s 26-man World Cup squad plays when they’re not suiting up for the Red, White and Blue. He
Goalkeepers
Chris Brady: Chicago Fire FC (MLS, USA)
The 22-year-old is the first-ever player signed directly from Chicago’s youth academy to make a World Cup roster. He’s been playing at the MLS level since the 2022 season, and has been the Fire’s No. 1 choice in goal since 2023.
Matt Freese: New York City FC (MLS, USA)
CHARLOTTE, NORTH CAROLINA – MAY 13: Matt Freese #49 of New York City FC walks off the field after defeating Charlotte FC in their game at Bank of America Stadium on May 13, 2026 in Charlotte, North Carolina. (Photo by Jacob Kupferman/Getty Images)
Getty Images
Freese actually came up through the Philadelphia Union’s youth academy, but he was playing behind Jamaica’s No. 1 Andre Blake, who has won the MLS Goalkeeper of the Year award a record three times. Freese moved on to NYCFC in 2023 and solidified himself as the Cityzens’ No. 1 the following season.
Matt Turner: New England Revolution (MLS, USA)
Turner is the lone member of the USMNT goalkeepers’ union with European experience. But he fell out of favor at Nottingham Forest in the Premier League, and move to Ligue 1 in France fell through, so he moved back to the Revolution – where he won MLS Goalkeeper of the Year in 2021 – during the 2025 MLS summer transfer window.
Defenders
Max Arfsten: Columbus Crew (MLS, USA)
The 25-year-old is one of the biggest success stories of former manager Wilfried Nancy’s three-year tenure in Columbus, evolving from an emerging player on the 2023 MLS Cup-winning Crew side to one of the first names on the team sheet by the time Nancy departed for a brief and ill-fated tenure at Celtic.
Sergiño Dest: PSV Eindhoven (Eredivisie, Netherlands)
The Dutch-born Dest came up through the storied Ajax academy and went on to feature for two seasons at FC Barcelona, but after a rough patch including some injuries has found stability in his return to the Netherlands, where he’s helped PSV to three consecutive league titles.
Alex Freeman: Villareal CF (La Liga, Spain)
OVIEDO, SPAIN – APRIL 23: Alex Freeman of Villarreal FC looks on prior to the LaLiga EA Sports match between Real Oviedo and Villarreal CF at Carlos Tartiere on April 23, 2026 in Oviedo, Spain. (Photo by Juan Manuel Serrano Arce/Getty Images)
Getty Images
The son of longtime NFL wide receiver Antonio Freeman, Alex Freeman is the latest Orlando City export to Europe. He’s made nine league appearances following his winter move to Spain, an impressive feat given his age and how difficult it can be to break into new teams in mid-season.
Mark McKenzie: Toulouse (Ligue 1, France)
Another Philadelphia Union product, McKenzie departed MLS after helping the Union win the 2020 Supporters’ Shield. He spent the next five seasons at Genk in the Belgian top flight before moving to Toulouse – where he immediately became a regular starter – at the start of the 2024-2025 season.
Tim Ream: Charlotte FC (MLS, USA)
The American captain spent the bulk of his club career in Englad including nine years at Fulham, helping the London side eventually solidify its Premier League place after its third promotion from the EFL Championship in five seasons in 2022. The 38-year-old moved back stateside after the 2023-24 Premier League campaign.
Chris Richards: Crystal Palace (Premier League, England)
LEIPZIG, GERMANY – MAY 27: Chris Richards of Crystal Palace bites his winers medal after the UEFA Conference League Final 2026 between Crystal Palace FC and Rayo Vallecano de Madrid at The Red Bull Arena on May 27, 2026 in Leipzig, Germany. (Photo by KontentHaus/Getty Images)
KontentHaus/Getty Images
Richards moved on from the FC Dallas academy to the storied Bayern Munich youth setup as soon his age allowed. Most of his first-team Bundesliga experience came in two short loan stints with TSV Hoffenheim, but he’s become a regular fixture since moving to Crystal Palace, helping the Eagles win their 2024-25 FA Cup and 2025-26 UEFA Conference League titles.
Antonee Robinson: Fulham (Premier League, England)
The English-born fullback is arguably one of the world’s best left backs when he’s healthy. But several setbacks in his recovery from surgery in the 2025 off-season limited him to 22 appearances in the most recent Premier League campaign, where he never quite looked like the player of the previous three seasons.
Miles Robinson: FC Cincinnati (MLS, USA)
The Atlanta United product was once considered a near-certainty to move on to European football. But a terribly timed Achilles rupture ruined his 2022 World Cup chances, and eventually he moved domestically instead to a Cincinnati side that has spent more money than most on its back line.
Joe Scally: Borussia Mönchengladbach (Bundesliga, Germany)
Joe Scally (Borussia M0nchengladbach) looks on during Matchday 32 1.Bundesliga: Borussia Mönchengladbach and Borussia Dortmund at Borussia-Park, Mönchengladbach, Germany on May 03 2026. (Photo by Ulrik Pedersen/NurPhoto via Getty Images)
NurPhoto via Getty Images
Still only 23, the NYCFC product has already made 157 career Bundesliga appearances for Mönchengladbach since joining the club for the 2021-22 season, helping the club achieve mid-table security in the last couple years.
Auston Trusty: Celtic FC (Scottish Premiership, Scotland)
Yet another Philadelphia Union product, Trusty spent two seasons in England – including one in the Premier League with relegation-doomed Sheffield United in 2023-24 – before moving on to the Old Firm side, where he’s helped their SPL domination continue.
Midfielders
Tyler Adams: AFC Bournemouth (Premier League, England)
NOTTINGHAM, ENGLAND – MAY 24: Head Coach Andoni Iraola of Bournemouth in his last game in charge after his sides 1-1 draw with Tyler Adams during the Premier League match between Nottingham Forest and Bournemouth at City Ground on May 24, 2026 in Nottingham, England. (Photo by Robin Jones – AFC Bournemouth/AFC Bournemouth via Getty Images)
AFC Bournemouth via Getty Images
The defensive midfielder has played a role in one of England’s great football success stories, making 25 league appearances this season to help the Cherries – a club that has spent the overwhelming majority of its history in the lower divisions – qualify for its first-ever European competition.
Sebastian Berhalter: Vancouver Whitecaps (MLS, Canada)
The son of former USMNT manager Gregg Berhalter is the lone member of the American squad to play for one of MLS’ three Canadian sides. He’s become a regular in a Vancouver squad that has been one of the best in MLS over the last two seasons, but one that also faces uncertainty off the field.
Weston McKennie: Juventus (Serie A, Italy)
The American who most resembles a soccer version of a Swiss Army Knife, McKennie has outlasted all expectations (and several managers) at the Turin giants. And he’s coming off maybe his best season yet, in which he scored five goals and assisted five more from his central midfield role in 36 league appearances.
Cristian Roldan: Seattle Sounders (MLS, USA)
Roldan has spent his more than decade-long career in Seattle, where he’s helped the Sounders win MLS Cups in 2016 and 2019 and the Concacaf Champions League in 2022. Now 30, his national team prospects were rejuvenated following a strong showing for Seattle in the 2025 Club World Cup.
Malik Tillman: Bayer Leverkusen (Bundesliga, Germany)
LEVERKUSEN, GERMANY – APRIL 22: Malik Tillman of Bayer 04 Leverkusen (L) and Leon Goretzka of FC Bayern München compete for the ball during the DFB Cup semifinal match between Bayer 04 Leverkusen and FC Bayern München at BayArena on April 22, 2026 in Leverkusen, Germany. (Photo by Ralf Ibing – firo sportphoto/Getty Images)
Getty Images
Born in Germany with an American father, Tillman was a Bayern Munich academy player from his mid-teens. But his road to German first-team football included stops at Rangers and PSV Eindhoven before returning to Leverkusen. And he’s likely moving on this summer after his new manager was fired a month into last season and his playing time eventually diminished.
Gio Reyna: Borussia Mönchengladbach (Bundesliga, Germany)
The son of USMNT legend Claudio Reyna finally departed Dortmund for a new Bundesliga locale last summer. His fortunes remained similar, as a player most often utilized off the bench, but some metrics suggest he has regained some of the athleticism he lost following a severe hamstring tear five years ago.
Forwards
Brenden Aaronson: Leeds United (Premier League, England)
Another USMNT player with Philadelphia Union roots, Aaronson has been one of Leeds’ most-used players over the last two seasons, playing in every match of their EFL Championship-winning campaign in 2024-25, and in all but one of their 38 Premier League fixtures this season.
Folarin Balogun: AS Monaco (Ligue 1, France)
Monaco’s US forward #09 Folarin Balogun celebrates scoring his team’s first goal during the French L1 football match between AS Monaco and Stade Brestois 29 at the Stade Louis II in the Principality of Monaco on March 14, 2026. (Photo by Valery HACHE / AFP via Getty Images)
AFP via Getty Images
The Arsenal academy product has spent four seasons in France and the last three with Monaco, where he scored 19 times across all competitions this season, including five goals in UEFA Champions League play.
Ricardo Pepi: PSV Eindhoven (Eredivisie, Netherlands)
Pepi played with the FC Dallas Academy and first team before moving on to Germany and then the Netherlands. Interrupted at times by injuries, he’s found his rhythm this past season for the Dutch league champions, and a summer move to the Premier League still feels like a possibility.
Christian Pulisic: AC Milan (Serie A, Italy)
The Americans’ most well-known player, Pulisic started the season on an historic scoring pace for one of Italy’s most famous clubs. But recurring issues related to what appears to be a chronic hip concern slowed him considerably during the back half of the season, and he failed to score a league goal in 2026.
Haji Wright: Coventry City (Premier League, England)
COVENTRY, ENGLAND – APRIL 21: Doug King, Chairman and Owner of Coventry City celebrates with Haji Wright oafter the Sky Bet Championship match between Coventry City and Portsmouth at The Coventry Building Society Arena on April 21, 2026 in Coventry, England. (Photo by Marc Atkins/Getty Images)
Getty Images
The most versatile of the three American candidates to play center forward, Wright was Coventry’s top scorer in their successful EFL Championship campaign with 17 goals, helping the Sky Blues earn promotion to the Premier Leauge for the first time since their 2000-01 relegation.
Tim Weah: Marseille (Ligue 1, France)
The son of Liberian footballing great turned former president George Weah, Tim Weah returned to France following two seasons with Juventus. At Marseilles, he scored twice in the league and once in UEFA Champions League play while playing nearly 2,800 minutes between the competitions.
Alejandro Zendejas: Club América (Liga MX, Mexico)
Born in the Mexican border city of Juarez, Zendejas has spent most of his footballing career in Mexico, including the last four-and-a-half with Las Águilas, the nation’s most-storied club. He had the highest FotMob rating of any Liga MX player during the recently concluded 2025-26 Clausura season.