In welcome news the USMNT striker pool is deep and kicking on all cylinders. There are five viable options that could start any game for the national team based on whatever Mauricio Pochettino wants in a player against a specific opponent. The pool includes players starting in the Champions League and contributing meaningful goals to their teams in the most competitive tournament in the sport.
In the past an injury or suspension to a starting caliber striker would raise doubts and concerns about how
the team will deal with missing a key player. There have been times when groans were audible when starting lineups in key games came out with fans expecting disappointment out of a starting no. 9. That will not happen this summer and the confidence that will give the team cannot be overvalued. There might be a surprise on this list, but each player brings something different and needed heading into the World Cup.
Folarin Balogun – Largely seen as the default starter as he’s playing at the highest level in Ligue 1 and the Champions League, Balogun can find space and make smart runs. He’s a player who likes to shoot a lot while also playing with a lot of energy pressing out of possession. The striker has a lot to offer but isn’t exactly a complete forward. He could add being more effective in the air and developing physicality to support hold up play. These aren’t enough to keep him out of the lineup and he has 5 goals with 24 games in 15 starts in league play, but he’s putting in the work in the Champions League with 5 goals in 9 games putting him tied for 6th for most goals in the competition.
Ricardo Pepi – After a strong start Pepi missed time with an injury. Despite that he was a transfer target for a mid-season to Fulham showing the confidence his play elicits. In his 16 games he has 9 goals in the Eredivisie with 3 goals and an assist in 5 Champions League games. In the league he’s sitting in 9th for most goals scored but his .56 goals per game would put him in the top five goal scorers. He’s not the most physical forward, but El Tren has shown he’s a threat as a poacher with a nose for the goal.
Haji Wright – The last striker to score in a World Cup for the USA, Wright has established himself as one of the best strikers in the Championship. He has 13 goals in 29 matches plus an assist leading Coventry City into the top spot in the league three points ahead of Middlesbrough and 9 above Millwall. That tally is good for second most in the meat grinder of the Championship season. He is strong and fast while also being able to push defenders around in what is a very physical league. Wright can also play as a winger giving Poch an option for a physical player out wide. He should scare teams in transition but if the USA finds itself in a game where the opponents give up possession, his build up play could use some work.
Patrick Agyemang – The striker might have been a player who raised eyebrows as recently as the 2025 Gold Cup, but he’s proven he can play effectively at a high level in a short time. The big forward is an areal threat and can dominate in the air. He can also play wide to create space for teammates showing versatility in his playing style and the ability to use space effectively.
Weston McKennie – There’s nothing he can’t do. Last week he started as a false 9 in the Champions League for Juventus and it wouldn’t be a surprise to see him play any position on the field – he may as well be the emergency goalkeeper also. His 4 goals and 5 assists in Serie A and 3 goals plus an assist in the Champions League show he’s able to score and create for teammates. While he might not start at striker for the national team, having a player capable of playing that position on the field shows his value to the team. That said, perhaps a surprise could see him in the lineup anywhere.
The USA scored three goals in the last World Cup and will have to do better than that in order to exceed expectations in 2026. Striker is becoming a position of strength for the team rather than a question that hits a nerve when lineups come out. Poch will have a tough decision to make before putting his team on the field when the tournament rolls around. The upcoming friendlies in Atlanta against Portugal and Belgium will give an idea of what he’s thinking ahead of his final picks for the roster.
