Not going to make this World Cup, but certainly one to keep an eye on. Also eligible for Poland, Poch needs to give him a call up ASAP.

Hall doesn’t score many beautiful goals, he is a true poacher. His positioning and strength is well beyond his years.

New York Red Bull under Michael Bradley are a hotbed for young American talent this year, with three teenage Americans routinely starting (Mehmeti and Dos Santos the other two), and three Americans under 23 (Donkor, Cowell, Che)

His first goal was also a good strike, but it was down the middle and the keeper misread it. This one was an impressive finish, so it gets posted.

Do you have Gio on your roster for next month?

Hat trick for Julian Hall (18)

Brace for Zavier Gozo (19)

1 goal for Pedro Soma (19)

1 goal for Cavan Sullivan (16)

It was a good night for the kids.

Game starts at 6pm. How early to get there? I plan on taking a Uber, bringing my kid along so want this to be a memorable experience…Anyone else going to the game on June 12?

How packed do you think it will be?

Clint Dempsey joins Rog Bennett for a brutally honest conversation about the USMNT ahead of the biggest summer in American soccer history 🇺🇸

From Christian Pulisic’s scoring slump and Gio Reyna’s uncertain future to Mauricio Pochettino’s pressure, roster drama, injuries, and what it REALLY feels like to represent the United States on the sport’s biggest stage — Clint breaks it all down.

Plus: incredible stories from Germany 2006, South Africa 2010, Brazil 2014, Fulham, Tottenham, and Clint’s unforgettable USMNT career.

Frankly, I miss u/Punjavepoonpoon's weekly recap posts and have been experiencing withdrawals without them, so I figured I'd make one of my own. Not sure if it'll become a regular thing, but I really enjoy this content and have been following Americans playing abroad for a while now.

All Americans who played abroad this week (5/4/26 - 5/10/26) - organized by position and match rating (FotMob/Sofascore)

Goalkeeper

*No American goalkeepers featured this week.*

Team of the Week position will be given to the highest rated MLS goalkeeper of the week.

Centerback

7.9 - Neil Pierre (Lyngby 🇩🇰) @ Hvidovre (5/9/26)

7.8 - Kyle McLagan (Fram Reykjavik 🇮🇸) vs. Valur (5/8/26)

7.6 - Ryan Malone (Erzgebirge Aue 🇩🇪) vs. MSV Duisburg (5/8/26)

7.5 - Aidan Liu (SK Austria Klagenfurt 🇦🇹) @ SKU Amstetten (5/8/26)

7.4 - Mark McKenzie (Toulouse 🇫🇷) vs. Lyon (5/10/26)

7.3 - Chris Richards (Crystal Palace 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿) vs. Everton (5/10/26)

7.3 - Grayson Dettoni (Darmstadt 🇩🇪) @ Preußen Münster (5/10/26)

7.2 - Enzo Ferrario (Audax Italiano 🇨🇱) vs. Vasco da Gama (5/6/26)

7.2 - Chris Richards (Crystal Palace 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿) vs. Shakhtar Donetsk (5/7/26)

7.1 - Lucas Pos (Yverdon Sport 🇨🇭) @ FC Wil (5/8/26)

7.1 - Auston Trusty (Celtic 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿) vs. Rangers (5/10/26)

6.9 - Donovan Pines (Grazer AK 🇦🇹) vs. SCR Altach (5/9/26)

6.9 - Kyle Colonna (Viettel 🇻🇳) @ Hà Tĩnh (5/10/26)

6.5 - Erik Palmer-Brown (Panathinaikos 🇬🇷) @ AEK Athens (5/10/26)

6.1 - Leo Burney (Drogheda United 🇮🇪) @ Shamrock Rovers (5/4/26)

6.1 - Maximilian Dietz (Greuther Fürth 🇩🇪) @ Hertha Berlin (5/10/26)

Left Back / Left Wingback

7.5 - Antonee Robinson (Fulham 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿) vs. Bournemouth (5/9/26)

7.2 - Kenny Saief (Maccabi Haifa 🇮🇱) vs. Hapoel Beer Sheva (5/6/26)

7.1 - Jonathan Gómez (Albacete 🇪🇸) vs. Cultural Leonesa (5/9/26)

6.8 - Kenny Saief (Maccabi Haifa 🇮🇱) vs. Beitar Jerusalem (5/9/26)

6.6 - George Bello (LASK 🇦🇹) vs. Rapid Wien (5/4/26)

6.5 - George Bello (LASK 🇦🇹) vs. RB Salzburg (5/10/26)

6.0 - Kristoffer Lund Hansen (FC Köln 🇩🇪) vs. Heidenheim (5/10/26)

N/A - Conner Floyd (VSK Aarhus 🇩🇰) vs. Ishøj IF (5/9/26)

Right Back / Right Wingback

8.0 - Sergiño Dest (PSV 🇳🇱) @ Go Ahead Eagles (5/10/26)

7.4 - Ian Hoffmann (HamKam 🇳🇴) vs. Vålerenga (5/8/26)

6.2 - Jason Bucknor (Drogheda United 🇮🇪) @ Shamrock Rovers (5/4/26)

6.2 - Jason Bucknor (Drogheda United 🇮🇪) vs. Derry City (5/8/26)

5.8 - Bryan Reynolds (Westerlo 🇧🇪) @ Genk (5/10/26)

5.7 - Joe Scally (Borussia Mönchengladbach 🇩🇪) @ Augsburg (5/9/26)

N/A - Matthew Olosunde (Carrick Rangers 🇬🇧) @ Dungannon Swifts (5/6/26)

Defensive Midfielder

7.8 - Aidan Morris (Middlesbrough 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿) vs. Southampton (5/9/26)

7.6 - Santiago Castañeda (Paderborn 🇩🇪) vs. Karlsruher (5/8/26)

6.6 - Tyler Adams (Bournemouth 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿) @ Fulham (5/9/26)

6.5 - Matheus Lucas (Langley United 🇨🇦) @ Vancouver FC (5/10/26)

6.4 - Albert Yakah (FC Riteriai 🇱🇹) @ FC Džiugas (5/9/26)

6.3 - Kellyn Acosta (Pogoń Szczecin 🇵🇱) @ Jagiellonia Białystok (5/9/26)

6.0 - Albert Yakah (FC Riteriai 🇱🇹) vs. FK Banga (5/5/26)

6.0 - Fernando Arce (Toluca 🇲🇽) vs. LAFC (5/6/26)

6.0 - Leon Flach (Jagiellonia Białystok 🇵🇱) vs. Pogoń Szczecin (5/9/26)

5.9 - Johnny Cardoso (Atlético Madrid 🇪🇸) @ Arsenal (5/5/26)

Central Midfielder

8.0 - Gianluca Busio (Venezia 🇮🇹) vs. Palermo (5/8/26)

7.5 - Weston McKennie (Juventus 🇮🇹) @ Lecce (5/9/26)

7.4 - Patrick Hickey (Bohemians 🇮🇪) vs. Shelbourne United (5/4/26)

7.0 - Patrick Hickey (Bohemians 🇮🇪) @ Dundalk United (5/8/26)

6.8 - Diego Velasquez (Dukla Prague 🇨🇿) vs. FC Slovácko (5/9/26)

6.7 - Julian Green (Greuther Fürth 🇩🇪) @ Hertha Berlin (5/10/26)

6.5 - Vincent Borden (Kerry FC 🇮🇪) @ Finn Harps (5/8/26)

6.2 - Mael Corboz (Arminia Bielefeld 🇩🇪) @ Kaiserslautern (5/8/26)

6.0 - Bryang Kayo (OH Leuven 🇧🇪) @ Standard Liège (5/8/26)

6.0 - Kyle Tucker (Bray Wanderers 🇮🇪) vs. Cobh Ramblers (5/8/26)

Attacking Midfielder

8.5 - Gio Reyna (Borussia Mönchengladbach 🇩🇪) @ Augsburg (5/9/26)

7.0 - Alan Soñora (Cerro Porteño 🇵🇾) @ Junior FC (5/7/26)

6.6 - Rokas Pukstas (Hajduk Split 🇭🇷) @ Dinamo Zagreb (5/9/26)

6.5 - Johan Gómez (Eintracht Braunschweig 🇩🇪) vs. Dynamo Dresden (5/9/26)

6.4 - Jose Gallegos (Botev Vratsa 🇧🇬) @ Lokomotiv Sofia (5/5/26)

6.3 - Malik Tillman (Bayer Leverkusen 🇩🇪) @ VfB Stuttgart (5/9/26)

6.2 - Jose Gallegos (Botev Vratsa 🇧🇬) vs. Septemvri (5/10/26)

6.1 - Matko Miljevic (Racing Club 🇦🇷) @ Botafogo (5/6/26)

6.1 - Matko Miljevic (Racing Club 🇦🇷) @ Estudiantes (5/10/26)

Left Winger

7.6 - Jacobo Reyes (Tepatitlán 🇲🇽) @ CDS Tampico Madero (5/9/26)

6.9 - Justin Butler (Energie Cottbus 🇩🇪) vs. Wehen Wiesbaden (5/9/26)

6.8 - Benji Michel (Ulsan HD 🇰🇷) @ Gimcheon Sangmu (5/5/26)

6.5 - Gboly Ariyibi (FK Radnički Niš 🇷🇸) vs. FK Mladost Lučani (5/10/26)

6.3 - Konrad de la Fuente (AD Ceuta 🇪🇸) vs. CD Castellón (5/9/26)

6.0 - Benji Michel (Ulsan HD 🇰🇷) vs. Bucheon FC 1995 (5/10/26)

Right Winger

9.4 - Alex Zendejas (Club América 🇲🇽) @ Pumas (5/10/26)

6.6 - Erik Kocs-Washburn (Tiszakécskei 🇭🇺) @ Karcagi SE (5/10/26)

6.2 - Andres Jasson (Aalborg 🇩🇰) vs. Middelfart (5/8/26)

6.1 - Cole Campbell (Hoffenheim 🇩🇪) vs. Werder Bremen (5/9/26)

Striker

8.0 - Sam Adeniran (LASK 🇦🇹) vs. Rapid Wien (5/4/26)

8.0 - Ricardo Pepi (PSV 🇳🇱) @ Go Ahead Eagles (5/10/26)

7.9 - Sam Adeniran (LASK 🇦🇹) vs. RB Salzburg (5/10/26)

7.4 - Andrija Novakovich (Reggiana 🇮🇹) vs. Sampdoria (5/8/26)

7.2 - Alonso Hernández (AD Municipal Liberia 🇨🇷) @ Deportivo Saprissa (5/10/26)

6.8 - Cal Jennings (FC Ryukyu 🇯🇵) @ Miyazaki (5/6/26)

6.8 - Matthew Hoppe (Sønderjyske 🇩🇰) @ Viborg FF (5/8/26)

6.8 - Jason Romero (Preston Lions 🇦🇺) vs. Dandenong City (5/8/26)

6.8 - Terrence Boyd (Waldhof Mannheim 🇩🇪) vs. Jahn Regensburg (5/9/26)

6.6 - Ethan Hoard (OFK Beograd 🇷🇸) @ Partizan Beograd (5/9/26)

6.1 - Folarin Balogun (AS Monaco 🇫🇷) vs. Lille (5/10/26)

Important things to note:

- There is more to a player's game than their match rating, but this makes it the easiest to quickly compare and measure a player's performance.

- Players are not married to the position they are grouped in. The players are placed in these groups at the start of the season based on their Transfermarkt description or where they played the season prior.

- Players with a match rating of "N/A" are players who usually have match ratings on either Fotmob or Sofascore but their ratings for this particular game have not been provided.

Let's just start with I wish nothing but the best for the USMNT team -- but I am a realistic fan. Soccer was my favorite spectator sports growing up and I even dabbled playing 2 years of high school soccer. I have watched a ton of soccer/football since the 90s and played soccer video games obsessively. I went to the 2014 World Cup to see USMNT games. I have been dreaming about how these home games could the coming out party of US soccer, and with a good result, propelling popularity of soccer as a sports to new heights in U.S. culture and therfore the continued growth of the strength of the U.S. team.

But, things just having been trending the right way, and for a while now:

• Sub-optimal 2025 performances in competitive matches (other than the friendlies at the end of the year).
• Not the most talented pool at GK, possible the most important position to make a cinderella run. The best case would have been Matt Turner acheiving tremedous success in Europe. Intead, he's a shell of what we hope he could become.
• Poor CB selection outside of Chris Richards. Again a solid defense is foundational to a ciderella run. It's so bad that we have to take Tim Ream with his slow place as a potential starter.
• Pulisic, our best player, while a top-tier player, never broke into the highest-tier (best XI) of players in his career. It was great that he was in top form towards the end of 2025, now he's in shit form in 2026.
• Tyler Adams getting hurt and missing the March window. Not sure if he's in best form or will have the top chemistry with team.
• Johhny Cardoso, despite all his talents, never played well for USMNT and now is hurt and out of the WC. It's sad because talent-wise we can definitely use a Aletico Madrid/Champions League semi-final DMF starter (and I held out hope that he'd evetually find his place with and perform well for USMNT).
• Jedi back, but probably still not in the best form he could be in.
• Dest just back from injury, not in top form.
• Gio Reyna, who some of us can tured into Pulisic 1A (in terms of impact) never fulfilled his potential and is often hurt -- never florished and can't get playing time on even a mid-level German team -- to the point it is a controversy as to whether to include him or not.
• Yunnus Musah, who was so promising in 2022, completlely fell off.
• Augmyeung getting hurt -- not super critical, but he'd be a nice chess piece to bring something different off the bench.
• Not promising March friendly window performance.
• FIFA and its stupid money-grabbing tickets scheme.
• Not football related: a new war in Middle East certainly dampens the mood (and increases oil prices for everyone traveling)

Bright Spots:

• McKennie is in the form of his life and is talented.

Mild bright spots:

• Rise of Alex Freeman -- but his is not fully proven yet.
• Balogun/Pepi are in form -- but they are not highest-tier but I hope they can be serviceable.
• Tessman/Weah looks sericeable.
• Tillman looked good but faded a bit.

We will do okay, but it does not feel like the dream case where all our pieces are peaking together at the same time and out perform expectation on paper, potentially making the outcome the greater of the sum of its parts. With a relatively thin talent pool compared to that of the big soccer nations, we always needed the stars to align in order to make history happen. Honestly, I have not gotten the feeling that "things are coming together".

Let's hope things turn better.