Can ‘slow progress’ lead the United States to produce a top-20 player in the world?
Figures from around the American men’s soccer scene agree that the talent level is rising, but much work remains to improve the US men’s national team
Christian Pulisic is widely seen as the United States’ best player, but it’s debatable whether he cracks the top 100 in the world. Photograph: Shaun Clark/ISI Photos/Getty Images The US men’s national team roster for the 2026 World Cup will be unveiled on Tuesday, and according to head coach Mauricio Pochettino, the team is suffering from a talent deficit. “We are USA,” he said after a 2-0 loss to Portugal in March, which followed a 5-2 loss to Belgium three days earlier.
“And we are competing against Belgium, Portugal. I think for sure Belgium and Portugal have in the top 100 players, few or some players playing in that top 100. I think we don’t have [that].
” Some could argue that there are a few US players that could crack that list, but it definitely doesn’t feature a critical mass, or any near the top of it. The Guardian spoke to several current as well as former coaches, academy directors and executives about why. *** Catching up We can start from a point of agreement: the pool is getting better.
“I think we’re getting close to being a league or a country that produces a top-50 player,” said Pablo Mastroeni, Real Salt Lake manager and former USMNT midfielder. “I think there’s no question that every year there’s more and more good players. Are there more exceptional players?
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