{"id":6770,"date":"2026-03-17T20:10:09","date_gmt":"2026-03-17T20:10:09","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/be\/6770\/"},"modified":"2026-03-17T20:10:09","modified_gmt":"2026-03-17T20:10:09","slug":"christian-pulisic-and-weston-mckennie-key-names-in-usmnts-pre-2026-fifa-world-cup-friendlies-squad-vs-portugal-and-belgium-will-they-face-cristiano-ronaldo","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/be\/6770\/","title":{"rendered":"Christian Pulisic and Weston McKennie key names in USMNT\u2019s pre-2026 FIFA World Cup friendlies squad vs. Portugal and Belgium: Will they face Cristiano Ronaldo?"},"content":{"rendered":"

From uncertainty to anticipation, the spotlight once again turns to\u00a0Christian Pulisic<\/a>\u00a0and\u00a0Weston McKennie\u00a0as the United States prepares for a defining international window, one that could shape their path toward 2026. With Cristiano Ronaldo<\/a>\u00a0looming in the background of the narrative, the question is not just about selection, but about timing, fitness, and destiny.<\/p>\n

The latest squad announcement by the United States signals far more than just another international break. It represents\u00a0the penultimate checkpoint before the 2026 FIFA World Cup, a tournament that the nation will host and one that could redefine its soccer identity. Head coach\u00a0Mauricio Pochettino<\/a>\u00a0has assembled a\u00a027-player group\u00a0tasked with fine-tuning chemistry, testing tactical flexibility, and proving individual worth ahead of the final selection.<\/p>\n

The camp, set in Atlanta, will culminate in two high-profile friendlies against European heavyweights. These matches are not just exhibitions. They are\u00a0simulations of World Cup<\/a> intensity, designed to expose both strengths and vulnerabilities.<\/p>\n

At the heart of the squad are familiar names.\u00a0Pulisic and McKennie lead a core that closely resembles a first-choice lineup, underlining the manager\u2019s desire for continuity at a crucial stage. Yet, the roster is not without its twists. The return of\u00a0Gio Reyna\u00a0stands out as one of the most intriguing storylines. Despite limited minutes at club level, his inclusion suggests that talent and past international impact still carry significant weight.<\/p>\n

\"pulisic<\/p>\n

im Ream #13, Weston McKennie #8, Christian Pulisic #10, and Antonee Robinson #5 of USMNT<\/p>\n

Similarly, the comeback of\u00a0Antonee Robinson\u00a0after a long injury absence offers a timely boost. His presence could prove vital, especially given his consistency in previous campaigns. However, not all news is positive.\u00a0Key absences due to injury, most notably Tyler Adams and Sergino Dest, leave gaps in leadership and structure.\u00a0Their situations highlight the fragile balance between form and fitness just months before the tournament.<\/p>\n

The matches that could define the squad<\/p>\n

The United States<\/a> will face\u00a0Belgium and Portugal in Atlanta, two of the world\u2019s top-ranked national teams. These fixtures are not just tests; they are\u00a0benchmarks against elite opposition. The encounter with Portugal<\/a>, in particular, carries an added layer of intrigue.<\/p>\n

With global attention fixed on Ronaldo\u2019s situation, uncertainty surrounds whether the iconic forward will feature. His potential presence, or absence, could dramatically alter the narrative of the match. Still, even without him, the Selecao remains a formidable force, boasting depth and quality across every line. Take a look at Mauricio Pochettino\u2019s squad:<\/p>\n

Goalkeepers:\u00a0Chris Brady (Chicago Fire), Roman Celentano (Cincinnati), Matt Freese (New York City), Matt Turner (New England Revolution)\u00a0<\/p>\n

Defenders:\u00a0Max Arfsten (Columbus Crew), Alex Freeman (Villarreal), Mark McKenzie (Toulouse), Tim Ream (Charlotte), Chris Richards (Crystal Palace), Antonee Robinson (Fulham), Miles Robinson (Cincinnati), Joe Scally (Borussia Monchengladbach), Auston Trusty (Celtic)<\/p>\n

Midfielders:\u00a0Sebastian Berhalter (Vancouver Whitecaps), Johnny Cardoso (Atletico Madrid), Weston McKennie (Juventus), Aidan Morris (Middlesbrough), Gio Reyna (Borussia Monchengladbach), Cristian Roldan (Seattle Sounders), Tanner Tessmann (Lyon), Malik Tillman (Bayer Leverkusen)<\/p>\n

Forwards:\u00a0Brenden Aaronson (Leeds), Patrick Agyemang (Derby County), Folarin Balogun (Monaco), Ricardo Pepi (PSV), Christian Pulisic (Milan), Tim Weah (Marseille).<\/p>\n

Will Ronaldo play?<\/p>\n

For weeks, the narrative has circled around one central mystery. Now, clarity begins to emerge. The likelihood of Cristiano Ronaldo playing against the United States remains uncertain and increasingly doubtful.\u00a0Despite being included in preliminary considerations by Portugal coach\u00a0Roberto Martinez, the forward\u2019s\u00a0hamstring injury has disrupted his availability.<\/p>\n

\"ronaldo<\/p>\n

Cristiano Ronaldo of Portugal reacts following an injury<\/p>\n

Al-Nassr\u00a0manager\u00a0Jorge Jesus recently\u00a0offered further insight: \u201cRonaldo and Mane should return after the international break. Everyone knows they are great players, but they will be out for a while.\u201d This timeline places\u00a0his potential participation in serious doubt, particularly with concerns about rushing him back too soon. While reports suggest he may still travel,\u00a0his match fitness and involvement on the pitch remain unresolved.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"From uncertainty to anticipation, the spotlight once again turns to\u00a0Christian Pulisic\u00a0and\u00a0Weston McKennie\u00a0as the United States prepares for a…\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":6771,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[4],"tags":[7,4561,4894,4895,4525,335,4529,4564,1849],"class_list":{"0":"post-6770","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-belgium","8":"tag-belgium","9":"tag-christian-pulisic","10":"tag-cristiano-ronaldo","11":"tag-friendly","12":"tag-mauricio-pochettino","13":"tag-portugal","14":"tag-usmnt","15":"tag-weston-mckennie","16":"tag-world-cup"},"share_on_mastodon":{"url":"https:\/\/pubeurope.com\/@be\/116246336178699017","error":""},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/be\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/6770","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/be\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/be\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/be\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/be\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=6770"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/be\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/6770\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/be\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/6771"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/be\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=6770"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/be\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=6770"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/be\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=6770"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}