USMNT manager Mauricio Pochettino has an increasing number of American players turning out for clubs in Europe’s major leagues at his disposal.
We’ve got a fascinating couple of seasons ahead of the 2026 World Cup, hosted in the United States, Canada and Mexico. With such a talented crop of players and a high-profile coach in the dugout, there will be big expectations for the USMNT to go deep on home soil
Here’s a closer look at every single American player contracted to a club in one of Europe’s five major leagues (Premier League, La Liga, Serie A, Bundesliga, Ligue 1) and how they’ve fared in 2024-25.
The Milton Keynes-born left-back has firmly established himself as one of the best players in his position in the Premier League, prompting transfer gossip linking him to a club higher up the table.
He remains contracted at Fulham until 2028, while media reports suggest his price tag has been set at £35million. Champions Liverpool are reportedly interested.
Robinson has been capped 50 times by the USMNT. It’d take a surprising turn of events for him not to be among the first names on Pochettino’s teamsheet come the World Cup, you’d have thought.
Adams played more minutes for the USMNT in their disastrous 2024 Copa America group-stage exit than he managed for Bournemouth in the entirety of last season
You’d have to question the wisdom of taking the midfielder to the tournament, given he’s since suffered a relapse of a back injury, for which he’s addressed with surgery.
Happily, Adams has enjoyed a more productive 2024-25 campaign for the Cherries. The 26-year-old has made 25 appearances and starred in the win over Arsenal in May 2025
The defender enjoyed a fine breakthrough year at Crystal Palace last season after signing from Bayern Munich in 2022.
And the 25-year-old has impressed at Selhurst Park once again, making 28 appearances in all competitions and helping Palace reach the FA Cup final.
After being benched by Nottingham Forest, Turner left for Crystal Palace in search of more game time – and hasn’t found it.
The USMNT goalkeeper has only made three appearances this season, all in the domestic cup competitions.
He’s retained the faith of Pochettino, playing in the CONCACAF Nations League matches against Panama and Canada, but it’s not an ideal situation just a year before the World Cup.
Born in New Jersey but raised in Brazil, Cardoso made over a hundred appearances for boyhood club Internacional before joining La Liga outfit Real Betis in January 2024.
The 23-year-old has impressed in Spain this season, helping Betis to challenge for the Champions League qualification places and reach the Europa Conference League final.
As a result, he’s been linked with a move to the Premier League with Manchester United, Tottenham and Wolves all reportedly interested.
Anyone who knows anything about this sport recognises that the “LeBron James of soccer” or “America’s answer to Messi” talk from the more clueless corners of the US media are hilariously wide of the mark.
But the fact remains that Pulisic is probably the national team’s best player and likely to remain their talisman come 2026.
He might not be at LeBron’s or Messi’s level, but who is? He’s a fine footballer in his own right and already undoubtedly among the best the United States have ever produced.
After losing his way a little on the periphery at Chelsea, moving to Milan appears to have been a big step in the right direction.
Despite Milan’s wretched season this year, Pulisic is their top Serie A goalscorer and will play in this month’s Coppa Italia final against Bologna.
Musah is among Pulisic’s Rossoneri team-mates.
He made 30 Serie A appearances last term, having moved from Valencia, but has struggled to push on this season amidst Milan’s domestic and European struggles.
In fact, Musah’s substitute appearance against Genoa in May 2025 was the first time he’d been called from the bench for over a month. Perhaps a move elsewhere would be beneficial?
McKennie is one of a few American players to establish themselves as an essential member of a traditional European powerhouse.
The USMNT international arrived at Juventus in 2020 but struggled to make much impact and was farmed out on loan multiple times.
However, since his return from a spell at Leeds United in the summer of 2023, McKennie has become a key part of the squad, consistently featuring for different managers.
Juve are currently pushing for Champions League qualification through Serie A and McKennie’s performances have been impressive enough to warrant talk of a new contract.
Timothy Weah
It’s pretty damn cool that the son of Africa’s only Ballon d’Or winner – and former president of Liberia, no less – was born and raised in Brooklyn and has already made over 40 international appearances for the USMNT.
The winger failed to score a single Serie A goal across 30 appearances last term for Juventus, but has scored five goals this season.
While he could do with becoming more prolific, Weah has shown he is capable of further improvement.
