Minutes from the Committee Meeting

June 25, 2026 — Committee Meeting # 46

Our Kickback Minutes newsletter will run as a USMNT preview up until such point the team is no longer playing in the World Cup!

Agenda Items 📋:

• The U.S. plays Turkiye in a meaningless World Cup match. The U.S. has won the group, and Turkiye is out. Who woulda thunk it?  
• The U.S.did learn yesterday that their next opponent for their Round of 32 match in San Francisco on July 1st will be Bosnia & Herzegovina.
• For today, the expectations are for a heavily rotated lineup. Four players with yellow cards are expected not to play; Folarin Balogun, Antonee Robinson, Chris Richards, and Tyler Adams*.
• *Tyler Adams’s situation may prove complicated. His backup, Cristian Roldan, didn’t train yesterday, and there’s no other true defensive midfielder on the roster. Sebastian Berhalter would likely be the selection if Pochettino opts to sit Adams, and Roldan can’t go.
• The one normal U.S. starter we are expecting is Christian Pulisic. Pulisic claims he is ready to return, and Pochettino will likely elect to give him some minutes to work on his fitness in advance of the Bosnia match.
• Also in Pulisic news? New York City FC and other MLS teams are reportedly in pursuit of the U.S. star, though AC Milan claims he is not for sale.
• Other players we may expect in this matchup are the rest of the players who are yet to appear (non-GK category): Mark McKenzie, Max Arfsten, Alejandro Zendejas, and Brendon Aaronson. 
• If you’re interested in some more U.S. relevant matches over the next couple days, here’s your playlist:
• Group G, Friday: Belgium vs. New Zealand & Iran vs. Egypt. Winner of Group G is on track for the Round of 16 to face the winner of the U.S.’s match, and Egypt is leading the group.
• Group H, Today: Spain vs. Uruguay…tt’s a long shot, but an Uruguay win would knock Spain out of the path that would lead to a potential quarterfinal match with the U.S.

Story of the Week:

The third match of the U.S.’s 2026 World Cup is an exceedingly rare occurrence…a World Cup match with no meaning.

However, continuing the momentum and good vibes in front of a massive audience has to be a priority.

Pulisic’s Involvement: This will probably be the first question for everyone. Pulisic will be an exception, needing match fitness following his injury against Australia. He’s expected to play, but the question will be if he plays as a sub, or from the start.

Pairing Pulisic with Gio Reyna may be an intriguing partnership for Pochettino to try out. Reyna drops deep to get the ball and create, and Pulisic is best as a vertical runner played into space. The combination may be an intriguing one for future matches where the U.S. needs a goal.

Otherwise, expect to see Aaronson and/or Zendejas get their first showing of the 2026 World Cup, and a chance to vie for more minutes in the knockout round.

Defensive Midfield: Tyler Adams is perhaps the last player Pochettino will want to send out today. No position is more in danger of picking up a yellow than the #6, and Adams is crucial for the Round of 32 match.

The obvious solution would’ve been Cristian Roldan, Adams’s backup. Unfortunately, Roldan is carrying an injury and didn’t train in the leadup to today’s match. His backup? Well…that was the main point of contention with Pochettino’s squad, as he seemingly opted to go with only natural #6’s.

Some surmise, especially based on his commentary, that Pochettino believes Berhalter to be a viable option as a #6. He is a hard worker, and fairly good in duels…but he has not proven at the position. 

Confidence: This will mostly be a different team…but will the confidence and swagger we’ve seen from the USMNT carry over to this match? You’ve assuredly seen it in leagues like MLS, or even the NFL: a team clinches first, rests the starters, and loses the momentum and swagger they had previously once they reach the playoffs.

Maintaining momentum for the U.S. should be a top priority for Pochettino, so no new doubts or questions arise from a match that technically doesn’t matter.

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