Hey friends,

T-minus 15 days till the World Cup. Let’s get to it!

• 1️⃣ 5️⃣ MLS Match Day 15 Recap

• 🇺🇸 USMNT World Cup Roster

• 🌎️ World Cup Updates

• ⚽️ Goal of the Week

• 😂 Meme of the Week

MLS Match Day 15 Recap

The MLS season has come to a halt for the next 6 weeks. Here’s a recap of the last weekend of play.

Nashville and Vancouver are both on pace to break the MLS points record. Nashville has one loss and the third most points (33) through 14 games in league history. Per FotMob, Vancouver leads MLS in expected goals, xG difference, xG conceded, big chances, and shots on target per match. These two are la crème de la crème in MLS right now.

We have to chat about St. Louis City SC. They beat Austin 3-0 on Saturday after beating Houston midweek in penalties in the US Open Cup quarter-final. They're now unbeaten in their last five matches in all competitions going into the break. 18 different players made the starting 11 during that streak, an impressive nod to their depth. They’re 12th in MLS in expected goal differential per game and now sit just below the playoff line in the West. Yoann Damet’s vision seems to be coming to fruition. If they can add more pieces in the summer window, and they likely will, they could be a playoff team.

FC Dallas beat the Colorado Rapids 2-1 for their 4th win in their last five before the break. Petar Musa departs for the Croatian National team firmly in the MVP race. Their 30 goals are the most in club history through the first 15 matches of a season.

FC Cincinnati smacked Orlando City 6-2 behind the best performance of Evander’s career. The Brazilian star had two goals and three assists, becoming the 9th player in league history to record five goal contributions in a game. Cincy has put its early-season struggles behind them because of Evander’s brilliance. He’s an MVP frontrunner as well. Orlando has no hope right now, and the summer arrival of Antoine Griezmann doesn’t seem like it will be enough relief.

Inter Miami and the Philadelphia Union played one of the most chaotic games in MLS history. Messi and co prevailed 6-4 (full highlights here). The game was tied 4-4 at halftime, which was the highest-scoring half in MLS history. It was also the second-most goals in a game in league history. Luis Suarez and Milan Iloski each scored a hat trick. Cavan Sullivan had the best game of his young career, playing a role in a couple of goals. It was awesome. Miami has won four straight and is two points behind Nashville for the Shield. The Union are firmly in the driver’s seat for the Wooden Spoon.

USMNT World Cup Squad

The USMNT roster leaked over the weekend by The Guardian before Tuesday's official unveiling in New York. We have a lot to unpack.

On Friday, 55 players were reportedly notified of their fate via email. 26 made the team, 29 had their dreams crushed. I hate that players were notified via email. Pochettino needs to call them face-to-face and give them the respect they deserve. But regardless, here’s how it went down.

The most notable names omitted are Diego Luna, Tanner Tessmann, Aidan Morris, Yunus Musah, Cameron Carter Vickers, Jack McGlynn, and Zavier Gozo.

Goalkeepers: Matt Freese (New York City), Matt Turner (New England Revolution), Chris Brady (Chicago Fire)

No major surprises here. Expect Matt Freese to be the starter and Turner to be the number two. Brady gets the nod over Patrick Schulte and others after playing very well this season.

Defenders: Max Arfsten (Columbus Crew), Sergiño Dest (PSV), Alex Freeman (Villarreal), Mark McKenzie (Toulouse), Tim Ream (Charlotte FC), Chris Richards (Crystal Palace), Antonee Robinson (Fulham), Miles Robinson (FC Cincinnati), Joe Scally (Borussia Mönchengladbach), Auston Trusty (Celtic)

No major surprises here either. It seems like Pochettino preferred more depth at this position than in the midfield, which is a bit surprising.

Midfielders: Tyler Adams (AFC Bournemouth), Sebastian Berhalter (Vancouver Whitecaps), Weston McKennie (Juventus), Cristian Roldan (Seattle Sounders)

This is the position where it feels there is a lack of depth. A depth that Tanner Tessmann and Aidan Morris could provide. What happens if Adams or McKennie gets hurt? Or if Adams gets a yellow card in two straight games and is suspended for a match? Something he’s prone to do. I don’t feel confident not having a big athletic space eater like Tessmann to come in for him. Especially after the injury to Johnny Cardoso. I really hope Poch doesn’t regret this.

Attackers: Brenden Aaronson (Leeds United), Christian Pulisic (Milan), Gio Reyna (Borussia Mönchengladbach), Malik Tillman (Bayer Leverkusen), Tim Weah (Marseille), Alejandro Zendejas (Club América), Folarin Balogun (AS Monaco), Ricardo Pepi (PSV), Haji Wright (Coventry City)

Christian Pulisic is scoreless in his last 21 games for club and country, but you obviously can’t omit him. Alejandro Zendejas gets the nod, the one somewhat surprise here. He’s played just 139 minutes in 6 appearances under Pochettino, but his form for Club America has been great lately. Gio Reyna makes it! He hasn’t started a game for his club in 2026, but his playmaking ability and creative genius give him a spot.

The three strikers were an easy choice. After Agyemang and Sargent went down with injuries, there were no other viable options. It’s the first time in the modern era that every player on the team is playing in the top flight in their country (based on upcoming season).

The USMNT plays the first of two pre-tournament friendlies on Sunday against Senegal at 3:30pm ET in Charlotte.

World Cup Base Camps

FIFA has confirmed all 48 team base camps for the 2026 World Cup are locked in. The late update: Iran has moved their training base to Tijuana, Mexico, setting up shop at Centro Xoloitzcuintle(Club TJ Facilities). Their three group stage games will remain in the US.

There will be 39 teams in the US, 7 in Mexico, and 2 in Canada. A few things that stand out with these locations:

• Kansas City hosts Algeria, Argentina, England, and the Netherlands. This city is going to be pumping! Argentina and England fans in the same city, those pubs will be electric.

• France is staying at a small New England University called Bentley University in Waltham, Massachusetts.

• The Episcopal High School in Alexandria, Virginia, is hosting Croatia.

• Portugal will be training at Gardens North County District Park in Palm Beach Gardens.

• USMNT will be in Irvine, CA, just a short drive from SoFi.

Many of these countries will host open training sessions where local fans can come watch. Go check them out!

Goal of the Week

All for nothing, but that’s a beauty.

Mete of the Week

LOL sorry Philly fans 🤣 

Quick Hits

• Portland Timbers mutually part ways with head coach Phil Neville (Link)

See you next week. Give us some feedback below!

Max & Mason