To advance in the 2026 World Cup, the USMNT must be sound and stable defensively. With the tournament less than a year away, things are looking good at center back with Chris Richards and Tim Ream. But a stable of defensive midfielders is also key to protecting the goal. Therefore, it’s worth taking a look at the players who could be on the USMNT World Cup roster at that position.
Start with the captain
For the U.S., the defensive midfield position begins with team captain Tyler Adams. At age 26, Adams has 50 caps and is the unquestioned leader of the national team.