A way-too-early look at the USMNT depth chart for 2026 World Cup

Danny Karbassiyoon was definitely on the list at some point. Gedion Zelalem, too. Freddy Adu, obviously. Brian Ching was exactly what we needed. We're old enough that guys such as Jesse Marsch and Taylor Twellman were almost certainly on the list at one point. Oh, what could have been, Charlie Davies. I'm still holding out hope, Joe Corona. You broke my heart, Bobby Convey.

For years, some nerd friends of mine and I had the same habit. As soon as the United States men's national team were eliminated from a World Cup -- starting in 2002, as far as I can tell, and extending through 2006, 2010 and 2014 -- we would immediately project forward four years. We would make spreadsheets of player…