323 days remain until the 2026 FIFA Men’s World Cup officially kicks off from today. 48 teams will be contesting in over 104 matches in a bid to secure the golden trophy. While the usual heavyweights of this tournament are expected to get their own way, all eyes are on the host teams, with USMNT being the major one in attention alongside fellow co-hosts Canada and Mexico. The American boys have been making quite the preparations, hoping to achieve the best they can.

Sure, bringing in a world-class coach like Mauricio Pochettino and investing more in the project might be the ideal move. However, the real preparation comes down to the players who’ll actually be participating in the competition. Every window, new faces give their all in friendly matches and international tournaments, regardless of the results. But is that really enough to prepare the boys for an ultimate challenge like the World Cup?

Thankfully, at least the players seem to understand this. Beyond competing in national camps, they’re also going the extra mile on the domestic front. And how are they doing that? Apparently, signing for big clubs in top leagues has become the new norm. Don’t believe us? Just look at the ongoing summer window—some of the biggest homegrown American talents have already made some pretty interesting moves.

Consider Malik Tillman, who, despite already being in Europe with PSV Eindhoven, signed for German giants Bayer Leverkusen. Then there’s young American midfielder Johnny Cardoso, who was already far from home playing for Real Betis, and has now joined their La Liga rivals Atletico Madrid on a five-year deal.

The list is followed by forward Damion Downs, a German native who chose to represent the Stars and Stripes, signing for Southampton from FC Köln. Though Josh Sargent is already doing wonders for Norwich City, he is on the verge of signing for another Bundesliga side, Wolfsburg. More transfer rumors see Juventus star Tim Weah get linked with French side Marseille on a rumored loan deal.

As for Gio Reyna, the youngster had somewhat of a downfall at Borussia Dortmund due to injuries and inconsistent performances, despite shining brightly years ago. Not to mention, the midfielder also lost his spark on the national team. Hence, potentially joining Italian side Parma this summer just might prove to be his ultimate comeback cushion on both the domestic and international fronts.

One should note that all of these names are between the ages of 20 and 23, making it clear that American youngsters are desperate to get their place in Pochettino’s team. Speaking of proving themselves, even 31-year-old goalkeeper Matt Turner is also rumored to join French giants Olympique Lyonnais. To recall, the veteran failed to make a single Premier League appearance for Crystal Palace last season.

Instead, Turner managed just three appearances in the FA Cup and one in the EFL Cup. His lack of game time has raised serious concerns, with many believing it could hurt his chances of making the World Cup squad. After all, why would a team consider a goalkeeper struggling to get minutes domestically, while overlooking another option who’s consistently playing? That’s exactly why the Nottingham Forest man is now eyeing a move to Lyon.

To sum it up, these smart moves by American players highlight just how eager they are to boost their chances of making the World Cup squad. After all, strong domestic exposure is one of the few tools they have to stand out!

USMNT players warned about less-challenging friendly fixtures

Things haven’t transpired well for the USMNT this year, with disappointing results in both the CONCACAF Nations League semifinal and the Gold Cup final. And with the 2026 World Cup now less than a year away, that’s a serious concern. While they do have important matchups coming up in September and October against strong teams like South Korea, Japan, Ecuador, and Australia, in the eyes of Alexi Lalas, these games are nothing more than friendlies, not true tests of readiness.

The former defender even questioned, “But are these elite teams? No.” Sure, it did come at the respect of all the aforementioned opponents, acknowledging their quality and even admitting that the U.S. could face similar teams in the World Cup group stage. However, he feels the national team should be asking themselves whether they are “as good or better” than their opponents.

What worries him more is that only 10 friendlies remain before 2026, and two of those may just be closed-door warm-ups, leaving very limited room for real, competitive preparation. Then again, Lalas had no choice but to encourage the squad to count on every opportunity. “We’ll probably make more out of them than they deserve,” he said, insisting it’s all they have.