Creating an optimal eleven for the U.S. men’s national team is quite an intriguing task, and coach Mauricio Pochettino eagerly anticipates this opportunity during the next international window.

Following the Gold Cup, many expressed renewed enthusiasm for the national team, and this excitement has spurred questions about the starting lineup for the upcoming 2026 FIFA World Cup.

In Goal

The focus has shifted significantly towards Matt Freese, who gained attention for his penalty saves against Costa Rica during the Gold Cup quarterfinals. However, his overall performance was rather average, not showcasing standout moments.

Matt Freese (Photo by John Dorton/ISI Photos/USSF/Getty Images)

In the match against Mexico, Freese showed reliability despite a mistake earlier in the tournament. But, being reliable isn’t enough; a goalkeeper needs to seize crucial moments.

If a match were to occur today, I would choose Matt Turner to start, despite the difficulty of that decision. Yet, I still believe competition exists, especially with Zack Steffen aiming to reclaim a position when fit.

Here’s my projected post-Gold Cup lineup for the United States:

Projected XI

Alexi Lalas is a soccer analyst for FOX Sports and hosts “Alexi Lalas’ State of the Union Podcast.” He represented the U.S. Men’s National Team at the 1994 FIFA World Cup and enjoyed a nine-year professional career, later becoming the president of the LA Galaxy in 2006, influencing the signing of David Beckham to Major League Soccer.