After a difficult winter, the U.S. are back at full strength for the first time since the World Cup as they get their Nations League campaign underway
It's the topic that's on every American soccer fan's mind: who will start in the U.S. men's national team's Nations League return in Grenada?
Okay, maybe not THE topic, as there are plenty of others swirling throughout USMNT land. From #BalogunWatch to the head coaching search and all of the drama that has come with it, its safe to say that the 2026 World Cup cycle is off to a wilder start than many could have imagined.
The first game of that cycle, in reality, comes on Friday in Grenada, with the match providing fans with the first look at a majority of the USMNT's stars since their exit from Qatar 2022.
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Names like Christian Pulisic, Weston McKennie and Matt Turner are back in the picture. So too is Gio Reyna, a player that has certainly been the talk of the town since the World Cup for all the wrong reasons.
Could we see Reyna make his USMNT return on Friday as he looks to finally put that controversy behind him? Which new faces could get looks over established USMNT stars? Will interim coach Anthony Hudson put a new spin on things or simply try and build off the foundation laid by Gregg Berhalter?
Here's a look at how the USMNT line up in Grenada:
GettyGK: Matt Turner
No need to mess with the established order and reignite any old goalkeeping controversies.
Turner remains the No.1, so lets have him start. Giving Zack Steffen the nod would be somewhat understandable as a reward for earning his place back after the World Cup, but it may also be best to ease Steffen in rather than restart a race that doesn't need to be restarted just yet.
Plus, Turner could use the games, as they've been few and far between at Arsenal, and with the Gunners out of Europe, he may not play competitively again at club level until the fall.
Give him this one, even if he shouldn't be forced into too much work.
AdvertisementGetty ImagesLB: Antonee Robinson
Finding a backup, or competition, for Robinson will be one of the big goals for this cycle but, for the time being, it's Return of the Jedi.
Robinson has been in great form for Fulham and remains the unquestioned starting left-back. Against a Grenada team that should be very overmatched, he'll be able to get forward plenty and, in the moments he does have to track back, he has more than enough pace to do so.
GettyCB: Tim Ream
We'll see if he lasts all the way through the cycle but, for the time being, there probably isn't a more reliable American defender than Ream.
The Fulham star is somehow playing the best soccer of his career at age 35, and is showing no signs of slowing down.
Given the short turnaround, there will almost certainly be rotation at center-back, so we'll figure Ream should start in the road game to add a bit of veteran guile.
Add in the fact that his partner likely won't have as much USMNT experience as he does, and this makes too much sense.
Sean M. HaffeyCB: Mark McKenzie
Hudson hinted strongly that Miles Robinson would only play one of these matches, and so given his injury history and the potential for less-than-ideal field conditions, we'll sit him out for this one.
That leaves either Auston Trusty or McKenzie. Trusty has zero USMNT caps, McKenzie has 10. While Trusty's strong play in the Championship has earned him a chance, it may be best to save his USMNT debut for a more hospitable game in Orlando on Monday, rather than toss him out away from home in Grenada.
So we'll go with McKenzie, a player who is on the fringes of being in that starting centerback race and could really use a few good USMNT performances under his belt.