2022: Cameron Carter-Vickers, Sergiño Dest, Aaron Long, Shaq Moore, Tim Ream, Antonee Robinson, DeAndre Yedlin, Walker Zimmerman
2026: Max Arfsten, Sergiño Dest, Alex Freeman, Mark McKenzie, Tim Ream, Chris Richards, Antonee Robinson, Miles Robinson, Joe Scally, Auston Trusty
Dest, Ream, and Robinson are the only carryovers in this group, and that’s probably a good thing. Despite questions about how Pochettino’s backline will be set up, it’s hard to deny that the 2026 defensive group’s talent and depth are a solid step forward from the 2022 side in terms of pure talent.
Crystal Palace’s Chris Richards is a better center back than anyone on the 2022 team. The 2026 version of Antonee Robinson has grown into one of the premier left backs on earth, so long as he’s fit. And there’s undeniably more depth and flexibility at outside back with the emergence of Alex Freeman and Max Arfsten.
The weakness is center-back depth, where there’s a clear drop-off after Richards. Ream still brings quality, but he’s not as complete a defender in his late 30s as he was four years prior. There’s not a lot that differentiates Scally and Trusty, and Miles Robinson probably only fits in a three-center-back setup.
That’s still a better situation than the Americans had in 2022.
