Ranking the USMNT’s Top U21 Prospects for 2026

Last year’s rankings were less than ideal. When I began evaluating the top potential players a few years back, prospects like Joe Scally, Gio Reyna, Malik Tillman, Ricardo Pepi, and Yunus Musah were all featured. However, as time went on, these players aged, and new talent failed to emerge to replace them. The top tier of my previous rankings, labeled “USMNT stars and potential European stars,” was ultimately left vacant last year. The second tier, designated for “Fringe USMNT starters and mid-tier European pros,” was also unoccupied, with Kevin Paredes being the only name listed, despite his minimal professional play.

A lot can indeed change within a single year—both positively and negatively. So, what’s the current status? Have fresh top prospects surfaced, or will the leading tiers remain stagnant for another year? The U.S. men’s national team has stopped conducting January camps that used to provide opportunities for fringe players to shine, making it an appropriate time to reassess the most promising players aged 21 and under in the active player pool.

Tier 1: USMNT Stars and Future European Talents

1. Noahkai Banks, 19, Center Back, Augsburg

Prospect evaluators typically look for certain skill sets—known as “tools”—that predict future success at higher levels. While tools are vital, identifying them accurately at the youth level is challenging, chiefly because competition and athleticism vary significantly from youth leagues to the elite European leagues. Moreover, projecting how players will adapt when changing leagues is fraught with difficulty.

I won’t be discussing 16-year-olds who may become USMNT stars because until they actually play professional matches, their potential outcomes can vary too widely. While numerous Americans are in youth systems of esteemed clubs globally, the chances of any single one becoming a USMNT regular or a star in Europe remain slim.

Instead, my focus is on players who are already gaining professional experience at a young age. Currently, Noahkai Banks of Augsburg is that player. The 19-year-old center back boasts 1,257 Bundesliga minutes played—far exceeding any other American player under 21, who has yet to reach 300 minutes in a top-five league. Statistically, only eight players under 18 across the top leagues have played more minutes than Banks this season, and he ranks among a select few Americans who achieved significant playing time by age 18:

• Christian Pulisic
• Yunus Musah
• Gio Reyna
• Joe Scally
• Weston McKennie

If Banks maintains his trajectory, he could end the year surpassing all but Pulisic, Musah, and Reyna in total minutes, despite being in a position where athletes often peak later. Augsburg sits just above the relegation zone in the Bundesliga but shows marked improvement when Banks is on the field. His inclusion on the World Cup roster wouldn’t be surprising, nor would his potential participation during the tournament.

Tier 2: Fringe USMNT Starters and Mid-Tier European Players

2. Alex Freeman, 21, Fullback, Orlando City

American Soccer Analysis utilizes a sophisticated version of expected possession value which gauges players on how their actions contribute to scoring opportunities, as well as how they mitigate chances for conceding. This model, termed Goals Added (G+), indicates that Alex Freeman just had the most impressive season for a fullback in MLS since 2012.

In simple terms, Freeman might be considered the best fullback the MLS has ever produced, and he won’t turn 22 until after the World Cup. It’s plausible he could find himself in one of Europe’s major leagues by next year. His absence from last year’s list can be attributed to his prior playing time of just 11 professional minutes.

Tier 3: Prospects for Success in Europe

3. Caleb Wiley, 21, Fullback, Chelsea

4. Damion Downs, 21, Forward, Hamburg

5. Cole Campbell, 19, Winger, Hoffenheim

6. Benjamin Cremaschi, 20, Midfielder, Parma

These players may not seem as thrilling as some of their peers in higher tiers, but stepping from MLS competition to clubs like Real Sociedad or Real Madrid is a significant transition. Hence, I prioritize players who have successfully navigated that jump into Europe, even if their progress is currently limited.

Caleb Wiley logged considerable minutes in MLS as a teenager but hasn’t reached the same heights as Freeman. It’s indicative that Chelsea recently opted to loan him out to Watford instead of sending him to their affiliate, Strasbourg, and they’ve now recalled him, suggesting limited opportunities ahead.

Damion Downs joined Southampton this summer but saw little action in the Championship and is presently on loan in the Bundesliga with Hamburg. Though he ranks low on minutes played, he’s began to see more action recently.

Meanwhile, Cole Campbell, despite holding fourth for Big Five minutes played, has significantly less cumulative experience. Benjamin Cremaschi, who was the Golden Boot winner at the Under-20 World Cup last fall, has faced difficulties in making an impact at Parma with minimal playing time.

Tier 4: Noteworthy Young Talents

7. Cavan Sullivan, 16, Attacking Midfielder, Philadelphia Union

Last year, I excluded Cavan Sullivan from rankings due to the evident disconnect between young success and future stardom in soccer. Research shows athletes who specialize later often have greater potential than those who peak early. However, Sullivan has recently contributed significantly to a solid MLS team, garnering 449 professional minutes, and only a single player younger than him has outperformed his appearance total.

Tier 5: Young Goalkeepers at Top Clubs with Limited Playtime

8. Gaga Slonina, 21, Goalkeeper, Chelsea

9. Diego Kochen, 19, Goalkeeper, Barcelona

Gaga Slonina last played in a league match on October 22, 2024. Meanwhile, Diego Kochen is yet to have any professional minutes, despite being frequently called into matchday squads.

Goalkeepers are tricky to evaluate since only one plays per match. Slonina has experienced substantial playing time in MLS before his Chelsea transfer, gaining additional minutes while on loan in Belgium and England’s lower division. At just 21, he still has time to establish himself as a starter.

Kochen has seen roster appearances but none this season. Given that most goalkeepers tend to peak later, both have potential pathways to become backstops in the Champions League or may not impact the national team at all, landing them in the middle of the rankings.

Tier 6: Potential for Progress

10. Rokas Pukstas, 21, Midfielder, Hadjuk Split

11. Quinn Sullivan, 21, Winger, Philadelphia Union

12. Luca Bombino, 19, Fullback, San Diego FC

13. Peyton Miller, 18, Fullback, New England Revolution

14. Zavier Gozo, 18, Winger, Real Salt Lake

15. Joshua Wynder, 20, Center Back, Benfica

Rokas Pukstas seems poised for a breakthrough after enjoying a good run at a club renowned for youth development. His future could lead anywhere from a top-five league to another strong European division or MLS.

Quinn Sullivan tops the career stats for players on this list but faces a setback after suffering an ACL injury. The rest of the players listed were part of the under-20 World Cup squad.

Bombino leads due to his ability to push the ball forward, ranking high for progressive pass counts among MLS fullbacks last season. Meanwhile, Miller has youth and athleticism, whereas Gozo showed promise in his early MLS career, and Wynder’s potential was previously evident in the USL.

This tier can produce future USMNT starters, but many may not reach the levels of those in the third or fourth tiers. The landscape of youth development can shift dramatically, reflecting changing circumstances without altering the fundamental reality of the player pool.