Gio Reyna, one US star to watch this edition exited to play in front of his home crowd. The FIFA World Cup 2026 will be a historic, expanded tournament hosted across the United States, Mexico, and Canada from June 11 to July 19, 2026. This edition marks the first time 48 teams will participate (up from 32), resulting in a total of 104 matches.
Opening match featuring Mexico vs. South Africa at the historic Estadio Azteca Sofascore in Mexico City. The United States’ opening match will take place the following day on Friday, June 12, 2026, as the U.S. Men’s National Team faces Paraguay at the SoFi Stadium (referred to as Los Angeles Stadium) in Inglewood, California. This story is about a US star to watch in this FIFA World Cup.
1. Gio Reyna –Dynamic Midfielder is the US star to watch
A dynamic midfielder with vision way beyond his years, Gio Reyna has become one of the brightest creative forces for the USMNT. His smooth ball control, calm under pressure, and ability to pick apart defenses with precise passes make him a fascinating young player in American soccer.
Fresh off a Nations League triumph, Reyna has grown into a composed yet fearless playmaker. With the USA set to shine as the host nation in Group D, he’ll have the perfect stage to turn that potential into legacy-defining moments.
Giovanni Reyna is a US star to watch who currently plays for Borussia Mönchengladbach in the Bundesliga. As of April 2026, he has established himself as a prominent playmaker for the United States Men’s National Team (USMNT), notably helping them win three consecutive CONCACAF Nations League titles.
Club Career
Youth Career: Reyna developed at the New York City FC Academy (2015–2019) before moving to Germany to join Borussia Dortmund’s youth system at age 16.
Borussia Dortmund (2020–2025):
Breakthrough: Debuted in January 2020, becoming the youngest American to play in the Bundesliga at 17 years and 66 days.
Records: He became the youngest goalscorer in German Cup history and the youngest Bundesliga player to record a hat trick of assists in a single match.
Honors: Part of the squad that won the 2020–21 DFB-Pokal.
Nottingham Forest (2024): Spent the second half of the 2023–24 season on loan in the Premier League, making 9 appearances and recording 1 assist.
Borussia Mönchengladbach (2025–Present): Joined permanently in August 2025 for a fee of roughly €7 million. He wears the number 13 shirt and has made 16 league appearances this season.
International Career of Reyna, US star to watch
USMNT Debut: Made his senior debut in November 2020 against Wales.
Key Achievement: Won the CONCACAF Nations League in 2021, 2023, and 2024, earning the Best Player award for the 2023–24 tournament.
Major Tournaments: Represented the U.S. at the 2022 FIFA World Cup and the 2024 Copa América.
Career Statistics (as of April 25, 2026) of Reyna, a US star to watch
Team
Years
Appearances
Goals
Borussia Dortmund
2020–2025
105
15
Nottingham Forest (loan)
2024
9
0
Borussia Mönchengladbach
2025–Present
16
0
United States
2020–Present
36
9
Personal Life of a US star to watch
Reyna is the son of former U.S. internationals Claudio Reyna and Danielle Egan Reyna. He was nicknamed “The American Dream” by his former Dortmund teammate Erling Haaland.
2. Folarin Balogun –A dynamic forward, a US star to watch
Folarin Balogun is a dynamic American center-forward who currently plays for AS Monaco in Ligue 1 and serves as the primary striker for the United States Men’s National Team (USMNT). Born in New York City and raised in London, he emerged from Arsenal’s Academy
before enjoying a historic breakthrough in the 2022–23 season while on loan at Reims, where he became the first American to score 21 goals in a single season within a top-five European league. In August 2023, he completed a permanent €40 million move to Monaco, where he has since become a fixture in the starting XI. Internationally, Balogun made a high-profile one-time switch from England to the United States in May 2023, instantly leading the team to a CONCACAF Nations League title by scoring in the final against Canada.
As of April 2026, his playing career is reaching new heights and established himself as a US star to watch
Club Performance: In the 2025–26 season, he has recorded 12 goals and 4 assists in Ligue 1, notably achieving a streak of scoring in eight consecutive league matches.
European Records: He has shattered records for American players in the UEFA Champions League, becoming the first USMNT player to score in three consecutive matches and the first to score a brace in a knockout stage game, which he achieved against Paris Saint-Germain
USMNT Impact: He is a two-time Nations League winner (2023, 2024) and has firmly established himself as the team’s top goal-scoring threat as they prepare for the 2026 FIFA World Cup
3. Yunus Musah – Rookie US star to watch
Gareth Southgate has enthused over the depth of midfield options at his disposal. The fact that he made a personal plea to sway Musuh, who won over 30 caps for England at the youth level, to commit his senior international future to the Three Lions speaks volumes about how highly he values the prodigy.
The Valencia man’s rejection of that offer was a resounding boost for Berhalter, who has already handed the New York City native 19 caps, a majority on the right of a midfield three. Musah boasts power, sprinter’s pace, and electrifying dribbling, has taken inspiration from N’Golo Kante, Paul Pogba, and Christian Pulisic and has reportedly interested Barcelona.
Key Details of the US star to watch
Key Traits: High pace (88 in FC 26), strong acceleration, and technical dribbling. Current Team: Atlanta (on loan from AC Milan)
Position: Central Midfielder (also CDM/RM)
Nationality: USA
Height: 178cm (5’10”)
Career Summary:
Youth Career: Spent seven years at Arsenal’s academy (2012–2019).
Valencia (2019–2023): Broke into the first team, making over 100 appearances.
AC Milan (2023–2025): Joined permanently, playing two seasons.
Atalanta (2025–): Loan move with an option to buy.
International: Represents the USA, winning two CONCACAF Nations League titles.
4. Christian Pulisic –Team leader, US star to watch
It took Milton S. Hershey, indebted to the Hershey’s Kiss, merely 15 years to found a chocolate confectionery and transform it into the biggest of its kind in America. It took the Pennsylvanian city’s second-most famous son just over a third of that time to rocket from pro debutant to the most successful soccer player his country has ever produced.
Pulisic has already inspired Borussia Dortmund to DFB-Pokal glory, and helped Chelsea win the UEFA Champions League – he dazzled at the Bernabeu and Stamford Bridge as they eliminated Real Madrid in the semi-finals – the UEFA Super Cup and the FIFA Club World Cup™. And ‘Captain America’ is not only the poster boy for the Stars and Stripes, but also their main man. Pulisic has set innumerable USMNT records, headlined their Concacaf Nations League conquest, and boasts 21 goals and 10 assists from 51 caps.
Key Facts of the US star to watch
Current Club: AC Milan (joined July 2023 from Chelsea).
Position: Winger/Attacking Midfielder.
Nickname: “Captain America”.
Achievements: 2020-21 UEFA Champions League winner, youngest Dortmund foreign scorer, and youngest Chelsea hat-trick scorer.
Style: Known for dribbling ability and quick pace.
As of early 2026, he is seen as a key attacking option for the USA leading into the World Cup, despite a tough run of form in late 2025/early 2026 for Milan.
5. Weston McKennie–Influenced by a great star
McKennie has been “obsessed with the World Cup” since he was seven. An American living in Kaiserslautern, where his father was a US Air Force sergeant, he got to meet his idol before the USA played Poland in a Germany 2006 warm-up, with Landon Donovan signing Weston’s cleats.
Now McKennie, a box-to-box midfielder who has been juxtaposed with Edgar Davids and Arturo Vidal, is set to realise his dream at Qatar 2022. “The first time I saw him, I couldn’t believe his energy,” said Berhalter. “He’s still the same. On the field, off of it.
He never wants to stop training. He’s powerful. He’s good at winning the ball. He’s become really efficient.” McKennie, who is now in his seventh season in Europe and third at Juventus, also has experience belying his birth certificate. A huge Harry Potter fan, can the Fort Lewis native help write American fantasy in the Persian Gulf? Anyway, he is a US star to watch in the FIFA World Cup 2026.
Recent Club Form & Contract (Juventus)
In March 2026, McKennie signed a major contract extension that keeps him at Juventus until June 30, 2030. The deal reportedly includes a significant salary raise to €4 million net per year.
Versatility: Under manager Luciano Spalletti, McKennie has been deployed across the pitch, including as a box-to-box midfielder, winger, and even an occasional striker.
Champions League Milestones of a US star to watch.
He has scored four goals in the 2025–26 UEFA Champions League, making him the third-highest scoring midfielder in Juventus’ history in that competition, behind only Michel Platini and Pavel Nedvěd.
MVP Performance:
He was named the Juventus Player of the Month for January 2026 after a streak of three goals in consecutive games.
McKennie remains a pivotal figure for Mauricio Pochettino’s squad ahead of the home World Cup in June 2026. Most Recent Outing: He started and scored for the U.S. in a match against Belgium on March 28, 2026.
World Cup Role: He is often cited as the team’s “Swiss Army knife,” expected to provide veteran leadership and tactical flexibility in the tournament.
2025–26 Season Statistics (to date)
Competition
Matches
Goals
Assists
Serie A
32
5
7
Champions League
10
4
1
Total (Club)
42
9
8
Conclusion
It is expected above mentioned US star to watch may have a huge impact on the upcoming FIFA World Cup.
