- Noahkai Banks is considering playing for Germany’s national team instead of the USMNT.
- Yunus Musah scored his first Serie A goal for Atalanta, boosting his World Cup hopes.
- Christian Pulisic’s goal and assist slump continued for AC Milan.
- Johnny Cardoso is earning more playing time and scored his first goal for Atlético Madrid.
Mauricio Pochettino will name his roster for March camp in two weeks, making this an imperative time for many players’ World Cup hopes.
Some Americans Abroad are putting their best foot forward, such as Johnny Cardoso and some players we won’t have time for this week like Haji Wright, Folarin Balogun and Sergiño Dest.
Others are struggling to recapture their best form, like Christian Pulisic – perhaps the U.S. men’s national team’s most vital player.
But this week’s Five will start with a player who has been consistently solid this season. The next few weeks might be determinative as to whether he represents the USMNT at the World Cup – or ever.
Noahkai Banks assists – then sets off alarms
There are few center backs who can do what Noahkai Banks can, which is why Germany seems to be making a push to snatch the 19-year-old away from the USMNT.
Banks showed his superior ability on the ball in Augsburg’s 2-0 win over FC Köln on Friday, notching the game-winning assist with a long run from the back and pinpoint cross for Rodrigo Ribeiro.
If Banks’ performance during the game got USMNT fans excited, his words after surely made them a bit terrified.
‘It’s a difficult decision regarding my nationality. I’m very torn,’ he said. ‘I’m in contact with both the USA and Germany and both national coaches.’
Banks is playing well enough to earn a USMNT call-up this month. Now, there might be much more than just a spot at the World Cup riding on whether he makes the squad.
Yunus Musah gets much-needed goal
Yunus Musah’s World Cup hopes appear to be on life support, but the midfielder did get a desperately needed boost this weekend.
After working his way into Atalanta’s rotation in December and January, Musah had played just 12 minutes in his team’s past five Serie A games leading into Sunday’s matchup at Sassuolo.
But with Atalanta down a man, Musah was introduced as a 67th-minute sub – giving him his longest run-out since January. Musah responded by scoring a late consolation for Atalanta in a 2-1 defeat. It was his first Serie A goal.
Musah has fallen out of the picture for the USMNT and it still looks like he’s on the outside looking in ahead of March camp. But the 23-year-old has World Cup experience and, finally, a small bit of momentum at the club level.
Alex Freeman’s slow start
It was never going to be easy for Alex Freeman after joining Villarreal.
The right back, who only had one season in MLS under his belt, was making a major step up, joining a Champions League-chasing side in a top-four league at midseason.
And it has indeed been tough for the 21-year-old to break into the Yellow Submarine’s rotation so far, playing in three of the six games he’s been eligible and totaling just over a half hour.
Freeman has now gone two consecutive games as an unused sub. His spot on the USMNT World Cup roster looks safe for now, but he’ll surely want to start racking up more minutes soon to make sure.
Christian Pulisic’s slump continues
It’s now March and Christian Pulisic is still looking for his first goal or assist of 2026.
Much of that can be blamed on injuries but increasingly, Pulisic is simply just in a funk when he’s on the pitch.
Pulisic started his second consecutive game for AC Milan on Saturday against Cremonese, but he missed a one-v-one chance with the goalkeeper amid another frustrating display.
The American was subbed out with 15 minutes to play and the game scoreless, with Milan going on to score two late goals to earn a 2-0 win.
The 27-year-old is still AC Milan’s co-leading scorer this season, tallying 10 goals in a red-hot first half of the campaign. But to retain his spot in Milan’s lineup and build momentum for the World Cup, he’ll want to turn things around in a hurry.
Johnny Cardoso finally rounding into form
Johnny Cardoso is finally showing why Atlético Madrid paid a reported €30 million to secure his services this summer.
The USMNT midfielder had another big week for Los Colchoneros, scoring his first goal for the club in the Champions League midweek and then starting again during the weekend in a win over Real Oviedo.
Cardoso is slowly earning Diego Simeone’s trust, having now started six of Atlético’s past seven league matches.
The question will now be whether Cardoso can earn a similar level of trust from Mauricio Pochettino, who has yet to make the midfielder a major part of his plans. With MLS options such as Sebastian Berhalter and Cristian Roldan ahead of Cardoso in the pecking order recently, a March call-up would be huge for his World Cup chances.
