US stars in World Cup picture to keep eye on as European seasons begin

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With the countdown to the 2026 World Cup in full swing, American soccer followers could have a higher curiosity in what’s occurring abroad, with a few of the U.S. Males’s Nationwide Staff gamers competing within the Premier League, Bundesliga, LaLiga and elsewhere.

The 2025-26 season shall be one of the crucial consequential for some gamers as they appear to rebound or to construct their instances as to why they need to be part of the American roster on the World Cup. And there could also be no greater spotlights than these on Christian Pulisic and Gio Reyna.

Pulisic, coming into his third yr at AC Milan in Italy’s Serie A, has been the main target of criticism from USMNT alums for not taking part within the Gold Cup this summer time, which led to a really public spat that concerned Landon Donovan and Pulisic’s father.

However the satisfaction of Hershey, Pa., has change into a sensation in Italy, scoring 32 targets in his first two seasons with AC Milan, and the membership will want that because it hopes to enhance from an eighth-place end final season.

Pulisic had been coping with a minor ankle damage, however he returned to full apply, and AC Milan doesn’t open the Serie A season till Aug. 23.

Christian Pulisic has change into a sensation in Italy, scoring 32 targets in his first two seasons with AC Milan. AFP through Getty Photographs

Reyna, for now, seems that he’ll begin the yr with German Bundesliga aspect Borussia Dortmund, although the writing on the wall appears to counsel his time there may very well be coming to an finish.

Whereas any potential switch from Dortmund has moved at a crawl — Reyna had been linked to Serie A aspect Parma over the summer time — the son of USMNT alum Claudio Reyna must get off to a quick begin to assist his World Cup probabilities.

After he noticed simply 12 minutes throughout Dortmund’s run within the Membership World Cup and the membership introduced it had given the celebrated No. 7 that Reyna had worn since 2021 to a different participant, it looks like taking part in time may very well be robust for him to see till a transfer is made.

Whereas any potential switch from Dortmund has moved at a crawl, Gio Reyna had been linked to Serie A aspect Parma over the summer time. Hendrik Deckers/Borussia Dortmund through Getty Photographs

Listed here are another USMNT gamers to keep watch over in the course of the European season:

Tyler Adams, AFC Bournemouth (Premier League): The USMNT captain and former Purple Bull midfielder is coming off his finest season with the membership and is creating into one of many leaders for Bournemouth, which completed within the high half of the desk in 2024-25.

Brenden Aaronson, Leeds United (Premier League): The midfielder appeared in 5 matches in the course of the USMNT run within the Gold Cup, scoring a aim and registering an help. Final yr, he helped Leeds end first within the EFL Championship — England’s second division — to earn a promotion again to the Premier League.

Brenden Aaronson appeared in 5 matches in the course of the USMNT run within the Gold Cup, scoring a aim and registering an help. Getty Photographs

Malik Tillman, Bayer Leverkusen (Bundesliga): Tillman made the soar to Bayer Leverkusen this summer time from PSV within the Netherlands. In two years with PSV, he had 25 targets and 17 assists whereas serving to the membership win back-to-back league titles.

Timothy Weah, Olympique de Marseille (Ligue 1): After two seasons with Juventus in Italy, Weah is again in Ligue 1. The transfer will give Weah some all-important taking part in time heading into 2026 after making 78 appearances and scoring 14 targets for Juventus.

Sergiño Dest, PSV Eindhoven (Eredivisie): The fullback has come out firing to start out the season for Dutch membership PSV, scoring within the first sport of the season final weekend, and he was a key contributor the week earlier than when he scored the profitable aim within the Dutch Tremendous Cup. He missed a majority of the 2024-25 season as a result of a torn ACL and needed to pull out of the Gold Cup due to an damage.

Johnny Cardoso, Atlético Madrid (LaLiga): The 23-year-old midfielder accomplished a switch to Atlético Madrid final month from rival Actual Betis and hopes to place a disappointing summer time on the Gold Cup — damage hindered him from making a lot of an affect with the USMNT — behind him.