If you had to pick an all-time U.S. men’s national team starting lineup for the FIFA World Cup, which players would make the cut — and who gets left out? FOX Sports soccer analyst Alexi Lalas shared his controversial picks on the latest episode of the “Alexi Lalas’ State of the Union” podcast, explaining his reasoning for omitting stars like Clint Dempsey, Tim Howard, and DaMarcus Beasley.
Here is a position-by-position breakdown of Lalas’ all-time U.S. World Cup starting XI:
Goalkeeper: Tony Meola
World Cup appearances: 1990, 1994
“People are going to disagree, but I’m going with Tony Meola — especially because in the modern game, a goalkeeper who can play with his feet is invaluable. Tony was ahead of his time in that regard. His accuracy and confidence when distributing the ball gave us a sense of security. By a narrow margin over Tim Howard, Meola gets the nod,” Lalas said.
Right Back: Tony Sanneh
World Cup appearances: 2002
“For those who remember the 2002 World Cup run, Tony Sanneh was everything you’d want from a right back. He got up and down the pitch, attacked relentlessly, caused problems going forward, and handled his defensive duties,” Lalas explained.
Center Backs: Eddie Pope and Carlos Bocanegra
World Cup appearances: Pope (1998, 2002); Bocanegra (2006, 2010)
“Eddie Pope was a legend — strong in the air and on the ground, smart, and excellent on the left side. Carlos Bocanegra, as a longtime captain, brings balance alongside Pope. I think it’s a solid pairing,” Lalas said.
Left Back: Antonee ‘Jedi’ Robinson
World Cup appearances: 2022, 2026 (expected)
“I believe he’ll go down as arguably the best left back in USMNT history, and I already have him in that spot,” Lalas stated.
Defensive Midfielders: Michael Bradley and Weston McKennie
World Cup appearances: Bradley (2010, 2014); McKennie (2022, 2026 expected)
“I have two defensive midfielders in front of the back four, but they also have attacking responsibilities. Michael Bradley gives us a solid, predictable foundation in the most positive sense. Then Weston McKennie — we’ve talked so much about his importance to this team, both on and off the field. His personality is crucial. So I’ll have him next to Bradley,” Lalas said.
Forwards: Tab Ramos, Landon Donovan, Christian Pulisic
World Cup appearances: Ramos (1990, 1994, 1998); Donovan (2002, 2006, 2010); Pulisic (2022, 2026 expected)
“These three are completely interchangeable. They all played multiple positions in attack and showed up all over the place. People ask me: who was the best player you ever played with on the U.S. team? It was Tab Ramos. He was so far ahead technically and mentally — it must have been frustrating for him to play with us at times. Landon Donovan could operate underneath or out wide, doing damage from either spot. Christian Pulisic, who we see on the left but also drifts inside — that threesome can go wherever they want,” Lalas explained.
Striker: Brian McBride
World Cup appearances: 2002, 2006
“My country, my kingdom, for a Brian McBride — with all due respect to Folarin Balogun and Ricardo Pepi right now,” Lalas concluded.
