Fox Sports soccer analyst Alexi Lalas has unveiled his all-time U.S. men's national team World Cup starting lineup on his podcast, making tough calls that left notable players like Clint Dempsey and Tim Howard off the list.
Analyzing his selections position by position:
Goalkeeper: Tony Meola (1990, 1994). Lalas praised Meola's exceptional footwork, calling him a "man out of time" and giving him the edge over Howard.
Right Back: Tony Sanneh (2002). Lalas highlighted Sanneh's relentless two-way play.
Center Backs: Eddie Pope (1998, 2002) and Carlos Bocanegra (2006, 2010). Described as a balanced, legendary pairing.
Left Back: Antonee "Jedi" Robinson (2022, 2026). Lalas already calls him the best left back in USMNT history.
Defensive Midfielders: Michael Bradley (2010, 2014) and Weston McKennie (2022, 2026). Bradley provides a solid foundation, while McKennie brings energy and personality.
Forwards: Tab Ramos (1990, 1994, 1998), Landon Donovan (2002, 2006, 2010), and Christian Pulisic (2022, 2026). Lalas lauded them as interchangeable attackers, calling Ramos the best player he ever played with.
Striker: Brian McBride (2002, 2006). Lalas declared, "My country, my kingdom, for a Brian McBride," lamenting the lack of a similar target man today.