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The former USMNT player Stu Holden identified a big topic that the team needs to find out before the World Cup begins next year.
HOLDEN, 39, said the team has to find out which players will be on the field.
“I think the biggest problem for USMNT is finding out who the 11 guys are going to go out in this field on June 12, 2026, who can inspire people and get results. There has been nothing in two years since the World Cup in Qatar that made me feel that we have taken some steps forward,” Holden told Pakinomist Digital.
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USA -Player Stuart Holden (11) chases after the ball with Panama -player Roberto Chen (23) during the Gold Cup championship 2013 at Soldier Field in Chicago, Illinois, July 28, 2013. (Jerry Lai-usa Today Sports)
“I think that is the goal of the development and the amount of investment we have put into the game in this country is that I have not seen anything that makes me think we will do something that we have not done before.”
“It’s about this group of players, not just to make us believe, but to make themselves believe, but to make themselves believe by getting some results and building some momentum at that moment. So when they step out into this field, they know they can get the job done.”
In the 2022 World Cup in Qatar, the United States was knocked out in the round of 16. One of the tournaments usmnt must decide that their start 11 players for the World Cup is the Gold Cup.
However, USMNT’s best player, Christian Pulisic, does not play in the Gold Cup, as Holden said is a big thing.
“I think that’s a big thing because I think, at any time, the American landing player plays, I want the best 23, 11, no matter what, American players playing in these fields in these moments. And I also want players who are happy to play and represent their national team at every moment,” Holden said.
US Soccer Great believes the American team can shock the world at upcoming World Cup
Former professional footballer and Fox sports analyst Stuart Holden and his wife Karalyn Holden posing for a photo on the red carpet for “A year to go” to FIFA World Cup 26 event at Fox Studio Lot on June 11, 2025 in Los Angeles, California. (Jessica Alcheh-Preferred Pictures)
“And it’s not just one, ‘eh, maybe I’ll come into this time.’ So I think that’s what we’re missing.
Pulisic will be back with usmnt for the World Cup, but Holden has a player that fans have to look for anything other than Pulisic.
“I think Weston McKennie is a player who always excites me because he just has some really raw talent. He is an excellent athlete, but he is also just a player. In some of the greatest moments he shows up with a goal,” Holden said.
“My hope is that he is a guy who takes and shoulders some of this responsibility for the World Cup next year and be a guy who can really create a few moments. We can’t just have a good player, we have to have four to five of our top players playing on their absolute maximum for this team to do something special.”
Holden played for USMNT from 2008-2013, and the midfielder scored three goals during his tenure.
Former professional footballer and Fox Sports Analyst Stuart Holden Interviewer on the red carpet for “One year to go” to the FIFA World Cup 26 event at Fox Studio Lot on June 11, 2025 in Los Angeles, California. (Jessica Alcheh-Preferred Pictures)
The 39-year-old is currently a football analyst for Fox Sports and is excited about the world to see the football culture that the United States has built.
“I am excited as a guy who lives in LA now and has for ten years, for people to come and visit LA and see the football culture that we built here. I think back on the final, which we built here in 1994 (when the World Cup was the end of the United States),” Holden said.
“The other part I am excited about is that I have two young children and I can’t wait to take them to games in our own backyard and let them see the best players, the biggest teams, and the experience of it because that’s how we inspire the next generation of people. So I’m excited about the fans that will be inspired to be part of our games in the future.”
