World Cup 2026: Meet USMNT defender Max Arfsten

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Max Arfsten, a player for the United States, poses with his jersey during the United States World Cup roster reveal on May 26, 2026 in New York City. (Photo by Adam Hunger/Getty Images)

The U.S. Men's National Team roster for the 2026 FIFA World Cup is set with defender Max Arfsten making the team.

Each national team has to have at least 23 players and is allowed a maximum of 26 players and at least three goalkeepers are required to be on the roster.

Meet USMNT defender Max Arfsten

Max Arfsten was born on April 19, 2001, and plays for the Columbus Crew in Major League Soccer.

The California native has earned 16 caps (13 starts) for the USMNT, recording one goal and five assists since making his debut against Venezuela in 2025.

Arfsten's five assists in 2025 are the most registered by a USMNT player in a calendar year since 2019, according to the Columbus Crew's official website.

When is the World Cup?

The 2026 FIFA World Cup begins June 11 and ends on July 19.

The group stage

June 12, 2026: USA vs. Paraguay (Los Angeles Stadium)
June 19, 2026: USA vs. Australia (Seattle Stadium)
June 25, 2026: USA vs. Türkiye (Los Angeles Stadium)

These three matches will determine whether the Americans can advance from the group and begin a knockout-stage run in front of a home crowd.

The American team benefits from being seeded as a co-host in the expanded tournament, which could keep them from playing an elite opponent until the round of 16.

The U.S. hopes to advance far in the tournament and show it is making progress in a sport that trails the NFL, MLB and NBA in popularity at home. The Americans are 1-7 in knockout World Cup matches, the only win over regional rival Mexico in 2002.

Since reaching the semifinals of the first World Cup in 1930, the furthest Team USA has advanced was the 2002 quarterfinals. While they have lost eight straight matches to European opponents since 2022, getting outscored 22-6, the Americans have a high level of confidence.