USMNT hopeful Gabriel Slonina eyes 2026 World Cup beginning spot: 'I need to be the beginning goalkeeper'

U.S. males’s nationwide crew hopeful Gabriel “Gaga” Slonina has his sights set on a beginning position in purpose on the 2026 World Cup on house soil, providing a reminder that competitors for the spot may very well be aggressive as Mauricio Pochettino begins his high-profile spell because the crew’s head coach this month.

The 20-year-old is taken into account one of many high prospects within the goalkeeper pool after representing the U.S. at youth ranges, and have become the youngest shot-stopper to play for the senior crew when he earned his first cap in January 2023. Slonina has tried to stand up the ranks since by means of his play at membership stage and for the youth nationwide groups, which included a roster spot on the U-23 crew that competed on the Olympic Video games in Paris over the summer time.

“June 2026, I need to be the beginning goalkeeper for the boys’s nationwide crew,” he stated on the newest episode of Name It What You Need, a CBS Sports Golazo Network podcast. “I believe that is the purpose I will goal for, I will work my hardest in direction of and I need to see myself. I need to put that imaginative and prescient I’ve in my head into actuality so I am simply going to work my hardest to be the beginning goalkeeper, be part of that squad and make historical past with the U.S.”

Slonina stated he has but to talk to Pochettino, who was formally employed final month and stated he is targeting the USMNT’s first quarterfinal finish in two decades when he leads the crew to the 2026 World Cup. The goalkeeper’s feedback, although, spotlight the squad shake-up that’s anticipated upon Pochettino’s arrival, particularly for the No. 1 spot.

Matt Turner was the long-time favourite for Pochettino’s predecessor Gregg Berhalter, successful the beginning spot earlier than the 2022 World Cup and holding onto it by means of the 2024 Copa America, when the U.S. surprisingly exited within the group levels. Between an absence of taking part in time on the membership stage and inconsistent performances during the last two years, although, Turner’s grip on the beginning position feels looser than ever and may lead Pochettino to discover his choices.

Slonina shall be a type of choices and already has a bonus over the 30-year-old Turner on the membership stage. He joined League One aspect Barnsley on mortgage from Chelsea over the summer time and has 10 video games in all competitions, boasting a 67.9% save share within the league up to now this season. He has not been a part of a senior crew camp since November 2023, although, and arguably is just not even the favourite to problem Turner for the USMNT’s beginning spot.

The most certainly quick candidates to compete with Turner are Patrick Schulte and Ethan Horvath, who’re at totally different levels of their careers. The 23-year-old Schulte is the inheritor obvious to the position and started the USMNT’s September friendly against Canada, a couple of quick weeks after serving because the beginning goalkeeper through the run to the Olympic quarterfinals for the U.S. U-23 aspect. He has additionally been an essential a part of the Columbus Crew’s success in recent times, successful the beginning position in 2023 and successful MLS Cup the identical yr.

The 29-year-old Horvath, in the meantime, has lengthy been Turner’s understudy on the worldwide stage and has 10 caps to his title, together with a memorable efficiency within the 2021 Concacaf Nations League last. Although he has 4 appearances for Championship aspect Cardiff Metropolis – greater than Turner’s zero for Crystal Palace up to now this season – he is now locked in a battle to begin towards Jak Alnwick, who has been most well-liked in latest weeks.

Different contenders embody 18-year-old Diego Kochen, who performs for Barcelona’s reserve groups, in addition to MLS goalkeepers Drake Callendar and Roman Celentano, who took half in senior crew camps during the last yr.

A primary glimpse at Pochettino’s ideas on the goalkeeper place is predicted this week, when he’ll title his first roster since changing into the USMNT boss. He’ll his first nationwide crew recreation on Oct.. 12, when the U.S. tackle Panama in a pleasant, earlier than touring to Mexico for an additional pleasant on Oct. 15.