Striking Options

Balogun, Pepi and Wright All Vying for Time This Window

The U.S. Men's National Team enters the November international window with an unusual luxury: three in-form strikers competing for playing time. For a position that has plagued the USMNT for years, the emergence of Ricardo Pepi, Folarin Balogun, and Haji Wright offers both promise and difficult selection decisions for coach Mauricio Pochettino.

Pepi returns to the national team fold for the first time in a year, having battled through significant injury setbacks. The 22-year-old El Paso native required meniscus surgery that sidelined him for months, but he's recently rediscovered his form at PSV Eindhoven. With five goals in 12 matches this season—including multiple goals in the Champions League—Pepi has demonstrated resilience despite limited starting opportunities. His recent performances as a substitute have caught Pochettino's attention, even as the coach typically emphasizes regular club minutes for selection.

Balogun has positioned himself as the presumed starter after scoring crucial goals against Japan and Ecuador in recent months. The Monaco forward has scored four goals in 10 Ligue 1 appearances and boasts the versatility to play in various systems, with experience both as a lone striker and in partnerships.

Wright made the most of his October opportunity with a two-goal performance against Australia, building on his impressive form at Coventry City, where he's tallied eight goals in 14 Championship matches. The 26-year-old, who scored at the 2022 World Cup, has proven he can deliver when called upon.

The competition represents a dramatic shift from years of struggling to find reliable options at the position. With Christian Pulisic and other attacking talents absent from this camp, Pochettino may experiment with formations that accommodate multiple strikers, potentially deploying a 3-5-2 system. Regardless of tactics, the healthy competition among these three forwards gives the USMNT genuine depth as the World Cup approaches.