After some encouraging displays in Qatar, the U.S. can now start planning to potentially contend for the title on home soil

Think back to what the U.S. men's national team looked like just after the 2018 World Cup. Players like Weston McKennie and Tyler Adams were still total newcomers to the senior team. Tim Weah had just earned his first cap. Yunus Musah? No American fan had ever heard of him.

The point is that much can change in a few short years, especially for a national team. And that's what makes predicting how the USMNT will look like in 2026 so hard.

But that's the nature of this business: projecting what's next. The USMNT's 2022 World Cup is officially over and, from the moment the final whistle blew against the Netherlands, the focus began to shift towards 2026.

We know some players that should be there. The USMNT is a young team, after all, one loaded with stars that might not even be in their prime even in 2026. In all likelihood, there will be plenty of familiar faces in that squad with World Cup experience from their time in Qatar.

But there will surely be some surprises. There are more Musahs out there just waiting to be found, more Tim Reams waiting for their career resurgence to catapult them toward 2026.

With that in mind, GOAL takes a look at what the U.S. XI could look like on home soil in three-and-a-half years:

Getty ImagesGK: Gabriel Slonina

Just as a caveat, Matt Turner will only be 31 by the start of the next World Cup. He'll be in his goalkeeping prime and, considering the fact that he's currently at Arsenal, there's a chance he'll be playing at a very high level.

But there's also a chance that Slonina is playing at an even higher level. His potential is just that absurd.

He's been compared to Gianluigi Buffon despite being just 18 years old. For a teenage goalkeeper from the U.S. to be compared to arguably the best to ever do it just shows how good those in the know think Slonina can be.

He's joining Chelsea this winter, so we'll see how the next four years go, but, make no mistake, Slonina has the potential to be the best goalkeeper the U.S. has ever seen, which really is saying something given the legends that have preceded him.

AdvertisementGetty ImagesLB: Antonee Robinson

In theory, there are some young players coming for this spot, but Robinson is also fairly young himself.

It's easy to forget that he's only 25, which would mean he'll be just 28 by the time the 2026 tournament rolls around. And there's reason to believe that Robinson will only get better. AC Milan was interested in signing him for a reason.

There are other contenders, though. Young Atlanta United star Caleb Wiley could be in the mix, as could John Tolkin. And then there's Kevin Paredes and Jonathan Gomez, who will be looking to break through at Wolfsburg or Real Sociedad, respectively, at some point soon.

Point is, there's a bit more hope at this position, with several young stars seemingly on the way.

GettyCB: Chris Richards

Many thought Richards would be in this squad. It didn't quite happen.

Form and fitness weren't enough for him to push his way in, but the talent is certainly still there. Richards is a damn good defender and there's reason to believe he has a high ceiling with the national team.

He'll need to improve at Crystal Palace or move on, though, as his first half-season in the Premier League has been less-than-ideal. You shouldn't bet against him, though, as he's risen to the challenge everywhere he's been so far.

The U.S. will need at least one new centerback with Tim Reamon his way out. If you had to pick one, Richards would likely be the safest bet.

GettyCB: Miles Robinson

Another one that would have, and probably should have, been in Qatar. Robinson would have been a locked-in starter if not for his devastating Achilles injury. He was the USMNT's best defender until that point and his presence was sorely missed after he went down.

Robinson will be just 29 by the time the next World Cup rolls around, right about in the prime of his career as a defender. Much will depend on how he comes back from his injury, though.

In terms of other contenders, there are plenty. Justin Che is on the way up in the Bundesliga at Hoffenheim, while Mark McKenzie, one of the final cuts for this squad, is shining in Belgium. Keep an eye on Kobi Henry too as he begins his professional career in France with Reims.