With four months to go until the 2026 World Cup, it’s still uncertain which striker Mauricio Pochettino will select for the U.S. Men’s National Team. Among the options, one emerging player has caught attention.
While Folarin Balogun, Ricardo Pepi, Haji Wright, and Josh Sargent are frequently mentioned, Patrick Agyemang deserves consideration.
Agyemang, 25, transferred from MLS team Charlotte FC to EFL Championship club Derby County last summer for $8 million, according to Transfermarkt.
Since the move, the U.S. forward has become a key player, scoring 10 goals and providing three assists in 28 league games.
Patrick Agyemang is making a case ahead of the World Cup
He has played 2,104 minutes, starting in 25 of those matches. The East Hartford, Conn., native has shown he is serious about his career in Europe and has emerged as an exciting option for Pochettino as the World Cup approaches.
This season, Agyemang has scored more goals than both Balogun (8) and Sargent (8), only trailing Pepi and Wright, who each have 11 goals among the mentioned players.
“He is improving all the time, and while the £5.9 million fee was significant for Championship standards, it is proving to be a great value,” noted DerbyshireLive’s Leigh Curtis after Derby County’s recent 2-0 win against Swansea City.
“He should not be overlooked by the USA for the World Cup squad this summer. He is playing regularly, getting better month by month, and continues to challenge Championship defenses,” Curtis added.