Ever since Mauricio Pochettino took over the USMNT, his every move has been closely watched and the pressure on him keeps growing. The head coach is expected to do well at the 2026 World Cup taking place on home soil, and for once break through the cursed round of 16. However, former USMNT star Alexi Lalas believes it won’t be possible unless they fill the enormous gaping hole in the squad. 

What every team needs is someone like Viktor Gyökeres or Harry Kane—a complete striker. No matter how well your team performs, without someone up front delivering the final product, you’re likely to suffer. According to Alexi Lalas, this is exactly what the USMNT needs and their quest for a world-class No. 9 still continues.

“I still don’t think we have found a striker.” says Lalas on his ‘State of the Union Podcast’, mentioning how his wishlist this year for Christmas is a ‘no.9’ for the men’s national team. “Notwithstanding what Pepi has done, and he’s certainly come in and said, Hey, don’t forget about me, I am here, but I still think that no.9 position is wide open.”

As for Ricardo Pepi, he’s been in fine form for the Stars and Stripes, ever since replacing the injured Folarin Balogun. The PSV Eindhoven striker recently scored a brace in their 8-0 win against Koninklijke HFC in the KNVB Cup. He also scored in both legs of the USMNT’s latest 5-2 aggregate win in the Nations League quarterfinals.

“It is a problem that it is wide open, and I am still hoping by the end of 2025, it is much solidified,” says Lalas emphasizing that it should be enough time for Mauricio Pochettino to find a player who’d find the back of the net consistently. As for Pochettino, his upcoming fixtures will provide him with the opportunity to make some squad adjustments.

Who will be Mauricio Pochettino’s no.9 for the January camp?

The USMNT recently announced that they will be playing friendlies against Venezuela and Costa Rica as part of their January camp. With Folarin Balogun ruled out for four months because of post-shoulder injury recovery, it provides a perfect opportunity for Ricardo Pepi to make a case for himself going into the new year.

As for the Argentine coach, the camp could be used to test the rest of his squad members, so we could see the likes of Cade Cowell, Brandon Vazquez, and Alejandro Zendejas get some playing time. Or perhaps maybe a few youngsters from the youth teams could get their first caps.

2025 will be an important year for the Argentine coach who is expected to win the CONCACAF Nations League and the CONCACAF Gold Cup. Historically, players who have represented the red, white, and blue during the January camp have gone on to feature for the nation in major tournaments, a trend we expect to continue. So will it be Pepi or Balogun? Only time can tell.