You can just about survive a World Cu with only one quality defensive midfielder in Adams, and you have very good attacking midfield/winger subs in Aaronson and Reyna, but Sargeant is exactly the kind of forward you want to throw out for 65 minutes until he's run himself into the ground, and the only decent #9 option I see is pushing Weah or Pulisic up there or throwing Reyna on and just hoping he can get on the ball, none of which is ideal. Yedlin isn't a terrible option to come on at RB, but yeah I think in the end the lack of a 2nd striker and another CM and just having slower CBs will probably do you in over 120 minutes, which you realistically will need to beat the Netherlands and Argentina and make a semi final.
As you say, should be a better squad in 2026 because the midfield will be of age and you can't get much worse at #9, though Sargent is an admirable and selfless player and that can go a decent way in international football, and adding even one really quality CB would help a ton.
Now that you have a decent enough domestic league and big teams in Germany and the big 2 in Scotland have had lots of success with U.S players, your floor for players shouldn't get any lower, which is to say guys like Ream, Carter-Vickers and Sargent should be replaceable by 2026 even if it just means picking the best American MLS CB and MLS #9. By 2026, I'd think those guys would be closer to the quality champo/decent in a relegation fight Prem players those 3 are. I know Sargent didn't help Norwich much last year, but I do like a striker who actually improves the pressing and defensive play of a team rather than a guy who either scores or makes no impact. He's like a Champo level Gabi Jesus.
ok bro.
forgot about them.