Brenden Aaronson

Brenden Aaronson is a midfielder in the USA's final 26-man squad for the 2026 World Cup, named in the squad roster confirmed on 26 May 2026. The attacking midfielder is 25 at kick-off and carries 57 senior caps and nine international goals for the hosts, with senior tournament football already on his record.

Aaronson plays his club football for Leeds United in England, and arrives at the tournament having already been to a World Cup, part of the USA's 2022 squad in Qatar. He is named among the USA's midfielders for a home World Cup that opens in Group D against Paraguay at SoFi Stadium in Inglewood on 12 June, with later group games against Australia and Turkey.

Aaronson is an attacking midfielder, a player who does his best work in the final third rather than as a holding presence. That role in behind the forwards is the one he has filled across his USA caps.

At 25 he already has a body of senior international football behind him, with 57 caps to his name. Mauricio Pochettino's side can use him as an advanced option in midfield, the kind who plays high up the pitch and gets close to the strikers.

Aaronson brings end product from midfield to Goal Rush: he has nine international goals for the USA from an advanced role across his 57 caps. That return from the number-ten area is his selling point.

The USA carry a Tier 3 price of £17m, within the game's £200m card budget, mid-way up the bands. That buys an attacking midfielder for the hosts who already has World Cup minutes behind him.