The Champions League draw is here, and it’s a brutal one for our American stars! From Christian Pulisic’s AC Milan missing out to Folarin Balogun, Sergiño Dest, Ricardo Pepi, Gio Reyna, and Weston McKennie facing European giants, this season is a true test. Their Champions League journey could define their World Cup aspirations. Will they make history?

The eagerly anticipated Champions League draw has cast a stark light on the challenging path awaiting several key USMNT stars in what promises to be an all-important season leading into a home World Cup. This year’s tournament presents a unique crucible for American talent, where individual performances on Europe’s grandest club stage will undoubtedly shape national team prospects and public perception.

While a slimmer contingent of USMNT players is participating compared to last season’s robust thirteen, the quality and stakes for the current seven prominent figures are exceptionally high. These players represent over half of a potential starting XI for the national team, making their club campaigns in the Champions League — or lack thereof, in some cases — pivotal for the collective strength of the squad.

Folarin Balogun, for instance, finds himself at AS Monaco in a make-or-break year. After a lavish transfer and two difficult seasons, he is battling for starts with a former Arsenal youth teammate. Consistency has been a struggle for the 24-year-old striker, whose commitment to the USMNT was seen as a solution to the program’s long-standing attacking woes. His Champions League output, or lack of, will heavily influence his standing.

Meanwhile, Sergiño Dest and Ricardo Pepi are poised for major roles at PSV Eindhoven, a club that faced a bruising exit in last year’s Round of 16. Dest is fully recovered from a significant knee injury, while Pepi, recently healed from his own season-ending operation, has been entrusted with the coveted No. 9 shirt and a new contract. PSV’s Champions League draw, however, is arguably the toughest among USMNT participants, pitting them against Bayern Munich, Liverpool, Napoli, Atlético Madrid, Leverkusen, and Newcastle.

Gio Reyna, a vital figure for PSV in their Eredivisie title run last season, has now moved to a radically transformed Bayer Leverkusen. His contributions were also notable for Mauricio Pochettino’s Gold Cup squad. Leverkusen itself faces a formidable octet of fixtures in the Champions League, including European powerhouses like PSG, Manchester City, and Benfica, providing Reyna with a stern test to back the significant investment made in his transfer.

Weston McKennie will feature in Atlético Madrid’s midfield, having demonstrated reliability in La Liga with Real Betis last year. Despite his club form, his performances for the USMNT have often left fans wanting more. The tutelage of Diego Simeone at Atlético Madrid could be exactly what McKennie needs to refine his game and elevate his impact on both the club and international stages, as Atlético also confronts a challenging group featuring Inter, Liverpool, and Arsenal.

Christian Pulisic, however, is on a different Champions League trajectory this season. Following a difficult campaign for AC Milan, which saw them miss out on European competition entirely for the first time since 2016, Pulisic will play all his club matches against Italian opposition. This absence from continental play removes a significant platform for him to build momentum and form ahead of the World Cup, placing greater emphasis on his Serie A performances.

The draws for these USMNT talents are nothing short of a gauntlet. PSV, with Dest and Pepi, faces a brutal path. Leverkusen, featuring Reyna, has a tough group. McKennie’s Atlético Madrid will battle strong contenders, and Balogun’s Monaco also finds itself in a demanding set of fixtures against top-tier clubs. The pressure is immense, and every match will be a high-stakes affair for these American professionals.

Ultimately, this Champions League campaign represents more than just club glory for these American stars. It is a critical proving ground, a stage where their resilience, skill, and leadership will be tested against the continent’s elite. Their successes, and indeed their struggles, will be meticulously observed, directly impacting their readiness and standing for the national team as the 2026 home World Cup rapidly approaches.