Chicago Fire goalkeeper Chris Brady has been named to the first U.S. Men's National Team roster after the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
Brady, the Fire's 22-year-old starter, was the youngest USMNT World Cup goalkeeper since 1990. He was also the first active Fire player to go to a World Cup with the U.S. since 2002, and has been a national team call-up for over a year now under Head Coach Mauricio Pochettino; the Argentine manager recently renewed his contract with U.S. Soccer through 2030.
Brady's selection to the first USMNT squad of the fall demonstrates Pochettino's continued faith in the Fire #1, who won his World Cup roster spot in March with a strong camp showing in Atlanta. Brady was the U.S. #3 at the World Cup, sitting behind Matt Freese and Matt Turner, and was one of two players not to see the field during the tournament, but made his senior international debut in a May friendly against Senegal.
Although opportunities to be anything more than USMNT third-string were few and far between in the last four years, the beginning of a new World Cup cycle turns a new page and could open the door to immediate minutes for Brady. The goalkeeper position is one with tremendous uncertainty, especially after Freese endured a particularly poor World Cup as the U.S. starter, including a high-profile error in the Round of 16 loss to Belgium.
Over the last few years, Brady has consistently shown that he is one of the top American goalkeepers in MLS, producing some particularly eye-catching performances in big games. Brady has played every minute for the Fire first team in all competitions this season as his hometown team currently sit near the top of the MLS Eastern Conference with real title aspirations.
Brady is one of four goalkeepers named to this expanded camp roster alongside Matt Freese, Brian Schwake, and Diego Kochen, with which the U.S. will face Peru, Chile, Mexico, and Canada in a series of friendly matches on home soil. The Naperville native is hoping to make his first senior national team start in one of these matches
Unlike at the World Cup, where Brady was the USMNT's second-youngest player (behind defender Alex Freeman), this fall squad contains several teenage prospects. Philadelphia Union star Cavan Sullivan headlines the list after being one of the top players in MLS since the World Cup, and he is joined by the likes of Adri Mehmeti, Julian Hall, Zavier Gozo, Neil Pierre, and Cole Campbell.
Brady will miss next week’s road game against Charlotte FC, likely handing an opportunity to Josh Cohen for a Fire debut. He will also likely miss the October 6th game against the Vancouver Whitecaps, as the U.S. play Canada at the same time.
There are two other Chicago players on the roster; Nashville SC goalkeeper Brian Schwake is from Mount Prospect and played for DePaul in college; midfielder Brooklyn Raines, now with the New England Revolution, lived in Chicago for 11 years as a child before moving to the FC Barcelona Arizona residency.
GOALKEEPERS (4): Chris Brady (Chicago Fire; 1/0), Matt Freese (New York City FC; 19/0), Diego Kochen (Lyngby Boldklub/DEN; 0/0), Brian Schwake (Nashville SC; 0/0)
DEFENDERS (10): George Campbell (West Bromwich Albion FC/ENG; 1/0), Sergiño Dest (PSV Eindhoven/NED; 44/3), Alex Freeman (Villarreal/ESP; 22/3), Peyton Miller (New England Revolution; 0/0), Neil Pierre (Philadelphia Union; 0/0), Chris Richards (Crystal Palace/ENG; 40/3), Antonee Robinson (Fulham/ENG; 58/5), Miles Robinson (FC Cincinnati; 41/3), Auston Trusty (Celtic/SCO; 10/1), Frankie Westfield (Philadelphia Union; 0/0)
MIDFIELDERS (9): Tyler Adams (AFC Bournemouth/ENG; 58/2), Mathis Albert (Borussia Dortmund/GER; 0/0), Sebastian Berhalter (Middlesbrough/ENG; 18/2), Zavier Gozo (Crystal Palace/ENG; 0/0), Adri Mehmeti (Red Bull New York; 0/0), Yunus Musah (AC Milan/ITA; 47/1), Brooklyn Raines (New England Revolution; 0/0), Gio Reyna (RC Strasbourg Alsace/FRA; 43/10), Malik Tillman (Bayer Leverkusen/GER; 35/5)
FORWARDS (5): Cole Campbell (SV Elversberg/GER; 0/0); Justin Ellis (Orlando City SC; 0/0), Julian Hall (Red Bull New York; 0/0), Ricardo Pepi (PSV Eindhoven/NED; 42/13), Cavan Sullivan (Philadelphia Union; 0/0)
