Former Tottenham Hotspur manager Mauricio Pochettino’s USA got off to a flying start at FIFA World Cup 2026 last week with a 4-1 victory over Paraguay in the opening game of their home tournament.
The hosts have sent their fans into soccer hard drive. Spurs fans have been particularly impressed by Folarin Balogun as Roberto De Zerbi looks to bolster his attacking options ahead of the 2026/27 Premier League season.
As Pochettino and his team seek to make history on home soil, we remember the Tottenham Hotspur US connection. Several USMNT members have represented Spurs with varying levels of success, but who is the best American to play for the club?
5. DeAndre Yedlin
Known for his blistering pace, Yedlin signed from Seattle Sounders in January 2015 while Pochettino was head coach. The fullback failed to make the desired impact, however, competing with Kyle Walker and Kyle Naughton for a starting berth. He was loaned out to Sunderland before leaving for Newcastle in 2016.
Now with Real Salt Lake, Yedlin played at two World Cups for the USA and has captained his country, but hasn’t been capped since 2023.
4. Cameron Carter Vickers
An academy graduate, Carter Vickers regularly featured in matchday squads at Tottenham but was ultimately limited to just five senior appearances. In 2021, he moved on loan to Celtic, then managed by Ange Postecoglou, before making his move to Glasgow permanent in 2022.
Though born in England, the centre-back has represented the USA since 2017, and will be disappointed to miss out this summer due to an injury that kept him out for the majority of last season.
3. Kasey Keller
The Washington keeper joined Tottenham in 2001. Initially deputising for Neil Sullivan, Keller eventually won the goalkeeper jersey and played every minute of the 2002/03 and 2003/04 seasons. He fell out of favour when Paul Robinson joined the club, and departed in 2005 to continue a storied career with chapters in the Premier League, La Liga, the Bundesliga, and the MLS.
Keller captained Team USA at the 1996 Olympic Games in Atlanta and made 102 appearances for the USA, as well as being part of squads at four FIFA World Cups.
2. Clint Dempsey
Signed with Mousa Dembele from Fulham in 2012, Dempsey’s stay was shorter but at times just as sweet as the Belgian's. Scoring the goal that helped us to a first win at Old Trafford in 23 years, Dempsey found the net a further 11 times in his only season at Spurs, expanding his Premier League goal tally and further cementing his title as top American goalscorer in the league.
He also remains the joint top goalscorer for the USA Men's National Team. Dempsey is the only American to score at three World Cups, and captained the side at Brazil 2014.
1. Brad Friedel
The legendary goalkeeper holds the record for most consecutive Premier League appearances, accumulating 310 straight starts across eight seasons at Blackburn Rovers, Aston Villa, and Tottenham. Friedel signed for Tottenham in the summer of 2011, aged 40, and his form initially kept Hugo Lloris out of the team when the Frenchman signed the following year. He continued to back up Lloris until his retirement in 2015.
Friedel received 84 international caps and represented his country at three FIFA World Cups.
Given the apparent quality of Pochettino's squad, don't be surprised if Roberto and De Zerbi and the Tottenham hierarchy tap into the American market once more this summer as soccer in the States continues to go from strength to strength.
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