The U.S. men’s national team is not the richest side at the 2026 World Cup, but several members of the squad nonetheless commanded substantial income in 2025–26. Sportico’s analysis of club pay, international bonuses and commercial revenue shows clear differences among the top earners.

Christian Pulisic stands out. While he earns just over $6 million per year with his Italian club, AC Milan, his total on-field earnings rise to $7.5 million, according to reported estimates. It is the commercial avenues off the field where he makes most of his money, bringing in $20 million over the last year.

Weston McKennie emerged as one of the highest earners in the squad during 2025–26. Sportico estimates he earned $7 million on the field and $8 million off it, for a total of $15 million before the World Cup.

Tim Weah’s reported on-field pay was $6 million for his season with Marseille, supplemented by off-field partnerships including New Balance. The 26-year-old has used that income to join an ownership group for USL side Brooklyn FC.

Midfielder Tyler Adams, a Premier League regular with Bournemouth in 2025–26, earned an estimated $5.5 million on the pitch and $1.5 million off it. He also holds an ownership stake in USL side Westchester SC. A 26-year-old Crystal Palace center back made $5 million with his club and added about $2.5 million through commercial deals; he has invested in Birmingham Legion FC.

Players stand to add to their earnings with a deep run at the World Cup, but U.S. men will split half of their World Cup bonus with players in the U.S. women’s national team pool. Next year, the USMNT players will also earn half of what the USWNT earns during their 2027 World Cup campaign. That arrangement, which the draft links to a 2022 collective bargaining agreement between the USMNT, USWNT and U.S. Soccer, leaves the World Cup less of a standalone cash incentive than it is for many other nations.

Declan Rice and William Saliba have both confirmed lingering injuries that carried from the Premier League season into the 2026 World Cup, underlining concerns about the demands on players at elite clubs.

Rice disclosed an ongoing hamstring issue after a heavy campaign with Arsenal and a quick turn to international duty in North America. “I was feeling a little bit of neural pain in my hamstring, which I was managing from after Christmas with Arsenal for a very long time,” he told ITV Sport. “Obviously, not a lot of people would have known that. It was all behind-the-scenes stuff but it was a smart decision.” Thomas Tuchel managed Rice’s minutes in England’s opener, taking the 27-year-old out of the match after 72 minutes. Rice said the substitution was prudent. “In the end, that last 20 minutes is probably where you pick up the most, and it’s where you play a 70-minute match. But that last 20 is where you really feel your body going for it. And I think it was a smart decision because the last few days I felt really, really good.” He added that he is “ready and fit, raring to go” for his country.

Saliba admitted he is not at full fitness but is playing through discomfort as France pursue another title. “I’ve had some minor niggles for several months,” Saliba said in his prematch press conference for Les Bleus’ clash with Iraq. “I’ve been gritting my teeth because there was the Champions League and the Premier League. But the coaching staff are handling it very well,” he continued. Reports have suggested a potential back operation could be considered after the tournament. Saliba, 25, played at least 50 times for Arsenal for a third straight season and featured the full 90 minutes in France’s 3–1 win over Senegal.

Rice highlighted the cumulative toll: he played 63 matches last season for club and country and could add eight more if England reach the final. “It’s an obscene amount of games,” Rice said. “The schedule was crazy but what can we do about it? You can’t sit and complain. We have to just get on with it for the moments like I had in the Premier League, winning that Premier League.

“You know you’d play as many games as possible to have that feeling again and knowing that there’s a World Cup at the end of it as well. You know you’d put your body on the line to be always in to play. It’s a lot of games but we’ll get our break at the end.”

Liverpool remain intent on recruiting a long-term successor to Mohamed Salah and have opened talks over Yan Diomande. Leipzig, however, are resisting a sale and are pushing to extend Diomande’s contract. To accept a transfer, the German club would insist on “significantly more” than Liverpool’s opening proposal, which the Reds submitted largely to “test the waters”.

The Daily Mail state Liverpool are set to return with an improved bid, but Leipzig will watch Diomande’s World Cup displays closely and may boost their valuation accordingly. That approach is already proving effective.

Diomande’s tournament with Côte d’Ivoire is just beginning, but he made a strong impression in the 1–0 victory over Ecuador. On the night his quick feet and direct dribbling stood out. No player had more touches in the opposition box than Diomande (12), while his five chances created led the game. He troubled an Ecuador defence containing PSG’s Willian Pacho and Arsenal’s Piero Hincapié.

Match metrics from that appearance:
Minutes played: 90
Chances created: 5
Dribble success: 67% (4/6)
Touches in opposition box: 12
Expected goals and assists (xG + xA): 0.54
Ground duels won: 73% (11/15)

Leipzig officials will welcome the possibility that continued form raises interest and transfer value. The club has adjusted its strategy recently by attempting to keep key players on fresh contracts while remaining open to sales for the right fee. That could mean holding Diomande to a new deal and negotiating a move later on more favourable terms.

Relations between the two clubs are described as strong. The presence of Jürgen Klopp in the Red Bull hierarchy is noted as a further link that should aid constructive talks, and both sides are expected to conduct negotiations amicably as the window progresses.