With the 2026 FIFA World Cup rapidly approaching, set to be co-hosted by North American giants Mexico, Canada, and the United States, attention is increasingly focused on potential contributors to the USMNT squad. France`s Ligue 1 has become a notable destination for American talent, and several players currently plying their trade there could play significant roles for the USA on home soil. Here, we take a closer look at some of these key American players in Ligue 1.
Tanner Tessmann, Olympique Lyonnais
Following in the footsteps of prominent players like Weston McKennie and Ricardo Pepi, FC Dallas`s esteemed academy continues to produce promising American footballers making their mark in Europe. Tanner Tessmann, born in Alabama, joined Dallas`s youth setup in 2016. After considering a college path combining soccer and football (as a kicker) at Clemson University, he decided in February 2020 to pursue a professional soccer career, aiming for a first-team spot in MLS. Just over a year later, Tessmann made the transatlantic leap, joining newly promoted Serie A side Venezia.
While Venezia ultimately couldn`t avoid relegation from Italy`s top flight, Tessmann proved to be a valuable asset, primarily coming off the bench in his 20 league appearances. He patiently developed as an impact player before establishing himself as a regular starter in December 2022. This solidified role also coincided with a significant uptick in goal contributions: having not registered a single goal or assist in his first 51 senior appearances between 2019/20 and 2021/22, Tessmann scored three goals and provided two assists across 34 appearances in 2022/23. He elevated his game further in 2023/24, netting seven goals and assisting three in 42 games. Crucially, he scored the opening goal in Venezia`s 2-1 (3-1 aggregate) playoff semi-final win against Palermo and featured in the 1-0 final victory over Cremonese that secured promotion.
However, Tessmann`s future lay elsewhere. Instead of returning to Serie A with Venezia, he joined Ligue 1 club Lyon for a reported €6 million fee. His initial months in France saw limited action, mostly featuring as a brief substitute or remaining on the bench. Lyon`s poor form (two points from four games) prompted new manager Paulo Fonseca to hand Tessmann a start in a 4-0 win against Reims on February 9th. He has since become a vital defensive midfielder for Les Gones, arguably surpassing Nemanja Matić in the midfield hierarchy and contributing significantly to Lyon`s push towards European qualification.
At 23, Tessmann possesses immense potential. He combines a superb passing range, a robust physical presence, and intelligent decision-making. He is equally adept at breaking down deep defenses with perfectly weighted through balls as he is at winning the ball back cleanly. With Maxence Caqueret having departed for Como, Tessmann has taken on the responsibility of the deep-lying playmaker role, leading the team in accurate long balls per 90 minutes in Ligue 1 with a high completion rate (3.4 accurate long balls per 90 at 67.6% accuracy). His importance is expected to grow further next season, particularly with key attacking players like Alexandre Lacazette and Rayan Cherki potentially leaving.
Folarin Balogun, AS Monaco
Just two seasons ago, Folarin Balogun made a splash in French football during a loan spell at Stade de Reims, netting an impressive 21 goals in 37 Ligue 1 appearances. Having struggled to break into Arsenal`s first team and making little impact during a loan at Middlesbrough, this performance seemed to signal his arrival. Born in Brooklyn to Nigerian parents but raised in London, Balogun`s decision to switch national allegiance from England to the USA following his breakout 2022/23 campaign sparked excitement among USMNT fans. Unlike Tessmann, who has only a handful of USMNT appearances (eight in total, four in friendlies), Balogun has quickly established himself as a leading candidate for the USA`s starting No. 9 position, recording five goals and four assists in 17 appearances, including two goals at the recent Copa América.
Monaco secured Balogun`s services permanently after his Reims success, paying a €30 million fee. His debut season in the principality was reasonably productive, with eight goals and seven assists across 32 appearances. However, his season was also marked by notable incidents, most notably missing two penalties in his first start against Nice in a 1-0 defeat. The subsequent season was hampered by injuries. After scoring in three consecutive matches (vs. Le Havre, Montpellier, Rennes), a shoulder injury sidelined him for two months. He returned in December, playing 68 minutes in a loss to Marseille, but it appeared to be a premature return. His shoulder continued to cause issues, keeping him out for another three months before he returned to action, initially as a substitute and then scoring on his first start back in a 3-1 victory over Saint-Ètienne.
Unfortunately, Balogun`s injury woes persisted, preventing him from participating in Monaco`s final two matches (against Lyon and Lens) due to an ankle issue, ending his campaign with four goals in just over 700 minutes. The 23-year-old striker has missed the last three international windows due to these setbacks, raising concerns about the impact of successive injuries on his development, a path unfortunately taken by many promising players. Putting these injuries behind him and regaining form at Monaco will be crucial for him to push for a starting spot at the upcoming FIFA World Cup.
Interestingly, both Balogun and Ricardo Pepi, the USA`s primary options at center-forward, are currently second-choice at their clubs. While Pepi contributed significantly to PSV Eindhoven`s Eredivisie title win with 11 goals in 18 appearances, he remains behind Luuk de Jong in the pecking order. Similarly, Balogun has seen Mika Biereth, who joined Monaco mid-season and scored 13 goals in 16 Ligue 1 matches, move ahead in the striking options. Nevertheless, even if he doesn`t secure a consistent starting role next season, Balogun`s blend of intelligent runs into the box, aggressive counter-pressing, and dynamic finishing ability will be valuable assets for Monaco as they return to the UEFA Champions League.
Mark McKenzie, Toulouse FC
Finding a consistent and reliable central defensive partnership has been a challenge for the United States over the past decade. However, in Chris Richards and Mark McKenzie, they may have discovered a promising pairing. While Richards contributed to Crystal Palace winning their first major trophy (FA Cup Final vs. Manchester City), McKenzie has proven indispensable to Toulouse`s defense.
McKenzie, born in the Bronx, developed within the Philadelphia Union`s academy and spent a year at Wake Forest University before focusing entirely on his professional career, earning a nomination for the 2018 MLS Rookie of the Year. He is recognized as a natural leader, strong in one-on-one duels and aerial contests, and also composed in possession, skillful at switching play and distributing passes forward into the final third. These qualities led to his nomination for the 2020 MLS Defender of the Year before he moved to Genk in Belgium, where he won the 2020/21 Belgian Cup and became a key defender. His strong performances ultimately earned him a €3 million transfer to Toulouse in the summer of 2024.
Entering the season, Les Violets faced potential defensive issues after losing key defenders Logan Costa, Christian Mawissa, and Anthony Rouault, alongside top scorer Thijs Dallinga. Yet, they improved their league position (from 11th to 10th) and conceded three fewer goals compared to the previous season. McKenzie was crucial to this defensive stability, thanks to his athleticism and intelligent play with the ball. He made 30 league appearances, playing the full 90 minutes in almost all of them. At 26, he stands out as another American center-back making a name for himself recently, alongside players like Cameron Carter-Vickers, Lucas Bartlett, and George Campbell.
“McKenzie arrived at the start of the season somewhat unknown,” commented a source familiar with Toulouse. “But he has steadily gained momentum and improved, earning significant appreciation from Toulouse supporters. As a left-sided center-back in a 3-4-3 system, he might not wear the captain`s armband yet, but he is a solid starter who plays week in, week out and, despite not drawing significant attention, is very reliable and takes responsibility.”
