Being Viktor: How Axelsen fashioned himself into a serial winner The conqueror. Serial winner. Absolute champion.
Viktor Axelsen lived up to his name. In his career, starting from 2009, the Dane pretty much won it all.
And so, his retirement from professional badminton should have been an occasion to celebrate one of the legends of the game. In reality, it was a bittersweet moment.
Such is the cruel nature of the sporting world that even the best do not get to finish on their own terms. Just three weeks ago, Only last month, Carolina Marin officially bid farewell through a social media post, having never returned to the court since a knee injury during the Paris Olympics semifinals, which left the Spaniard in tears.
On Wednesday, it was Axelsen’s turn. At 32, perhaps, he had a few good years left in him. But due to recurrent back issues, the Dane had to make the unfortunate decision to say goodbye. “Today is not an easy day for me. Due to my recurrent back issues, I am no longer able to compete and train at the highest level,” he wrote.
“Accepting this situation has been incredibly difficult. But I have now reached a point where my body won’t allow me to continue.”
Axelsen had been out of action since the French Open in October last year after the loss to compatriot Anders Antonsen in the quarterfinals when hardly anyone could have predicted to never see him competing again.
But those who know him completely understand the decision. For Axelsen, it was always about being the best in the world ever since his dad introduced him to the sport when he was six.
Being Viktor
“Since the day I picked up a racket, I knew my dream was to become the best in the world. I have given everything to this sport. It has never been just a career to me. It has been my life and I have left no stone unturned,” he said.
A young Axelsen would reach the hall at the Odense Badminton Klub in his hometown earlier than the coaches and other players and would repeatedly hit the shuttle vertically in the air.
There was something about him that made him stand out from the rest of his peers and Peter Gade, his first hero, could see that. “He had a fire in his eyes that I haven’t seen in the same way in other Danish players. I recognised Viktor’s fire from myself,” Gade told Danish outlet Ud&Se in an interview in August 2018.
Axelsen got the chance to train with Gade and the rest of the national team when he moved alone to Copenhagen at the age of 17, a year after becoming the first non-Asian boy to win the World Junior Championship in 2010.
The transition to the senior circuit wasn’t easy. At 6’4” with a broad body structure, he didn’t necessarily have what was considered to be the ideal shape and size to be a solid shuttler. But Axelsen did his research and found out about Bao Chunlai, a former World No. 1 from China who was 6’3”.
He studied how a player as tall as Bao moved on the court, made use of his massive wingspan and bent to retrieve the shots closer to the ground before returning to a neutral position. The duo met once, at the Singapore Open in 2011, where the apprentice won the battle in straight games.
Such was his dedication that Axelsen even took the daunting task of learning Mandarin to understand the mentality of the Chinese school of badminton, the ultimate powerhouse in the sport. When this fact came to the limelight, the Chinese players became cautious about discussing any tactics around Axelsen but at the same time, he endeared himself to the Chinese fans. So much so that they named him An Sai Long – ‘calm, competitive dragon.’ No wonder then that he also had a Mandarin version of his retirement post on social media.
Axelsen’s progression coincided with the latter stages of the career of Lin Dan, another idol of the Dane. He also had to face Lee Chong Wei, the Malaysian arch-rival of five-time World Champion from China. From his own generation, he had fierce competitors in Chen Long, Anthony Ginting, Kento Momota, Son Wan-ho, Chou Tien-chen and Shi Yuqi.
Amidst such competition, Axelsen continued on his own path in the pursuit of perfection, trying every possible method to gain an advantage. Sometimes, it worked. On a few occasions, it backfired too. But he never stopped hustling.
While he had won a bronze at the World Championships in 2014, he truly arrived on the big stage in 2016.
After winning the first of his three European Championships, he and his compatriots created history as Denmark lifted its maiden Thomas Cup title with a 3-2 victory over Indonesia in the final. Axelsen registered crucial wins over Chinese Taipei’s Chou (group stage), Japan’s Sho Sasaki (quarterfinals) and Indonesian Tommy Sugiarto (final). At the Rio Olympics, he came from behind to beat Lin Dan in a generational battle in the bronze medal play-off. And he finished the season with the first of his five titles at the BWF World Tour Finals.
A year later, Axelsen defeated Lin Dan in another major event – the World Championship final – to become only the third Danish man to win the gold after Flemming Delfs (1977) and Peter Rasmussen (1997).
On September 28, 2017, Axelsen was the only European player in the top 10 of the men’s BWF World Rankings – as the new No. 1, ending a 20-year-wait for Denmark.
Another major milestone for Axelsen came in 2020 when he added the prestigious All England Open title to his collection.
The pinnacle arrived in 2021 at the Tokyo Olympics. Postponed by a year due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the Summer Games in the Japanese capital took place with virtually no spectators in the arena. In the edition where top seed and home favourite Momota stunningly failed to make it past the group stage, and the No. 2 and 3 seeds fell in the quarterfinals, Axelsen avoided any such mishaps.
In the final, he avenged his loss from the Rio Olympics last-four battle as he took down Chen Long 21-15, 21-12, becoming the first non-Asian male Olympic champion since compatriot Poul-Erik Høyer Larsen (1996). Axelsen, who did not drop a single game in the entire tournament, burst into tears as Larsen, the then BWF President, watched from the stands. In a heartwarming gesture, Axelsen also exchanged jerseys with his Chinese opponent.
Soon after the Olympics, Axelsen left the national set up in Copenhagen and moved to Dubai. He had temporarily trained in Dubai earlier to alleviate his asthma and now, the plan was to set the base there permanently. He invited some of the world’s best upcoming shuttlers to train with him in camps at the NAS Sports Complex. Over the years, Indians such as Lakshya Sen and Ayush Shetty have got the opportunity to spar with the Dane.
In 2022, Axelsen made winning a habit. During that season – in which he lost just three matches – the World No. 1, who already had the Olympic gold, also won the World Championship, the All England Open, the European Championship and the BWF World Tour Finals.
Despite minor injury setbacks, Axelsen had another successful season in 2023. Even though he lost to India’s H.S. Prannoy in the World Championship quarterfinals, he finished the year with another BWF World Tour Finals trophy, his third in a row.
The root cause of what feels like an early retirement for him began in 2024. At the Singapore Open, a few weeks before the Paris Olympics, he experienced back pain so severe that he needed an injection for treatment. The pain subsided and he didn’t require another injection as he had originally planned before the Summer Games. He survived a scare in the semifinals against Lakshya, saved three game points in the opener and came back from a 0-7 start in the second game, to reach the summit clash where he dominated Thailand’s Kunlavut Vitidsarn to bag his second straight gold medal, emulating Lin Dan.
But the back pain didn’t leave him for good. Axelsen won the India Open in 2025 while being on heavy painkillers and injections. A few weeks after a shock round-of-32 loss at the All England Open, he took the call to deal with the issue through endoscopic surgery.
The return to the circuit in September wasn’t smooth as he could not meet his own lofty standards. He also had a severely heated Denmark Open semifinal against Yuqi in front of home fans in Odense where the Chinese, not the first shuttler to do so, complained about the delay caused by Axelsen’s swaying serve. The Dane, who lost the match, also drew heavy backlash from Chinese fans for his on-court behaviour. A week later, the French Open marked the end of his journey as a player.
In his extraordinary journey to become a towering figure on the court – both literally and metaphorically – Axelsen was duly supported by his parents, Henrik and Gitte, despite their divorce when he was a child. His father was also his manager while Gitte helped him loosen up before big fixtures. His sister, Johanne, was responsible for his cooler bag and always ensured he had enough snacks between matches. He has two daughters – Vega and Aya – with his ex-wife Natalia, who looked after them while he was away at tournaments.
Axelsen, the player, is done. But the Dane is not leaving badminton anytime soon. “While this is a goodbye to Viktor Axelsen the badminton player, I am not saying goodbye to the sport infinitely. I will always be around one way or the other,” he wrote.
Chen Long is mentoring the next generation of Chinese male shuttlers. Liu Yang Ming Yu, his ward, won the Junior World Championship last year in Guwahati. A similar role for Axelsen in Denmark cannot be ruled out. And as per the Chinese star’s comment under Axelsen’s post – “Life is better after retirement.”
Published on Apr 16, 2026
#Viktor #Axelsen #fashioned #serial #winner
The conqueror. Serial winner. Absolute champion.
Viktor Axelsen lived up to his name. In his career, starting from 2009, the Dane pretty much won it all.
And so, his retirement from professional badminton should have been an occasion to celebrate one of the legends of the game. In reality, it was a bittersweet moment.
Such is the cruel nature of the sporting world that even the best do not get to finish on their own terms. Just three weeks ago, Only last month, Carolina Marin officially bid farewell through a social media post, having never returned to the court since a knee injury during the Paris Olympics semifinals, which left the Spaniard in tears.
On Wednesday, it was Axelsen’s turn. At 32, perhaps, he had a few good years left in him. But due to recurrent back issues, the Dane had to make the unfortunate decision to say goodbye. “Today is not an easy day for me. Due to my recurrent back issues, I am no longer able to compete and train at the highest level,” he wrote.
“Accepting this situation has been incredibly difficult. But I have now reached a point where my body won’t allow me to continue.”
Axelsen had been out of action since the French Open in October last year after the loss to compatriot Anders Antonsen in the quarterfinals when hardly anyone could have predicted to never see him competing again.
But those who know him completely understand the decision. For Axelsen, it was always about being the best in the world ever since his dad introduced him to the sport when he was six.
Being Viktor
“Since the day I picked up a racket, I knew my dream was to become the best in the world. I have given everything to this sport. It has never been just a career to me. It has been my life and I have left no stone unturned,” he said.
A young Axelsen would reach the hall at the Odense Badminton Klub in his hometown earlier than the coaches and other players and would repeatedly hit the shuttle vertically in the air.
There was something about him that made him stand out from the rest of his peers and Peter Gade, his first hero, could see that. “He had a fire in his eyes that I haven’t seen in the same way in other Danish players. I recognised Viktor’s fire from myself,” Gade told Danish outlet Ud&Se in an interview in August 2018.
Axelsen got the chance to train with Gade and the rest of the national team when he moved alone to Copenhagen at the age of 17, a year after becoming the first non-Asian boy to win the World Junior Championship in 2010.
The transition to the senior circuit wasn’t easy. At 6’4” with a broad body structure, he didn’t necessarily have what was considered to be the ideal shape and size to be a solid shuttler. But Axelsen did his research and found out about Bao Chunlai, a former World No. 1 from China who was 6’3”.
He studied how a player as tall as Bao moved on the court, made use of his massive wingspan and bent to retrieve the shots closer to the ground before returning to a neutral position. The duo met once, at the Singapore Open in 2011, where the apprentice won the battle in straight games.
Such was his dedication that Axelsen even took the daunting task of learning Mandarin to understand the mentality of the Chinese school of badminton, the ultimate powerhouse in the sport. When this fact came to the limelight, the Chinese players became cautious about discussing any tactics around Axelsen but at the same time, he endeared himself to the Chinese fans. So much so that they named him An Sai Long – ‘calm, competitive dragon.’ No wonder then that he also had a Mandarin version of his retirement post on social media.
Axelsen’s progression coincided with the latter stages of the career of Lin Dan, another idol of the Dane. He also had to face Lee Chong Wei, the Malaysian arch-rival of five-time World Champion from China. From his own generation, he had fierce competitors in Chen Long, Anthony Ginting, Kento Momota, Son Wan-ho, Chou Tien-chen and Shi Yuqi.
Amidst such competition, Axelsen continued on his own path in the pursuit of perfection, trying every possible method to gain an advantage. Sometimes, it worked. On a few occasions, it backfired too. But he never stopped hustling.
While he had won a bronze at the World Championships in 2014, he truly arrived on the big stage in 2016.
After winning the first of his three European Championships, he and his compatriots created history as Denmark lifted its maiden Thomas Cup title with a 3-2 victory over Indonesia in the final. Axelsen registered crucial wins over Chinese Taipei’s Chou (group stage), Japan’s Sho Sasaki (quarterfinals) and Indonesian Tommy Sugiarto (final). At the Rio Olympics, he came from behind to beat Lin Dan in a generational battle in the bronze medal play-off. And he finished the season with the first of his five titles at the BWF World Tour Finals.
A year later, Axelsen defeated Lin Dan in another major event – the World Championship final – to become only the third Danish man to win the gold after Flemming Delfs (1977) and Peter Rasmussen (1997).
On September 28, 2017, Axelsen was the only European player in the top 10 of the men’s BWF World Rankings – as the new No. 1, ending a 20-year-wait for Denmark.
Another major milestone for Axelsen came in 2020 when he added the prestigious All England Open title to his collection.
The pinnacle arrived in 2021 at the Tokyo Olympics. Postponed by a year due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the Summer Games in the Japanese capital took place with virtually no spectators in the arena. In the edition where top seed and home favourite Momota stunningly failed to make it past the group stage, and the No. 2 and 3 seeds fell in the quarterfinals, Axelsen avoided any such mishaps.
In the final, he avenged his loss from the Rio Olympics last-four battle as he took down Chen Long 21-15, 21-12, becoming the first non-Asian male Olympic champion since compatriot Poul-Erik Høyer Larsen (1996). Axelsen, who did not drop a single game in the entire tournament, burst into tears as Larsen, the then BWF President, watched from the stands. In a heartwarming gesture, Axelsen also exchanged jerseys with his Chinese opponent.
Soon after the Olympics, Axelsen left the national set up in Copenhagen and moved to Dubai. He had temporarily trained in Dubai earlier to alleviate his asthma and now, the plan was to set the base there permanently. He invited some of the world’s best upcoming shuttlers to train with him in camps at the NAS Sports Complex. Over the years, Indians such as Lakshya Sen and Ayush Shetty have got the opportunity to spar with the Dane.
In 2022, Axelsen made winning a habit. During that season – in which he lost just three matches – the World No. 1, who already had the Olympic gold, also won the World Championship, the All England Open, the European Championship and the BWF World Tour Finals.
Despite minor injury setbacks, Axelsen had another successful season in 2023. Even though he lost to India’s H.S. Prannoy in the World Championship quarterfinals, he finished the year with another BWF World Tour Finals trophy, his third in a row.
The root cause of what feels like an early retirement for him began in 2024. At the Singapore Open, a few weeks before the Paris Olympics, he experienced back pain so severe that he needed an injection for treatment. The pain subsided and he didn’t require another injection as he had originally planned before the Summer Games. He survived a scare in the semifinals against Lakshya, saved three game points in the opener and came back from a 0-7 start in the second game, to reach the summit clash where he dominated Thailand’s Kunlavut Vitidsarn to bag his second straight gold medal, emulating Lin Dan.
But the back pain didn’t leave him for good. Axelsen won the India Open in 2025 while being on heavy painkillers and injections. A few weeks after a shock round-of-32 loss at the All England Open, he took the call to deal with the issue through endoscopic surgery.
The return to the circuit in September wasn’t smooth as he could not meet his own lofty standards. He also had a severely heated Denmark Open semifinal against Yuqi in front of home fans in Odense where the Chinese, not the first shuttler to do so, complained about the delay caused by Axelsen’s swaying serve. The Dane, who lost the match, also drew heavy backlash from Chinese fans for his on-court behaviour. A week later, the French Open marked the end of his journey as a player.
In his extraordinary journey to become a towering figure on the court – both literally and metaphorically – Axelsen was duly supported by his parents, Henrik and Gitte, despite their divorce when he was a child. His father was also his manager while Gitte helped him loosen up before big fixtures. His sister, Johanne, was responsible for his cooler bag and always ensured he had enough snacks between matches. He has two daughters – Vega and Aya – with his ex-wife Natalia, who looked after them while he was away at tournaments.
Axelsen, the player, is done. But the Dane is not leaving badminton anytime soon. “While this is a goodbye to Viktor Axelsen the badminton player, I am not saying goodbye to the sport infinitely. I will always be around one way or the other,” he wrote.
Chen Long is mentoring the next generation of Chinese male shuttlers. Liu Yang Ming Yu, his ward, won the Junior World Championship last year in Guwahati. A similar role for Axelsen in Denmark cannot be ruled out. And as per the Chinese star’s comment under Axelsen’s post – “Life is better after retirement.”
Published on Apr 16, 2026
![How the USMNT copes without Folarin Balogun against Belgium How nice of VAR to overshadow one of the most important results in U.S. men’s national team history on Wednesday…The USMNT advanced to the 2026 World Cup Round of 16 after defeating Bosnia and Herzegovina, but lost standout striker Folarin Balogun for the match against Belgium after a 64th-minute red card. Balogun scored the game-winning goal near the end of the first half and has been one of, if not the best USMNT player this tournament.We can all debate until the cows come home whether or not it was the “right” decision, application of VAR, what have you, but the end result remains the same: Mauricio Pochettino must make a change if the host nation is to advance.The Argentine has already cemented himself as the most successful USMNT coach in World Cup history picking up his third victory of the tournament, but he’ll really earn his money if he plays his cards right in the next round. Pochettino has multiple options at his disposal, but how exactly should the USMNT set up against the Red Devils?SANTA CLARA, CALIFORNIA – JULY 1: Haji Wright #19 of United States arrives at the stadium prior to playing Bosnia And Herzegovina during a FIFA World Cup 2026 Round Of 32 match between at San Francisco Bay Area Stadium on July 1, 2026 in Santa Clara, United States. (Photo by John Todd/ISI Photos/ISI Photos via Getty Images). ISI Photos via Getty ImagesGiven form, there isn’t an option on the bench currently that naturally fills Balogun’s absence. He’s got three goals in three appearances so far and has been a crucial focal point in multiple phases.The other out-and-out No. 9s are:Pepi’s received significantly more playing time (185 minutes) after starting the dead rubber against Türkiye. Wright, after a standout season for Coventry City, has only played a minute so far coming on as a substitute deep into second half stoppage time against Australia.Diving deeper into their numbers from last season:Pepi: 20 goal contributions (19G/1A) in 31 appearances [Eredivisie and Champions League]Wright: 18 goal contributions (17/1A) in 40 appearances [EFL Championship]Pochettino seems to trust Pepi more this tournament, though Wright has received opportunities in previous international windows. If he doesn’t want to alter his tactical setup wholesale, Pepi and Wright likely receive significant minutes against Belgium. Whoever he goes with first must impose themselves physically as Balogun has done, which might give the edge to Wright.The benefit to choosing either, though, is that the rest of the team remains unchanged.SANTA CLARA, CALIFORNIA – JULY 1: Christian Pulisic of United States looks on during the FIFA World Cup 2026 Round Of 32 match between USA and Bosnia and Herzegovina at San Francisco Bay Area Stadium on July 1, 2026 in Santa Clara, California. (Photo by MB Media/Getty Images) Getty ImagesPart of what’s made the USMNT so dynamic this far is the threat of Christian Pulisic and Sergiño Dest out wide with Antonee Robinson and Alex Freeman over/underlapping at will on the left and right respectively.Pochettino could push Pulisic further forward, trusting his most talented attacker to hold up and link play at will while providing some box presence. Replacing Pulisic out wide could be:Alejandro ZendejasTimothy WeahGio ReynaOr, if Pochettino wants a similar dynamic on the left that he has on the right with Dest and Freeman, Max Arfsten could come in. However, the Columbus Crew wingback has not played a single minute so far.Reyna has played the most of those options, and could provide a difference cutting in on his favored right foot. He has the technical capability to play with both feet, but likely won’t stretch a backline as much as Weah could with his pace.Having Pulisic up top replaces Balogun’s game-changing ability, but upsetting the balance on the wings could end up having a detrimental effect on the team’s build-up play. One factor, that might end up pushing this option over the line is an conscious decision to try and nullify both Jérémy Doku and Leandro Trossard early.If Pochettino trusts one of his wide players to contribute defensively, then we might see Pulisic up top.SANTA CLARA, CALIFORNIA – JULY 01: Malik Tillman #17 of the United States celebrates scoring his team’s second goal during the FIFA World Cup 2026 Round of 32 match between USA and Bosnia and Herzegovina at San Francisco Bay Area Stadium on July 01, 2026 in Santa Clara, California. (Photo by Charlotte Wilson/Getty Images) Getty ImagesCould Malik Tillman get the nod up top?The Leverkusen midfielder prefers to play in the 10, he likes linking play and being the one to start attacking play. His technical quality on the ball is even a step up on Balogun, though he lacks the same box presence of the other wide and center forwards previously discussed. The USMNT will have to make the most of their possession, and having a difference maker on the ball to get Pulisic and Dest more involved in the attacking third could be the exact answer.The trade off here is… what’s the natural change in midfield then?Reyna could play behind Tillman, but we haven’t seen that pairing under Pochettino. Weston McKennie could also play further forward. The Juventus man, who has been one of the USMNT’s best players during the World Cup, can provide the late runs into the box as Tillman serves as a focal point to play through. He’s shown the ability to influence the game in multiple phases, but would need to be a decisive, consistent box-to-box presence all game. If that’s the path chosen, Sebastian Berhalter likely comes into the side forming a double pivot with Tyler Adams.While the Vancouver Whitecaps midfielder is adept at set pieces, using most of your midfield depth early wouldn’t give Pochettino options off the bench.Overall, Pochettino likely sticks with most of his team as is and chooses between Pepi or Wright. No matter who starts, both players will have short leashes if things don’t get off to a good start. Belgium represents the USMNT’s toughest opposition both on paper and in the FIFA rankings this tournament. The Red Devils have the individual quality advantage on paper in multiple areas, making Pochettino’s selection all the more important.The idea of a dynamic front line with Reyna, Tillman, Pulisic and Dest is certainly exciting, but excitement won’t get the USMNT past Belgium. Their opposition has shown resiliency, coming back from 0-2 down late against Senegal to earn their spot despite an underwhelming performance for the majority of the game.Rudi Garcia also isn’t afraid to make big calls taking off Kevin De Bruyne and Doku early in the second half in the Round of 32. No matter what decision Pochettino makes, it will be the defining selection of the USMNT’s knockout stage. #USMNT #copes #Folarin #Balogun #Belgium](https://i1.wp.com/platform.sbnation.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/07/gettyimages-2284246024.jpg?quality=90&strip=all&crop=0%2C0%2C100%2C100&w=2400&ssl=1 "How the USMNT copes without Folarin Balogun against Belgium How nice of VAR to overshadow one of the most important results in U.S. men’s national team history on Wednesday…The USMNT advanced to the 2026 World Cup Round of 16 after defeating Bosnia and Herzegovina, but lost standout striker Folarin Balogun for the match against Belgium after a 64th-minute red card. Balogun scored the game-winning goal near the end of the first half and has been one of, if not the best USMNT player this tournament.We can all debate until the cows come home whether or not it was the “right” decision, application of VAR, what have you, but the end result remains the same: Mauricio Pochettino must make a change if the host nation is to advance.The Argentine has already cemented himself as the most successful USMNT coach in World Cup history picking up his third victory of the tournament, but he’ll really earn his money if he plays his cards right in the next round. Pochettino has multiple options at his disposal, but how exactly should the USMNT set up against the Red Devils?SANTA CLARA, CALIFORNIA – JULY 1: Haji Wright #19 of United States arrives at the stadium prior to playing Bosnia And Herzegovina during a FIFA World Cup 2026 Round Of 32 match between at San Francisco Bay Area Stadium on July 1, 2026 in Santa Clara, United States. (Photo by John Todd/ISI Photos/ISI Photos via Getty Images). ISI Photos via Getty ImagesGiven form, there isn’t an option on the bench currently that naturally fills Balogun’s absence. He’s got three goals in three appearances so far and has been a crucial focal point in multiple phases.The other out-and-out No. 9s are:Pepi’s received significantly more playing time (185 minutes) after starting the dead rubber against Türkiye. Wright, after a standout season for Coventry City, has only played a minute so far coming on as a substitute deep into second half stoppage time against Australia.Diving deeper into their numbers from last season:Pepi: 20 goal contributions (19G/1A) in 31 appearances [Eredivisie and Champions League]Wright: 18 goal contributions (17/1A) in 40 appearances [EFL Championship]Pochettino seems to trust Pepi more this tournament, though Wright has received opportunities in previous international windows. If he doesn’t want to alter his tactical setup wholesale, Pepi and Wright likely receive significant minutes against Belgium. Whoever he goes with first must impose themselves physically as Balogun has done, which might give the edge to Wright.The benefit to choosing either, though, is that the rest of the team remains unchanged.SANTA CLARA, CALIFORNIA – JULY 1: Christian Pulisic of United States looks on during the FIFA World Cup 2026 Round Of 32 match between USA and Bosnia and Herzegovina at San Francisco Bay Area Stadium on July 1, 2026 in Santa Clara, California. (Photo by MB Media/Getty Images) Getty ImagesPart of what’s made the USMNT so dynamic this far is the threat of Christian Pulisic and Sergiño Dest out wide with Antonee Robinson and Alex Freeman over/underlapping at will on the left and right respectively.Pochettino could push Pulisic further forward, trusting his most talented attacker to hold up and link play at will while providing some box presence. Replacing Pulisic out wide could be:Alejandro ZendejasTimothy WeahGio ReynaOr, if Pochettino wants a similar dynamic on the left that he has on the right with Dest and Freeman, Max Arfsten could come in. However, the Columbus Crew wingback has not played a single minute so far.Reyna has played the most of those options, and could provide a difference cutting in on his favored right foot. He has the technical capability to play with both feet, but likely won’t stretch a backline as much as Weah could with his pace.Having Pulisic up top replaces Balogun’s game-changing ability, but upsetting the balance on the wings could end up having a detrimental effect on the team’s build-up play. One factor, that might end up pushing this option over the line is an conscious decision to try and nullify both Jérémy Doku and Leandro Trossard early.If Pochettino trusts one of his wide players to contribute defensively, then we might see Pulisic up top.SANTA CLARA, CALIFORNIA – JULY 01: Malik Tillman #17 of the United States celebrates scoring his team’s second goal during the FIFA World Cup 2026 Round of 32 match between USA and Bosnia and Herzegovina at San Francisco Bay Area Stadium on July 01, 2026 in Santa Clara, California. (Photo by Charlotte Wilson/Getty Images) Getty ImagesCould Malik Tillman get the nod up top?The Leverkusen midfielder prefers to play in the 10, he likes linking play and being the one to start attacking play. His technical quality on the ball is even a step up on Balogun, though he lacks the same box presence of the other wide and center forwards previously discussed. The USMNT will have to make the most of their possession, and having a difference maker on the ball to get Pulisic and Dest more involved in the attacking third could be the exact answer.The trade off here is… what’s the natural change in midfield then?Reyna could play behind Tillman, but we haven’t seen that pairing under Pochettino. Weston McKennie could also play further forward. The Juventus man, who has been one of the USMNT’s best players during the World Cup, can provide the late runs into the box as Tillman serves as a focal point to play through. He’s shown the ability to influence the game in multiple phases, but would need to be a decisive, consistent box-to-box presence all game. If that’s the path chosen, Sebastian Berhalter likely comes into the side forming a double pivot with Tyler Adams.While the Vancouver Whitecaps midfielder is adept at set pieces, using most of your midfield depth early wouldn’t give Pochettino options off the bench.Overall, Pochettino likely sticks with most of his team as is and chooses between Pepi or Wright. No matter who starts, both players will have short leashes if things don’t get off to a good start. Belgium represents the USMNT’s toughest opposition both on paper and in the FIFA rankings this tournament. The Red Devils have the individual quality advantage on paper in multiple areas, making Pochettino’s selection all the more important.The idea of a dynamic front line with Reyna, Tillman, Pulisic and Dest is certainly exciting, but excitement won’t get the USMNT past Belgium. Their opposition has shown resiliency, coming back from 0-2 down late against Senegal to earn their spot despite an underwhelming performance for the majority of the game.Rudi Garcia also isn’t afraid to make big calls taking off Kevin De Bruyne and Doku early in the second half in the Round of 32. No matter what decision Pochettino makes, it will be the defining selection of the USMNT’s knockout stage. #USMNT #copes #Folarin #Balogun #Belgium")
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