2026 World Cup pivotal in long-term fate of Tyler Adams and Weston McKennie at Leeds United
Leeds United are likely to have a major squad overhaul this summer if they are relegated from the Premier League, and two players who could be packing their bags are Tyler Adams and Weston McKennie.
Sam Allardyce’s side are bang up against it in their fight to beat the drop, currently sitting 18th in the Premier League – one point behind Everton – with two games of the season remaining.
The Times (18 April) have already reported that the likes of Adams, Brenden Aaronson, Crysencio Summerville and Luis Sinisterra could all be part of a “relegation firesale” should the club go down this summer.
And news emerging on Wednesday (17 May) suggested that McKennie could be set to follow suit, with Brighton lining up a £21.75m deal for the Juventus loanee. [Calciomercato]
Although the threat of playing Championship football will be a major reason for either player packing their bags this summer, the knock-on effect of their chances for the 2026 World Cup must also come under consideration.
Both Adams and McKennie have emerged as integral cogs in the USMNT set-up over the last couple of years, and with a home World Cup, which is hosted in the USA, Canada and Mexico, on the horizon, they won’t want to fall out of consideration at this crucial time.
If Leeds United do fall into the Championship, there are by no means any guarantees that they will do a vintage Norwich City and bounce straight back up to the top division.
Playing Championship football simply won’t cut the mustard for the Leeds midfield duo in their attempts to play a central role in the 2026 World Cup, no matter how strong their reputations are.
The coming fortnight will be key in the future of the 49ers’ takeover of the club as well as the makeup of the first-team squad moving forward.
And although the 2026 World Cup is not the most pressing issue right now, it will surely come into consideration for both Adams and McKennie, be it this summer, or further along the line.
In other Leeds United news, a manager the Whites wanted this season has spoken out about the experience and admitted he wants a chance in the Premier League.