SouthernWorldwide.com – Miles Robinson, a standout center-back, expressed his strong desire and confidence in being selected for the United States men’s national team for the upcoming 2026 FIFA World Cup.
However, the ultimate decision rests with USMNT head coach Mauricio Pochettino, who will be leading the team in his first World Cup. Robinson, who was part of the 2025 CONCACAF Gold Cup roster, understands that his inclusion is not solely his to determine.
Robinson’s fate regarding the World Cup roster is expected to be revealed on May 26. In the meantime, he remains focused on his current commitments with FC Cincinnati in Major League Soccer, all while contemplating the profound significance of potentially participating in his first career World Cup.
“For it to actually happen would be this whole full-circle moment that I’ll make sure I’ll tell other kids that I really just believed in myself and I think that’s the type of thought process that can get people much farther than they really can imagine. It’s just that deep sense of belief within yourself and grounding yourself in love. It can really go a long way,” Robinson shared.
The defender’s self-belief was severely tested in May 2022 when he suffered a ruptured left Achilles tendon. This injury occurred just a month before he was widely expected to be included in the roster for the 2022 World Cup in Qatar, forcing him out of contention.
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The period following his injury was undoubtedly challenging for Robinson. However, he views it as a crucial experience that forged his mental and physical resilience, ultimately transforming him into a better player and person.
This journey of overcoming adversity has, in his view, prepared him for a potential World Cup moment four years later.
“I think in those tough moments, you learn the most about yourself,” he explained. “I definitely learned a lot about just kind of overcoming struggles, on and off the field. I think it was a tough moment for me, but I grounded myself in gratitude and being so grateful for my friends and family who supported me, and my teammates who wished good things upon me and my leg and things like that.
“Then, I recognized it was me versus me. It’s not about anything else. I just wanted to continue to get better and improve just for me rather than for anything else or anyone else. That’s when I definitely took that next step in my career and my development as a player and as a person.”
Despite his aspirations for the USMNT roster, Robinson remains grounded in the present, prioritizing his performances for FC Cincinnati. This includes their upcoming match against Inter Miami, a team that eliminated them from last year’s MLS Playoffs.
“Every game’s an opportunity to show yourself, but also to get better and improve. For Miami and Cincinnati, Miami kicked us out of the playoffs last year, so we got that kinda bitter taste in our mouth,” he said. “For us, it’s focusing on how we play, how we press and if we do that, it should be a great game. In the back of our minds, it’s the future, but we’re trying to focus in on the present.”
While Robinson and other USMNT hopefuls concentrate on their club duties, they, along with soccer fans worldwide, await the announcement of the World Cup squad with anticipation.
“I’m just grateful to be in this situation, potentially on the roster,” Robinson admitted. “I’m just trying to chip away. I’m healthy. …In general, I’m just grateful and I’m excited for sure because I know this summer’s going to be amazing.”
In his spare time, Robinson finds a way to de-stress from the World Cup selection suspense by indulging in his passion for grilling on his Cincinnati deck. He enjoys preparing meals for his teammates, friends, and family, though he acknowledges that larger gatherings can lead to more significant messes.
To that end, Robinson has partnered with Bounty, the American paper towel brand, to advocate for effective mess cleanup, whether at home or during pre-match tailgating events.
“The biggest mess I probably ever cleaned up, recently I was grilling on my deck and I had a beverage that spilled and there was glass and beverage everywhere,” he revealed. “Gladly, I had Bounty and one sheet swiped it all away. It was all good, honestly.
“Sometimes, have to clean up some mistakes from my teammates and Bounty hooked it up with this sponsorship, so I’m proud to be a part with them because they’re always cleaning up messes as well.”
