Noahkai Banks came on as a sub for the third straight game for Augsburg and it's clear they are blooding him to be a starter soon. Andy mentioned Banks as the likeliest 2006 to make the World Cup roster and I sort of **** on that idea given Campbell (and Kochen who already has been in camps) is the same year. Attacking players are just easier to slot in because a mistake isn't that critical.
But I've changed my mind. I think right now, it would be pretty surprising if Banks wasn't on the World Cup roster, and my best guess right now is he'll be starting at 19 years old. So even if he doesn't play, I hope we call him into the next camp to start integrating him.
I think you're slightly overrating his chances...but I also think he has a better shot to play than any of our 2004s or 2005s.
You may well be right as it's pretty speculative. But thinking it through, it seems logical to me.
Breaking down CBs for the World Cup in 2026
Top Tier
Chris Richards - no one has his resume or upside in the pool. I'm not sure he's cemented on the squad but IMO he's the single most likely to be on the World Cup roster by a considerable distance
Likely Tier
Mark McKenzie - has shown well in his last few outings and is now playing in the strongest league after Richards
Tim Ream - experience, guile, talent but he's going to be 38 when the World Cup kicks off. He seems a lock right now but he's not getting younger (or better) and he wasn't even in the picture due to poor form the year prior to the World Cup
Meh Tier
CCV - started in the World Cup in 2022 in a must win game. But has shown little to make you believe he's a legit option and he's 27 so unlikely to see any growth.
Austen Trusty - he plays with CCV and he's
maybe better. But it's actually (too) close and like CCV, he's 26 and unlikely to see much growth before next summer
Miles Robinson - he's a shell of himself from a few years ago and it's unfortunate. But I haven't seen anything of late to suggest he's a viable option.
Walker ZImmerman - started 3 World Cup matches in 2022. He hasn't been called of late and his club form doesn't make you think he's a serious option
Even with a 23 man roster, we're likely to take 4 and, assuming no injuries, Banks would be competing with the Meh Tier for the final spot and he would be a year+ more experienced than right now (presumably with a lot of Bundesliga time under his belt). There are, of course, a host of young kids that could break out in the next 18 months (Wynder, Neal, Akinmboni, Dettoni, even Drew Murray), but none seem even remotely likely.