USMNT’s Gaga Slonina leaves Chelsea for loan at Barnsley: What it means for US soccer at the 2026 World Cup

ChelseaUS goalkeeper Gaga Slonina is on loan at Barnsley and could move a step closer to preparing for the 2026 World Cup in the United States, Canada and Mexico. Slonina, 20, will join the League One side in their bid for promotion to the Championship.

They came close last season, losing to Bolton Wanderers in the first round of the League One play-offs and Slonina will also have an American with them at centre-back. Donovan Pines. Slonina was loaned out to Eupen in the Belgian top flight last season after joining Chelsea from England Chicago fire in Major League football. He spoke with CBS Sports to discuss his next move.

“I think it will be a very good experience for me to be here this season and experience how the English leagues are going up step by step,” Slonina said in an interview with CBS Sports Golazo Network. look here. “I think it’s good for me to get the game experience and help this team get to the championship.”

This weekend sees the start of the Championship and the rest of the English Football League action, as the journey to the richest game in sport begins, and you can follow the action on Biggest+, CBS Sports Golazo Network And CBS Sports Network all season long.

Slonina played 34 games for Eupen last season and also made his debut for the United States men’s national team, but there is room for improvement. While Slonina was the starting goalkeeper for the United States at the U-20 World Cup, Columbus crew custodian Patrick Schulte got the nod for the United States at the Olympics in Paris.

He will gain plenty of matchday experience for Barnsley as League One teams play 46 games per season. Playing against players with promotion pressure on the line will only be a good experience for the young goalkeeper as he grows.

“Getting all those games in Eupen was a stepping stone to coming here,” Slonina said.

Coming from the MLS, Eupen has made good progress in Europe before gaining experience now England. Adjusting to the pace of play in MLS can be difficult for players, so being able to do things in phases at such a young age helps Slonina prepare, but he also welcomes the pressure.

“Playing for the United States is always an honor and it’s great to represent the country and make my family proud, so especially now this season will be very important for me to play well,” said Slonina. “So that’s an extra level of pressure, which I think is very important. So playing for the USMNT is always a goal of mine.”

The Morning Footy crew asked Slonina how he felt about CBS Sports analyst and former US international Tony Meola thinking he will be the starting goalkeeper at the 2026 World Cup as the current starter Matt Turner has struggled for consistent club minutes.

“I know Tony Meola from when I played in Chicago, he used to commentate on our games, so to hear that from him, it doesn’t put any pressure on me,” Slonina said of the praise. “I think that’s a motivation for me to make that happen and prove him right and prove anyone who doesn’t think so wrong. So that’s obviously the goal to be the starting goalkeeper for the World Cup 2026.”

Mentality is important and while this may not be a Premier League move for Slonina, it is one that will help him prepare for bigger days ahead. League One is a place where he will face a lot of shots and he will be expected to help Barnsley keep as many clean sheets as possible. Do that, and given the USMNT’s lack of playing time, a starting role on the senior national team could come sooner or later.