Patrick Agyemang’s season-ending injury has not only ruled the American striker out of this summer’s FIFA World Cup, but also opened the door for two other forwards to step into his place. Josh Sargent and Brian White are the leading candidates to replace the injured Agyemang in Mauricio Pochettino’s pecking order, with the U.S. men’s national team two months away from beginning its summer schedule. Agyemang was ruled out for the remainder of Derby County’s EFL Championship campaign, as well as the World Cup after he suffered a serious Achilles injury on Monday. While Folarin Balogun, Ricardo Pepi, and Haji Wright are the leading trio among USMNT strikers, Sargent and White aren’t officially ruled out of contention just yet. Sargent made the move to Toronto FC from Norwich City in February and recently scored his first goal for the club. The 26-year-old also assisted once in Saturday’s 3-2 win over the Colorado Rapids, earning Man of the Match honors in the process. Although Sargent hasn’t scored a USMNT goal since February 2019, the veteran forward has earned four caps under Pochettino. He has roughly seven weeks of MLS action before Pochettino names his World Cup roster and could very well be in the mix, especially if either Balogun, Pepi, or Wright suffer an unforeseen injury. As for Brian White, he would be fifth on the depth chart if the World Cup started today. The 30-year-old has scored five goals in six MLS appearances this spring, while also featuring four additional times in CONCACAF Champions Cup play. White debuted for the USMNT back in January 2024 and has since earned seven caps during Pochettino’s reign as head coach.White’s lone USMNT goal to date came in a 3-0 friendly win over Costa Rica in early 2025 while he’s also featured against Switzerland, Turkey, and Canada. With Agyemang’s physical presence now gone, White is the most likeliest to replicate that physicality if he is called in. Similar to Sargent, White has seven weeks to stay fit, stay injury-free, and keep racking up the goals for Vancouver.While it’s unlikely either Sargent or White force Balogun, Pepi, or Wright to miss out of the World Cup, injuries are very possible down the final stretch of the European season.