Full Breakdown
Pochettino Unveils USMNT 2026 World Cup Roster Amid Notable Inclusions and Snubs
5/24/2026, 6:02:49 AM
Roster Announcement and Core Selections
On May 26, head coach Mauricio Pochettino will formally present a 26-player squad for the 2026 FIFA World Cup, which the United States co-hosts with Canada and Mexico. The list, already leaked by The Guardian and corroborated by The Athletic, includes midfielders Gio Reyna and Sebastian Berhalter, winger Brenden Aaronson, centre-back Mark McKenzie and goalkeeper Matt Turner. New additions are Club América winger Alejandro Zendejas and MLS goalkeeper Matt Freese.
Lead-up and Context
The United States qualified automatically as a host and seeks a deeper tournament run than the Round-of-16 exit in Qatar 2022. Pochettino, appointed in 2024, has overseen two World Cup cycles and must trim a 55-player preliminary pool to 26 by the FIFA deadline of June 1. The squad will train in Atlanta before pre-tournament friendlies against Senegal (31 May) and Germany (6 June).
Roster Composition (Data & Statistics)
- Goalkeepers (3): Matt Turner (53 caps, 0 goals), Matt Freese (14 caps), Chris Brady (0 caps).
- Defenders (10): Max Arfsten, Sergiño Dest, Alex Freeman, Mark McKenzie (27 caps), Tim Ream (80 caps), Chris Richards, Antonee Robinson, Miles Robinson, Joe Scally, Auston Trusty.
- Midfielders (4): Tyler Adams (52 caps, 2 goals), Sebastian Berhalter (11 caps, 1 goal), Weston McKennie (64 caps, 12 goals), Cristian Roldan.
- Attacking Midfielders/Wingers (6): Brenden Aaronson (57 caps, 9 goals), Christian Pulisic (84 caps, 32 goals), Gio Reyna (36 caps, 9 goals), Malik Tillman, Tim Weah, Alejandro Zendejas (13 caps, 2 goals).
- Strikers (3): Folarin Balogun, Ricardo Pepi, Haji Wright.
Thirteen players are first-time World Cup selections, balancing veteran core (Pulisic, McKennie, Adams) with newcomers.
Official Statements & Responses
U.S. Soccer declined comment on the leaked list, reiterating that the official roster will be confirmed at the New York event. Pochettino has emphasized that selection hinges on “talent and potential” rather than recent club minutes, noting Reyna as a “very special talent.” He also warned that roster spots are provisional until the June 1 deadline, after which only injury-related replacements are permitted.
Criticism & Opposition
Analysts have questioned Reyna’s inclusion given his limited Bundesliga minutes (? 509 minutes) and past disciplinary issues at the 2022 World Cup. Conversely, the omission of Real Salt Lake’s Diego Luna—who featured prominently in U.S. marketing campaigns and logged four MLS goals this season—has drawn fan criticism. The midfield depth is also a concern; only four traditional central midfielders remain, prompting speculation about tactical flexibility.
Player Reactions (On-the-Ground Reports)
Luna expressed disappointment, saying, “It’s a lot of feelings, a lot of emotions, a lot of excitement, of nerves, butterflies… it’s the moment we live for.” Reyna affirmed his commitment, stating, “I’m just really trying to do whatever it can… whether it’s starting or supporting from the bench.”
Conflicting Reports & Gaps
Sources differ on why Lyon midfielder Tanner Tessmann was excluded: some cite a recent muscle strain, others suggest a tactical decision. Centre-back Chris Richards was named despite a reported ankle-ligament tear; Crystal Palace manager Oliver Glasner confirmed the injury but expressed optimism about recovery. U.S. Soccer has not publicly clarified the exact criteria used for the final cuts.
Verbatim Quotes
- “The players that today are on the roster, they cannot think they are going to be in the final roster,” — Mauricio Pochettino, USMNT head coach
- “When we go to Atlanta, maybe we can take some pictures, prepare things for marketing or things like this, because it is the last opportunity to make these types of things.” — Mauricio Pochettino
- “[I'm] just really trying to do whatever it can, whatever I can to help the team achieve something great, whether it's starting and playing 90 minutes or just supporting from the bench and not playing at all,” — Gio Reyna, USMNT midfielder
- “It's a lot of feelings, a lot of emotions, a lot of excitement, of nerves, butterflies and stuff like that, but it's kind of the moment you kind of live for and something we dream about,” — Diego Luna, Real Salt Lake midfielder
- “He is in from sunrise until sunset having treatments and everything we can do that reduces the swelling, and of course, we have a great medical department, so we will give our best, and he will give his best—and then let’s see if we can get it done.” — Oliver Glasner, Crystal Palace manager (on Chris Richards)
What’s Next
The United States will face Senegal and Germany in final warm-up friendlies before submitting the official roster to FIFA on June 1. Any serious injury or illness may trigger a replacement up to 24 hours before the opening Group D match against Paraguay on June 12 at SoFi Stadium.
