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Pochettino Names 26-Man US Squad for 2026 World Cup

5/27/2026

Summary

Pochettino Announces Squad

Coach Mauricio Pochettino announced a 26-player roster for the 2026 World Cup on May 26 in New York.
Matt Freese, Matt Turner and Chris Brady join defenders Tim Ream, Dest, Scally and Freeman.
Attackers Christian Pulisic, Folarin Balogun (19 Monaco goals), Ricardo Pepi (19 PSV goals) and Haji Wright (17 Coventry goals) complete the roster.
The United States opens vs Paraguay June 12 in Inglewood, then Australia June 19 in Seattle and Turkey June 25.

Summary

FIFA Adds Knockout

FIFA added a knockout round to the 2026 World Cup format.
The tournament will be staged across United States, Canada and Mexico, the first World Cup hosted by three countries.
Teams may adjust squads until June 1, allowing goalkeepers Diego Kochen and Andrew Rick to train with the U.S. squad before the June 12 opening match at SoFi Stadium.
The U.S. roster lists ten defenders, a depth choice that may limit midfield options.

Summary

Pochettino Defends Snubs

Pochettino called naming omitted players “disrespectful” to the selected squad.
He said his selection window was brief after assuming the role in September 2024.
He defended emailing snubbed athletes, recalling his 1990s Argentina days when he avoided calls.
He left out Tanner Tessmann because of a minor strain.
He added defender Joe Scally instead of midfielder Aidan Morris, noting that Diego Luna’s marketing presence did not affect roster decisions.

History

Historical Context

The United States' 1994 World Cup, held June-July 1994, drew a record 3,587,538 spectators and spurred the launch of Major League Soccer in 1993, proving the market's commercial viability. That success underpins the upcoming 2026 tournament in North America, leading coach Mauricio Pochettino to unveil a 26-player U.S. squad on May 26 in New York.

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Pochettino Announces Squad

Coach Mauricio Pochettino announced a 26-player roster for the 2026 World Cup on May 26 in New York.
Matt Freese, Matt Turner and Chris Brady join defenders Tim Ream, Dest, Scally and Freeman.
Attackers Christian Pulisic, Folarin Balogun (19 Monaco goals), Ricardo Pepi (19 PSV goals) and Haji Wright (17 Coventry goals) complete the roster.
The United States opens vs Paraguay June 12 in Inglewood, then Australia June 19 in Seattle and Turkey June 25.

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