U.S. Men’s National Team Coach Announces 26-Man World Cup Roster
U.S. Men’s National Team coach Mauricio Pochettino has unveiled a 26-man roster for the upcoming World Cup, with notable inclusions such as Borussia Mönchengladbach players Gio Reyna and Joe Scally, as well as Club America striker Alejandro Zendejas, according to sources familiar with the matter.
This squad, first reported by the Guardian, will be officially revealed at an event in New York City on Tuesday.
Stars like AC Milan forward Christian Pulisic, Juventus midfielder Weston McKennie, and Bournemouth’s Tyler Adams have made the squad, with 13 players set to experience their first World Cup.
Reyna’s inclusion was previously reported by The Athletic, despite him not starting a match for his club since December. Pochettino chose to include Reyna based on his creativity and propensity for delivering unexpected plays.
A significant surprise in the lineup is the absence of Lyon’s Tanner Tessman. Initially expected to recover from a reported muscular injury in time for the tournament, Tessman’s absence suggests Pochettino’s cautious approach regarding player fitness.
Otherwise, the roster aligns with ESPN’s final USMNT big board published on Friday. Zendejas made significant contributions late in the Liga MX playoffs, scoring four goals and providing two assists in the final five matches of the season, solidifying his spot on the team.
Zendejas’ strong performance likely impacted Real Salt Lake’s Diego Luna, who had been anticipated to gain a place in the squad after delivering impactful performances over the past year. Instead, Luna will need to wait for the next cycle to earn his chance.
The roster is weighted heavily toward defense, featuring ten defenders. Pochettino opted for Scally, Reyna’s teammate at Gladbach, despite the squad’s less depth compared to players like PSV Eindhoven’s Sergiño Dest and Villarreal’s Alex Freeman.
Scally’s versatility has served him well this season, as he has played various positions, including outside-back, wing-back, and center-back, enhancing his value as a player.
With Tessman’s omission, the midfield appears a bit thin. The core group consists of Adams, McKennie, Vancouver Whitecaps’ Sebastian Berhalter, and Seattle Sounders’ Cristian Roldan, though Bayer Leverkusen’s Malik Tillman could shift to a deeper role if necessary.
Pochettino plans to announce the finalized roster on Tuesday, with a deadline of June 1 to confirm the list with FIFA. Following this date, only serious injuries or illnesses will allow for player substitutions up to 24 hours before the team’s first match.
The USMNT is set to kick off the World Cup on June 12 against Paraguay at SoFi Stadium in Inglewood, California.
USMNT World Cup full roster:
Goalkeepers (3): Chris Brady (Chicago Fire, 0 caps/0 goals), Matt Freeze (New York City, 14/0), Matt Turner (New England Revolution, 53/0)
Defenders (10): Max Alfsten (Columbus Crew, 18/1), Sergiño Dest (PSV, 37/2), Alex Freeman (Villarreal, 15/2), Mark McKenzie (Toulouse, 27/0), Tim Ream (Charlotte FC, 80/1), Chris Richards (Crystal Palace, 36/3), Anthony Robinson (Fulham, 52/4), Miles Robinson (FC Cincinnati, 38/3), Joe Scally (Borussia Mönchengladbach, 24/0), Auston Trusty (Celtic, 6/0)
Midfielders (4): Tyler Adams (AFC Bournemouth, 52/2), Sebastian Berhalter (Vancouver Whitecaps, 11/1), Weston McKennie (Juventus, 64/12), Cristian Roldan (Seattle Sounders, 45/0)
Attacking midfielders/wingers (6): Brenden Aaronson (Leeds United, 57/9), Christian Pulisic (Milan, 84/32), Gio Reyna (Borussia Mönchengladbach, 36/9), Malik Tillman (Bayer Leverkusen, 28/3), Tim Weah (Marseille, 49/7), Alejandro Zendejas (Club America, 13/2)
Strikers (3): Folarin Balogun (AS Monaco, 25/8), Ricardo Pepi (PSV, 35/13), Hadji Wright (Coventry City, 20/7)
