The Guardian reported Mauricio Pochettino's full 26-man USMNT roster for the 2026 World Cup on May 23, ahead of the official reveal scheduled for Tuesday, May 26 at Pier 17 in Manhattan. Final FIFA roster submissions are due June 1, so changes are still possible — but the headline cuts and additions are the story.
The roster
Goalkeepers (3): Chris Brady (Chicago Fire, 0 caps / 0 goals), Matt Freese (New York City, 14/0), Matt Turner (New England Revolution, 53/0).
Defenders (10): Max Arfsten (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), Antonee 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 América, 13/2).
Strikers (3): Folarin Balogun (AS Monaco, 25/8), Ricardo Pepi (PSV, 35/13), Haji Wright (Coventry City, 20/7).
Who's in that wasn't expected
Gio Reyna is the headline. After the 2022 family-and-coaching saga that dominated the post-Qatar narrative, his place under Pochettino was never assumed, and a quiet Bundesliga season at Mönchengladbach had reduced public expectations further. He's in. Alejandro Zendejas (Club América) and Auston Trusty (Celtic) round out the surprise inclusions — Zendejas at 13 caps after the FIFA eligibility tug-of-war with Mexico, Trusty at six caps. Goalkeeper Chris Brady makes the squad with zero senior caps.
Who's out — and why it stings
The two cuts that will dominate the discourse: Diego Luna and Tanner Tessmann.
Luna was central to the USMNT's run to the 2025 Concacaf Gold Cup final and is the player FOX Sports built its World Cup ad campaign around. He was also a featured face of the Nike USMNT 2026 kit unveil. Pochettino warned this would happen in March: "The players that today are on the roster, they cannot think they are going to be in the final roster… it is the last opportunity to make these types of things." An injury-hampered MLS start at Real Salt Lake and Reyna's inclusion at the same depth chart slot did the rest. Aidan Morris is also out of the midfield mix.
Tessmann's omission is the tactical one. His club form at Lyon last season had him in serious conversation to start in midfield. Pochettino went with Tyler Adams, Weston McKennie, Sebastian Berhalter, and Cristian Roldan — a quartet that prioritizes experience and defensive structure over the upside Tessmann represents.
The shape of the squad
Pulisic (84 caps, 32 goals) and Tim Ream (80 caps) are the senior anchors. Six players bring European top-five-league regular minutes from this season alone: Pulisic at Milan, Dest at PSV, McKennie at Juventus, Robinson at Fulham, Richards at Crystal Palace, Tillman at Bayer Leverkusen. The MLS contingent — Brady, Arfsten, Miles Robinson, Berhalter, Roldan — is leaner than the 2022 roster, reflecting Pochettino's preference for top-flight European minutes where available.
Pochettino, who took the job after leaving Chelsea by mutual consent in 2024, is now 18 months into the project. The USMNT opens Group D on home soil June 12 in Los Angeles. The roster he chose suggests a team built to win games in the round of 16 — not to take a respectful exit.
What's still in play
Final FIFA squads are due June 1. Pochettino can swap players for injuries between now and the deadline, and at least one of the omitted MLS-based players will spend the next nine days waiting on a phone call.
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