The United States Men's National Soccer Team announced its 26-player roster for the 2026 World Cup on May 24, 2026, with head coach Mauricio Pochettino making key selections ahead of the tournament opener on June 12 at SoFi Stadium against Paraguay [1, 2, 3, 4].
The roster includes midfielder Alejandro Zendejas and attacking talent Gio Reyna. Despite limited club minutes—Reyna has played approximately 509 to 520 minutes this season at Borussia Mönchengladbach—and past controversies, Pochettino expressed strong trust in Reyna's abilities. Reyna said ahead of the selection, "I'm just hoping and waiting for the call-up, it would be an honor. The national team means a lot to me... It would be a dream to represent my country at the World Cup." [1, 2, 3, 4]
Notably excluded were Tanner Tessmann, likely due to a muscle injury and the coach's conservative approach to injured players, and Diego Luna, who contributed four goals in between 17 and 18 USMNT appearances since 2024. Luna was recognized as a key contributor in buildup play but did not make the final squad [1, 2, 3, 4].
Goalkeepers Matt Turner, Matt Freese, and Chris Brady make up the team's netminders [2, 4]. Defender Sebastian Berhalter, son of former USMNT coach Gregg Berhalter, earned a spot after strong performances with the Vancouver Whitecaps [1, 2, 3, 4].
Other prominent names on the list include Brenden Aaronson, Mark McKenzie, Chris Richards, Christian Pulisic, and Weston McKennie [2, 3, 4]. The roster balance consists of 10 defenders, 4 midfielders, 6 attacking midfielders or wingers, and 3 forwards [4].
Players were privately notified of their inclusion or exclusion as early as May 22. The list became widely known among media on May 24 prior to official announcements [1, 2].
Of the 26 players, 13 are first-time World Cup participants [4]. The USMNT will open their campaign on June 12 at SoFi Stadium in Los Angeles against Paraguay [3, 4].
