Pochettino unveils – Mauricio Pochettino confirmed the U.S. men’s national team’s full 26-man roster for the 2026 World Cup on Tuesday, May 26—three days after a leak matched The Guardian’s report. The team’s mix of veteran starters and younger talent drew particular scrutiny arou
NEW YORK — Three days after the U.S. men’s national team’s 2026 World Cup squad was fully leaked, Mauricio Pochettino walked through the official 26-man roster for the tournament on Tuesday, May 26.
The timing made the moment feel like a formality, but the publication confirmed something more consequential: the leak was accurate. The 26 names matched the 26 that The Guardian first reported over the weekend.
Pochettino said the selection was shaped by a hard sprint to a single target. “We are confident this is the best group of 26 players to help us achieve success at the World Cup. ” he said. “These were very difficult decisions, and we are thankful to all the players who were part of this journey. This group is very focused and ready to give everything they have to represent the United States and deliver performances that will make the fans and the country proud.”.
Goalkeepers, defenders, midfielders and forwards are set—yet several choices, especially in central midfield, are already drawing debate.
(Club; caps/goals)
Goalkeepers (3): Chris Brady (Chicago Fire; 0/0), Matt Freese (New York City FC; 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 (6): Tyler Adams (AFC Bournemouth; 52/2), Sebastian Berhalter (Vancouver Whitecaps; 11/1), Weston McKennie (Juventus; 64/12), Gio Reyna (Borussia Mönchengladbach; 36/9), Cristian Roldan (Seattle Sounders; 45/0), Malik Tillman (Bayer Leverkusen; 28/3)
Forwards (7): Brenden Aaronson (Leeds United; 57/9), Folarin Balogun (Monaco; 25/8), Ricardo Pepi (PSV; 35/13), Christian Pulisic (AC Milan; 84/32), Tim Weah (Olympique Marseille; 49/7), Haji Wright (Coventry City; 20/7), Alejandro Zendejas (Club América; 13/2)
Pochettino’s biggest gamble is central midfield depth. Leaving Aidan Morris of Middlesbrough off the roster might not have felt as surprising if everyone were healthy. But with Tanner Tessmann of Lyon and Johnny Cardoso of Atlético Madrid both off the team. the drop in options becomes harder to ignore.
Pochettino named just four recognized central midfielders to his roster: Tyler Adams, Sebastian Berhalter, Cristian Roldan and Weston McKennie. Malik Tillman and Gio Reyna are described as more comfortable playing further upfield as a No. 10, with the ability to shift backward if needed.
Even so, the choice raises immediate questions about role-fit and readiness. If McKennie and Adams are treated as the core pairing, the decision could limit McKennie’s ability to roam—the quality that has made him so effective.
The roster also forces a look at the next layer: is Pochettino ready to start either Berhalter or Roldan? Both excel in MLS, but either would face a steep step up.
The coach could also adjust the midfield shape. In any case, the U.S. faces a clear vulnerability: with the group as assembled, the team is “one central midfield injury away,” particularly to Adams, from “an extremely dicey situation.”
The selections around Reyna and the absence of Diego Luna add another layer of tension. It seems Pochettino had room for either Gio Reyna or Diego Luna, but not both. He chose Reyna, a player with a higher ceiling, while Luna remains off the final roster.
Reyna’s club output over the past five years is described as having been “that of a benchwarmer.” Still, the 23-year-old has managed to raise his game with the U.S. over the past few years. Pochettino admitted he needed to deviate from his usual policy of calling players who excel at their clubs.
Luna. by contrast. is described as a valuable cog under Pochettino for his grit on both sides of the ball. while his production with the national team has been mixed. Missing the World Cup is harsh for Luna: he played in 17 of the U.S. men’s 18 games last year, but Pochettino ultimately viewed Reyna as too talented to ignore.
A separate set of questions swirls around the defense—less because of quantity, more because of condition and coverage. The roster includes mainstays Chris Richards, Antonee Robinson and Sergiño Dest alongside Auston Trusty and Joe Scally, bringing a total of 10 defenders.
That number lends weight to the idea that Pochettino will continue with a five-man backline featuring three center backs and two wingbacks. It also suggests the coach is hedging his bets by bringing as many options as possible in a group filled with question marks.
The “only rock-solid central defensive option” is Richards, but his current situation is uncertain. He is attempting to recover from torn ankle ligaments after an injury in Crystal Palace’s penultimate game of the English Premier League season. His status for Wednesday’s match in the Conference League final against Rayo Vallecano is uncertain.
Tim Ream. Mark McKenzie and Miles Robinson all bring their own question marks based on recent performances for club and country. Dest and Robinson are strong options at wingback. but Max Arfsten. Alex Freeman and Joe Scally can also play the position. Freeman and Scally are also candidates for the right center-back role.
The defensive picture may not inspire confidence—but it is at least equipped with options.
Up front and in the next generation, the story is more about what didn’t make it. The start of the MLS season has seen the rapid emergence of three teenagers—Zavier Gozo. Julian Hall and Adri Mehmedi—who have starred for the U.S. at youth levels. Their rise has driven calls for all three to be handed a maiden USMNT call-up for the World Cup.
Of those three. Gozo may have been closest to actually making the squad. but none of the trio received the call. The same outcome applies to Noahkai Banks. an on-again. off-again defender who turned down a call-up in March as he wrestled with his international future. The 19-year-old still hasn’t chosen between the U.S. and Germany, but he won’t be at the World Cup for either country.
All of it means the roster is built for the present tournament—while the pipeline waits for the next chance, beginning with the 2030 World Cup.
USMNT Mauricio Pochettino 2026 World Cup roster Tyler Adams Gio Reyna Diego Luna central midfield Christian Pulisic Tim Weah Christian Richards USA soccer
So the roster was leaked first… wild.
Honestly I don’t even care who made it, I just hate that it leaked. Like why is nobody keeping anything secret? But I guess the Guardian was right, so… whatever.
Wait, I thought the leak meant people were already decided months ago? “Hard sprint to a single target” sounds like they just picked whoever was hottest last week. Also if it matched exactly, then it’s kinda shady how fast info got out. Does that mean the players knew before it was official?
Three days after a leak… so it was basically confirmed by the rumor mill. I don’t trust that kind of setup, like it feels rigged or PR. I bet they snubbed someone “younger talent” who’s actually better, but they’ll say it’s a “difficult decision.” World Cup roster always feels like politics to me, not soccer.