USMNT World – The USMNT has unveiled its 2026 FIFA World Cup roster under Mauricio Pochettino, leaving off names that fans and analysts had expected to help in a home tournament—among them Lyon midfielder Tanner Tessmann and Real Salt Lake attacking midfielder Diego Luna.
The moment the 2026 World Cup roster was revealed, the omissions landed like small but personal blows for players who believed they were close enough to hear their names called.
Mauricio Pochettino has announced the United States men’s national team roster for the 2026 FIFA World Cup. For supporters. the stakes are unusually high: it’s a home World Cup. one of the most important tournaments in men’s soccer history for the country. And while this year doesn’t carry the same shock as past cuts—like Landon Donovan being left off in 2014. or Ricardo Pepi missing the 2022 squad after seemingly positioning himself for inclusion—there are still five players who won’t be going. and will watch from home as the team chases its biggest moment.
Tanner Tessmann, a 24-year-old midfielder for Lyon, is among the most surprising names left off. This season, he showed versatility by operating as a makeshift center back when he wasn’t in the midfield. For the United States. he logged 372 minutes across six matches in 2025 and made the March roster—the last call-up before the final list was revealed. His season ended early because of a muscle injury. and while he was expected to be fit for the World Cup. he is not included.
Diego Luna’s absence carries a different kind of tension: he had already been living with the possibility that he might miss the cut. An attacking midfielder for Real Salt Lake, Luna told last week that he was aware he was on the bubble. He also had moments that built the case for selection. including praise from Pochettino after he stayed in a January 2025 friendly match despite a broken nose. But as competing attacking midfielders and wide players crowded the picture. Luna needed to keep producing at a high level heading into the tournament. Instead. an ill-timed muscle injury kept him off the March roster. and he won’t return until after the World Cup.
Aidan Morris, the midfielder from Middlesbrough and a Columbus Crew alumnus, was another player who looked poised to move up. After Tessmann and Johnny Cardoso suffered injuries, Morris appeared to be the next man in the midfield rotation. He had a stretch where it seemed Pochettino trusted him: he started one of the October friendly matches and another in November. then made the March roster and started against Portugal. Still, he ultimately didn’t make the final squad.
Zavier Gozo, a 19-year-old winger for Real Salt Lake, was harder to fully “count out” in supporters’ minds. There are always more World Cup rosters ahead for a teenager. and it isn’t a huge surprise that he missed out this time. He hasn’t yet made his senior debut for the U.S. after playing with nearly every U.S. youth national team. But his high-energy performances in club soccer helped him stand out: he has scored six goals and provided five assists in 14 matches. Analysts and ex-players pushed for a surprise inclusion. pointing to his ability to play as a winger and as a wingback—positions where the squad could have welcomed extra depth. His senior debut will have to wait for the next cycle.
Patrick Schulte, a 25-year-old goalkeeper for Columbus Crew, faced a crowded competition at a position that ultimately turned decisive. The first two of three goalkeeper slots were essentially locked in: Matt Freese expected to start. and Matt Turner—starter in 2022—set as the back-up. That left the third spot as either a veteran meant to add experience and good vibes to the locker room or a younger option who could become the future U.S. No. 1.
Schulte had the resume for consideration. He backstopped the U.S. at the 2024 Olympics and has been on Pochettino’s rosters on a number of occasions. In the end, it was 22-year-old Chicago Fire goalkeeper Chris Brady who will bring that third-slot experience during the World Cup.
Yahoo Sports reported that the U.S. will also have an additional pair of young goalkeepers in training, with FC Barcelona-based Diego Kochen and Andrew Rick of the Philadelphia Union set to join.
The roster decisions leave a clear line of winners and heartbreaks across positions: players who built momentum late in the cycle still had to overcome timing and health, while goalkeeping—where roles were already shaping up—came down to one final choice.
USMNT 2026 World Cup roster Mauricio Pochettino Tanner Tessmann Diego Luna Aidan Morris Zavier Gozo Patrick Schulte Matt Freese Matt Turner Chris Brady
Tanner Tessmann?? That seems crazy. Like who are they even picking at midfield.
Diego Luna being left out feels personal lol. Didn’t he literally say he was on the bubble? So what, they waited to see if he’d magically recover or something?
I don’t get it, they were home and all. If Tessmann was close, why would they not just put him in anyway. Also Lyon? Is he even better than the guys who’ve never played outside MLS anyway?
Pochettino really be making weird choices. One muscle injury ends it? Meanwhile everyone keeps talking about “home advantage” like it matters. I swear these rosters always feel like they pick favorites and then act shocked people are mad.