The US men’s national soccer team has officially revealed its squad for the upcoming World Cup. Head coach Mauricio Pochettino announced the 26-player lineup during a live event in Manhattan. This squad closely resembles the one previously reported by the Guardian.
One major surprise is the exclusion of Real Salt Lake midfielder Diego Luna, who has played a significant role under Pochettino. Other notable omissions include midfielders Tanner Tessmann and Aidan Morris. Meanwhile, Alejandro Zendejas of Club América made the cut despite having limited playing time.
Overall, the squad doesn’t have many unexpected choices. The US team had the second-youngest lineup in the 2022 Qatar World Cup, and key players like Christian Pulisic and Weston McKennie are back for another go. This roster features 13 players with World Cup experience alongside a good number of debutants.
Pochettino expressed confidence in his selection, saying, “These were very difficult decisions, and we are thankful to all the players who were part of this journey.” He believes this group is ready to represent the US proudly.
The journey to the World Cup has included a range of players—Pochettino has called up 61 different athletes since he started coaching. The team consists of players competing in various leagues across 12 countries.
Next, the squad will head to the National Training Center in Fayetteville, Georgia, to gear up for a warm-up match against Senegal on May 31, followed by another training session before facing Germany on June 6 in Chicago. They will also finalize their training at their base in Orange County, California, leading up to the start of the World Cup.
The US kicks off its World Cup campaign on June 12 against Paraguay in Inglewood, California, and will later face Australia and Turkey on June 19 and June 25, respectively.
Full 2026 US World Cup Roster:
Goalkeepers:
Chris Brady (Chicago Fire), Matt Freese (New York City FC), Matt Turner (New England Revolution)
Defenders:
Max Arfsten (Columbus Crew), Sergiño Dest (PSV Eindhoven), Alex Freeman (Villarreal), Mark McKenzie (Toulouse), Tim Ream (Charlotte FC), Chris Richards (Crystal Palace), Antonee Robinson (Fulham), Miles Robinson (FC Cincinnati), Joe Scally (Borussia Mönchengladbach), Auston Trusty (Celtic)
Midfielders:
Tyler Adams (Bournemouth), Sebastian Berhalter (Vancouver Whitecaps), Weston McKennie (Juventus), Gio Reyna (Borussia Mönchengladbach), Cristian Roldan (Seattle Sounders), Malik Tillman (Bayer Leverkusen)
Forwards:
Brenden Aaronson (Leeds United), Folarin Balogun (Monaco), Ricardo Pepi (PSV Eindhoven), Christian Pulisic (Milan), Tim Weah (Marseille), Haji Wright (Coventry City), Alejandro Zendejas (Club América)
As the team prepares, fans across social media share their reactions, expressing excitement and speculation about how this roster will perform. The mixture of experienced players and newcomers generates hope for a strong showing on the world stage.
For more insights on the USMNT’s chances at the World Cup, you can explore analysis from sources like ESPN.
