Why didn’t Mauricio Pochettino pick Tanner Tessman for the 2026 USMNT World Cup roster?

Mauricio Pochettino formally announced his World Cup 2026 USMNT roster on Tuesday, outlining the 26-man squad in a ceremony at Pier 17 in New York City.

Last week’s roster leak ensured that there was little uncertainty when it came to Tuesday’s announcement, but the absence of one particular player was still notable. Lyon midfielder Tanner Tessman was not included in Pochettino’s squad, potentially leaving the US light in a key area of the field.

Tessman’s omission comes despite being a regular for Pochettino over the past year. The 24-year-old has featured in each of the USMNT’s last six games, and his chances of making the squad appeared to have been strengthened by a serious injury to Johnny Cardoso.

Tessman had found himself out of the starting XI with Lyon in recent months, partially owing to a muscle injury picked up in early May, but he was one of few genuinely defensive-minded midfield options at Pochettino’s disposal. Should either Tyler Adams or Weston McKennie find themselves injured or suspended mid-tournament, Pochettino may regret not bringing Tessman.

Pochettino’s midfield options

With the expanded 26-man rosters Pochettino should have plenty of options for each position. However his decision to call up ten defenders - potentially 11 if Tim Weah is utilized at right-back - has robbed other more offensive players of their places in the squad.

The US midfield for the 2026 World Cup will be comprised of Adams and McKennie, alongside MLS duo Sebastian Berhalter and Cristian Roldan. Neither Berhalter nor Roldan has ever played outside of North America, nor are they dedicated holding midfielders in the mold of Tessman.

Pochettino declined to select Aidan Morris, despite an impressive season with Middlesbrough that nearly ended with a return to the Premier League. US-based midfielders Luca de la Torre, Jack McGlynn and Diego Luna all missed out.

The Argentine coach has clearly opted to concentrate his options in certain areas. Bringing additional defenders allows him greater flexibility to switch between a back-three and a back-four, while he has also been able to squeeze in Gio Reyna and Alejandro Zendejas to bolster the attacking options. Nevertheless the decision to drop Tessman still came as a surprise when the news first emerged. It’s a brave call and, like all of Pochettino’s decisions, it will be heavily scrutinized if the team’s performances this summer do not live up to expectations.

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