Official USMNT 2026 World Cup squad confirmed: These are the 26 players chosen by Mauricio Pochettino
With just over two weeks to go until the USMNT’s World Cup opener, the co-hosts’ roster - which, by now, was no secret - has been confirmed
Mauricio Pochettino, the head coach of the U.S. men’s national team (USMNT), has confirmed his 2026 World Cup roster - a 26-man list that is exactly as had been reported in the media ahead of the announcement.
Pochettino named his USMNT squad at a televized event held in New York City on Tuesday evening, several days after the Argentine’s World Cup picks were leaked in full to The Guardian, and later confirmed by ESPN.
Luna and Tessmann out, Zendejas and Reyna in
As reported on Saturday, there is no place on the roster for Real Salt Laker winger Diego Luna and Lyon midfielder Tanner Tessmann, while Alejandro Zendejas’ recent form for Club América has earned him a spot on the list, despite the winger’s absence from the national team since September.
Another notable inclusion is Borussia Mönchengladbach’s attacking midfielder Gio Reyna, who has played in the USMNT’s last four games, but has not started a club match since December. Reyna also went to the 2022 World Cup in Qatar - and was almost sent home by Pochettino’s predecessor, Gregg Berhalter, over behavioral issues.
Berhalter’s son, Sebastian, joins Reyna on the USMNT’s 2026 roster. The Vancouver Whitecaps midfielder has established himself as a regular since Pochettino handed him his international debut in June 2025.
USMNT’s 2026 World Cup roster:
Goalkeepers
- Chris Brady (Chicago Fire)
- Matt Freese (New York City)
- Matt Turner (New England Revolution)
Defenders
- Max Arfsten (Columbus Crew)
- Sergiño Dest (PSV)
- 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 (AFC Bournemouth)
- Sebastian Berhalter (Vancouver Whitecaps)
- Weston McKennie (Juventus)
- Cristian Roldan (Seattle Sounders)
Attacking midfielders/wingers
- Brenden Aaronson (Leeds United)
- Christian Pulisic (Milan)
- Gio Reyna (Borussia Mönchengladbach)
- Malik Tillman (Bayer Leverkusen)
- Tim Weah (Marseille)
- Alejandro Zendejas (Club América)
Strikers
- Folarin Balogun (AS Monaco)
- Ricardo Pepi (PSV)
- Haji Wright (Coventry City)
Here to chase legacy on home soil.
— U.S. Soccer Men's National Team (@USMNT) May 26, 2026
Mauricio Pochettino has selected the 26 players to represent the United States this summer. pic.twitter.com/S8sF7l0PMi
When is the USMNT’s 2026 World Cup opener?
Co-hosts of this summer’s tournament, alongside Canada and Mexico, the USMNT have been drawn into Group D, with Australia, Paraguay and Turkey. The Stars and Stripes kick off their 2026 World Cup campaign on June 12, against the Paraguayans at SoFi Stadium in Los Angeles.
Before facing Paraguay, the USMNT is to play two final tournament tuneups: against Senegal in Charlotte on May 31, and against Germany in Chicago on June 6.
USMNT’s World Cup Group D schedule in full:
- June 12, 9:00 p.m. ET: USMNT vs Paraguay, SoFi Stadium, Los Angeles
- June 19, 3:00 p.m. ET: USMNT vs Australia, Lumen Field, Seattle
- June 25, 10:00 p.m. ET: Turkey vs USMNT, SoFi Stadium, Los Angeles
Related stories
Get closer to the game! Whether you like your soccer of the European variety or that on this side of the pond, our AS USA app has it all. Dive into live coverage, expert insights, breaking news, exclusive videos, and more. Plus, stay updated on NFL, NBA and all other big sports stories as well as the latest in current affairs and entertainment. Download now for all-access coverage, right at your fingertips – anytime, anywhere.
And there’s more: check out our TikTok and Instagram reels for bite-sized visual takes on all the biggest soccer news and insights.
Complete your personal details to comment