USMNT World Cup Roster Is Here: Pochettino Names His Final 26

The wait is over.

U.S. Men's National Team head coach Mauricio Pochettino has officially announced his 26-player roster for the 2026 FIFA World Cup, and the countdown to kickoff on home soil is officially on.

The roster features the core group American fans have come to know over the past several years, including Christian Pulisic, Tyler Adams, Weston McKennie, Antonee Robinson, Sergiño Dest, Gio Reyna, and Tim Weah. Thirteen players from the 2022 World Cup squad return, bringing valuable tournament experience to a team with high expectations.

Goalkeepers

• Chris Brady — Goalkeeper — Chicago Fire
• Matt Freese — Goalkeeper — New York City FC
• Matt Turner — Goalkeeper — New England Revolution

Defenders

• Max Arfsten — Defender — Columbus Crew
• Sergiño Dest — Defender — PSV Eindhoven
• Alex Freeman — Defender — Villarreal
• Mark McKenzie — Defender — Toulouse
• Tim Ream — Defender — Charlotte FC
• Chris Richards — Defender — Crystal Palace
• Antonee Robinson — Defender — Fulham
• Miles Robinson — Defender — FC Cincinnati
• Joe Scally — Defender — Borussia Mönchengladbach
• Auston Trusty — Defender — Celtic

Midfielders

• Tyler Adams — Midfielder — AFC Bournemouth
• Sebastian Berhalter — Midfielder — Vancouver Whitecaps
• Weston McKennie — Midfielder — Juventus
• Gio Reyna — Midfielder — Borussia Mönchengladbach
• Cristian Roldan — Midfielder — Seattle Sounders
• Malik Tillman — Midfielder — Bayer Leverkusen

Forwards

• Brenden Aaronson — Forward — Leeds United
• Folarin Balogun — Forward — AS Monaco
• Ricardo Pepi — Forward — PSV Eindhoven
• Christian Pulisic — Forward — AC Milan
• Tim Weah — Forward — Olympique Marseille
• Haji Wright — Forward — Coventry City
• Alejandro Zendejas — Forward — Club América

Fun Facts:

• 13 players return from the 2022 World Cup squad.
• The roster includes players from MLS, England, Italy, France, Germany, Netherlands, Scotland, Spain, and Mexico.
• Christian Pulisic enters the tournament as the most capped outfield player on the squad, while Tim Ream brings veteran leadership with 80 international appearances.
  

Snubs and Thoughts

As with every roster announcement, there were a few surprises. Several players who had been heavily involved during qualifying and recent camps were left off the final squad, sparking plenty of debate among supporters. The most discussed omissions include Diego Luna, Tanner Tessmann, and Aidan Morris.

On a side note, I really wish Luna would've been on the roster. Not only for his unique tactical ability to create chances in the attacking third, but the intensity he injects into every game. When we needed hope the last 12 months, he was the one that gave it to us. He will be missed. 

For Pochettino, the focus wasn't simply selecting the most talented players—it was choosing the right group to compete together on the world's biggest stage. As the U.S. prepares for pre-tournament friendlies and begins its World Cup journey, fans across the country will be watching closely to see if this roster can deliver success this summer.

The remaining matches and FIFA Rankings prior to the start of the World Cup:

• USA (16) vs Senegal (14)
  • Bank of America Stadium, Charlotte, NC, USA
  • May 31, 3:30 PM EDT
    
    
• USA (16) vs Germany (10)
  • Soldier Field, Chicago, IL, USA
  • June 6, 2:30 PM EDT

What do you think?
Who made the squad that deserved it? And who was the biggest snub? Join the conversation and show your support for the Stars and Stripes as we get ready for a historic World Cup on home soil.