USMNT World Cup 2026 Squad – Full Official List Revealed by Mauricio Pochettino

America’s moment has arrived — and the squad that will carry the nation’s hopes has already been revealed. Three days before Mauricio Pochettino’s official announcement on May at Pier 17 in Manhattan, the USMNT World Cup 2026 Squad — a list subsequently confirmed by multiple sources. The official unveiling will be broadcast live on FOX, but the cat is firmly out of the bag.

The United States head into the 2026 FIFA World Cup as co-hosts, carrying the weight of a nation on their shoulders. With Christian Pulisic captaining the side, a controversial Gio Reyna inclusion grabbing headlines, and the heartbreak of Diego Luna’s omission is still fresh.

The roster must feature a minimum of 23 players and a maximum of 26, with at least three goalkeepers on the final World Cup squad. Here is everything you need to know about the USMNT World Cup 2026 squad.

USMNT’s Official Full 26-Man World Cup 2026 Squad

Mauricio Pochettino’s final 26-man roster for the 2026 FIFA World Cup:

• Goalkeepers: Matt Turner (New England Revolution), Matt Freese (New York City FC), Chris Brady (Chicago Fire)
• Defenders: Sergiño Dest (PSV Eindhoven), Chris Richards (Crystal Palace), Antonee Robinson (Fulham), Auston Trusty (Celtic), Miles Robinson (FC Cincinnati), Tim Ream (Charlotte FC), Alex Freeman (Villarreal), Maximilian Arfsten (Columbus Crew), Mark McKenzie (Toulouse), Joe Scally (Borussia Mönchengladbach)
• Midfielders: Tyler Adams (Bournemouth), Giovanni Reyna (Borussia Mönchengladbach), Weston McKennie (Juventus), Brenden Aaronson (Leeds United), Sebastian Berhalter (Vancouver Whitecaps FC), Cristian Roldan (Seattle Sounders FC), Malik Tillman (Bayer Leverkusen)
• Forwards: Ricardo Pepi (PSV Eindhoven), Christian Pulisic (Milan, captain), Haji Wright (Coventry City), Folarin Balogun (Monaco), Timothy Weah (Marseille), Alejandro Zendejas (América)

Predicted USMNT’s Official World Cup 2026 Squad

Goalkeepers:

• Chris Brady (Chicago Fire) — 0 caps
• Matt Freese (New York City FC) — 14 caps
• Matt Turner (New England Revolution) — 53 caps

Defenders:

• Max Arfsten (Columbus Crew) — 18 caps
• Sergiño Dest (PSV Eindhoven) — 37 caps
• Alex Freeman (Villarreal) — 15 caps
• Mark McKenzie (Toulouse) — 27 caps
• Tim Ream (Charlotte FC) — 80 caps
• Chris Richards (Crystal Palace) — 36 caps
• Antonee Robinson (Fulham) — 52 caps
• Miles Robinson (FC Cincinnati) — 38 caps
• Joe Scally (Borussia Mönchengladbach) — 24 caps
• Auston Trusty (Seattle Sounders) — 22 caps

Midfielders:

• Tyler Adams (AFC Bournemouth) — 52 caps
• Sebastian Berhalter (Vancouver Whitecaps) — 11 caps
• Weston McKennie (Juventus) — 64 caps
• Cristian Roldan (Seattle Sounders) — 45 caps
• Gio Reyna (Borussia Mönchengladbach) — 36 caps
• Malik Tillman (Bayer Leverkusen) — 28 caps

Forwards:

• Brenden Aaronson (Leeds United) — 57 caps
• Folarin Balogun (AS Monaco) — 25 caps
• Ricardo Pepi (PSV Eindhoven) — 35 caps
• Christian Pulisic (AC Milan) — 84 caps
• Tim Weah (Marseille) — 49 caps
• Haji Wright (Coventry City) — 20 caps
• Alejandro Zendejas (Club América) — 13 caps

⚠️ Note: The official has announced on May 26, 2026.

The Announcement: A Nation’s Eyes on New York City

The official USMNT World Cup 2026 Squad announcement will take place on Tuesday, May 26 at The Rooftop at Pier 17 along the East River in Manhattan — a made-for-TV spectacle broadcast live on FOX from 3 PM to 4 PM ET.

USMNT legends from both the men’s and women’s game are expected to attend, with the event designed to ignite fan excitement less than three weeks before the World Cup begins.

All 26 players are expected to be present — except Chris Richards, who is involved in Crystal Palace’s Europa Conference League final on May 27.

The USMNT World Cup 2026 Squad will then head to their new national training centre in the Atlanta area, with pre-tournament friendlies against Senegal (May 31) and Germany (June 6) scheduled before the tournament begins.

This 2026 roster reflects exactly what Pochettino set out to build: a USMNT World Cup 2026 Squad without entitlement, where competition ran through every position group and 71 players got a look before 26 were chosen.

The Big Talking Points: Reyna In, Luna Out, Tessmann Snubbed

No squad announcement is complete without controversy — and the USMNT’s leaked roster has delivered it in abundance.

Gio Reyna: The Most Debated Pick in the Squad

The inclusion of Gio Reyna is the headline decision that will divide American soccer fans right down the middle. The Borussia Mönchengladbach attacking midfielder has made only four USMNT appearances since the Copa América in the summer of 2024. At the club level, he has started just one game since December — accumulating a mere 520 minutes of football this season.

His history with the national team adds another layer of complexity. At the 2022 World Cup, Reyna was nearly sent home after his reaction to being used as a substitute reportedly caused tension within the squad. It was one of the most discussed behind-the-scenes stories of that tournament.

Yet Pochettino has backed him. The Argentine coach invited Reyna to the March camp as a clear signal, and his participation in Mönchengladbach’s final five league matches appears to have been enough. Reyna has played sparingly in 2026, but Pochettino’s decision to invite him to March camp was a clear sign he was going to make the cut.

The talent is undeniable. If Reyna finds his best form on home soil, he could be the X-factor the USMNT desperately need in the knockout rounds.

Diego Luna: The Heartbreaking Omission

The most painful cut is Diego Luna. The Real Salt Lake midfielder had been one of the USMNT’s most consistent performers throughout the entire qualification cycle, contributing four goals in seven MLS appearances since returning from a minor knee injury in April. Luna didn’t make the roster — a surprise given he had been one of the USMNT’s most consistent contributors in the buildup to the tournament.

Luna, 22, was known for his grit and determination — he famously stayed on the pitch during a friendly against Costa Rica last year despite breaking his nose. His omission feels particularly harsh given his form and the emotional investment he has made in this World Cup cycle.

Tanner Tessmann: Injury Costs Him His Dream

Lyon’s Tanner Tessmann was widely expected to start in central midfield alongside Tyler Adams. A muscle strain picked up two weeks before the squad announcement changed everything. Tessmann, who had seemed likely to make the cut even after suffering a muscle strain, did not make the roster. For a player who has been building toward this moment his entire career, the timing is devastating.

Alejandro Zendejas: The Surprise Inclusion

On the positive side of the surprises, Club América winger Alejandro Zendejas earned his spot despite receiving just 139 minutes under Pochettino. His standout performance in USMNT’s 2–0 victory over Japan at MetLife Stadium in September — which earned glowing praise from Pochettino himself — was clearly enough to keep him in contention. Zendejas, a nimble left-footed forward who has earned excited comparisons to Lionel Messi, was USMNT’s standout player in that 2-0 victory over Japan.

Key Players to Watch: USA’s Stars for 2026

Christian Pulisic — The Captain, The Standard-Bearer

There is no more important player in this USMNT World Cup 2026 Squad than Christian Pulisic. With 84 caps and 32 international goals, the AC Milan forward is America’s greatest current footballer and the man every teammate looks to when the pressure is highest. Pulisic has 10 goals and four assists to his name in total this season at club level in Italy — arriving at this World Cup in excellent form.

On home soil, at a tournament the entire nation has been building toward, Pulisic will carry the hopes of 330 million Americans on his back. If the USMNT are going to make a deep run, he will need to be at his absolute best.

Tyler Adams — The Heartbeat

Bournemouth’s Tyler Adams is the engine that makes this USMNT tick. The defensive midfielder’s ability to win the ball, control the tempo, and lead by example is the foundation upon which Pochettino’s system is built. Adams brings a relentless work rate and exceptional reading of the game that allows the more creative players around him to express themselves. At 26, this is his prime World Cup.

Weston McKennie — The Box-to-Box Force

Juventus’ Weston McKennie brings power, energy, and goals from midfield. With 12 international goals in 64 caps, McKennie is one of the most productive midfielders at this entire tournament. His ability to arrive late in the box and convert from distance gives the USMNT a genuine goal threat from deep that most opponents will struggle to account for.

Folarin Balogun — The Striker Dilemma

The Monaco forward is the most intriguing attacking selection. Born in New York but raised in England, Balogun committed to the USMNT after initially representing England at youth level. At 25, with 8 goals in 25 international appearances, he is the striker the USA have been looking for — physical, technically refined, and deadly in the penalty area. Whether Pochettino trusts him as the primary striker over Ricardo Pepi will be one of the defining tactical decisions of the tournament.

Ricardo Pepi — The Natural Finisher

PSV’s Ricardo Pepi arrives at this World Cup as one of European football’s most in-form strikers. With 13 goals in 35 USMNT appearances, the Texas-born forward has developed into a complete, clinical centre-forward. His competition with Balogun for the starting striker role is genuine — and healthy for the squad.

Malik Tillman — The Rising Star

Bayer Leverkusen’s Malik Tillman represents the next generation of American attacking talent. The dual-national — who chose the United States over Germany — brings pace, technical quality, and unpredictability. At 23, this World Cup could be the moment Tillman fully announces himself on the global stage.

Notable Absences: Who Missed Out

Beyond the widely discussed Luna and Tessmann, two players who were confirmed unavailable due to injury are Johnny Cardoso and Patrick Agyemang — both of whom would have pushed for starting places had they been fit. Their absence significantly affected the depth in Pochettino’s midfield options.

Overall, eight players are from MLS, 17 from Europe, and one from the Mexican circuit. Half the USMNT World Cup 2026 Squad is new to a World Cup roster — a clear sign of how dramatically the American player pool has grown since 2022.

Pochettino’s System: The 3-4-3 Revolution

One of the most significant developments of the Pochettino era has been the tactical shift to a back three. The Americans opted to start in a 3-4-3 for the final five matches of 2025, earning four wins and a draw. This formation allows the wingbacks — Antonee Robinson and Joe Scally — to bomb forward in support of the attack while three centre-backs provide defensive security.

Predicted Starting XI (3-4-3):

• 🥅 Matt Turner
• ⚪🔵🔴 Chris Richards | Tim Ream | Antonee Robinson
• ⚪ Tyler Adams | Weston McKennie
• 🔵 Joe Scally | Malik Tillman
• 🔴 Tim Weah | Christian Pulisic | Folarin Balogun

The back three gives the USMNT defensive solidity while enabling the wingbacks to create an extra man in wide areas. Against Paraguay, Australia, and Türkiye in Group D, this system will be tested — but Pochettino has designed it specifically for these moments.

USMNT’s Group D Fixtures — FIFA World Cup 2026

The United States have been drawn into Group D — and they will open their home World Cup on the biggest possible stage:

🇺🇸 USA vs 🇵🇾 Paraguay — June 12, 2026 | SoFi Stadium, Los Angeles, California
🇺🇸 USA vs 🇦🇺 Australia — June 19, 2026 | Lumen Field, Seattle, Washington
🇹🇷 Türkiye vs 🇺🇸 USA — June 25, 2026 | Allegiant Stadium, Las Vegas, Nevada

Opening in Los Angeles — the entertainment capital of the world — against Paraguay in front of a sell-out crowd will be one of the iconic moments of this entire World Cup. The atmosphere will be electric. The pressure will be unlike anything most of these players have ever experienced. And Pochettino will need his squad to deliver from minute one.

Paraguay and Türkiye are both dangerous in the World Cup group Stage, organised sides. Australia — who stunned the world by reaching the 2022 quarter-finals — will provide a genuine test in Seattle. The USA must reach the Round of 32 as a minimum, or the pressure from a home nation will become overwhelming.

The Weight of Home Soil: Can USA Deliver?

The United States last hosted the World Cup in 1994 — a tournament they entered as one of the weakest sides in the field and emerged from as genuine entertainers, reaching the Round of 16 in front of record crowds. That tournament ignited soccer in America. It launched the MLS. It changed everything.

Now, 32 years later, soccer in the United States has transformed beyond recognition. American players are starting for AC Milan, PSV, Juventus, and Bayern Munich. MLS is one of the world’s fastest-growing leagues. A generation of fans has grown up watching the USMNT with genuine belief — not just hope.

But the pressure is real. In 2014, Landon Donovan admitted to breaking down in tears after Jürgen Klinsmann cut him from the final squad — and Jeff Agoos famously burned his kit when he was dropped by Bora Milutinović in 1994, the last time the U.S. were World Cup hosts. History has a way of repeating itself at home tournaments.

Pochettino has spoken about wanting his team to reach the semi-finals — an ambition that would surpass anything the USMNT have ever achieved. With the quality in this squad and the energy of a home crowd behind them, it is not as unrealistic as it once might have sounded.

The stars are wearing the Stars and Stripes. America’s World Cup begins June 12.