The United States men's national team has officially announced its 26-man roster for the upcoming home World Cup, ending months of speculation. The squad was revealed on Tuesday during a Fox event in New York City, with manager Mauricio Pochettino finalizing the selections.
Key Players and Surprises
As anticipated, the roster is anchored by experienced European-based stars. AC Milan forward Christian Pulisic, Bournemouth midfielder Tyler Adams, and Juventus midfielder Weston McKennie headline the squad. However, there were notable surprises, including the inclusion of 23-year-old midfielder Gio Reyna, who has not started for the USMNT since last December. Reyna's selection likely came at the expense of Lyon midfielder Tanner Tessmann, who was left off despite expected recovery from a muscle strain before the tournament begins.
Another unexpected addition is 28-year-old midfielder Alejandro Zendejas, who reportedly beat out Real Salt Lake's Diego Luna for a spot.
World Ranking and Group Stage
The United States currently ranks 16th in the FIFA/Coca-Cola World Ranking, a position they have held since the last World Cup, fluctuating between 11th and 18th since 2021. The team is placed in Group D, opening against Paraguay on June 12 in Inglewood, California, followed by matches against Australia (June 19 in Seattle) and Turkiye (June 25 in Inglewood).
Before the World Cup, the USMNT will play two tune-up friendlies: against Senegal on May 31 in Charlotte and against Germany on June 6 in Chicago.
Full Roster
Goalkeepers: Chris Brady, Matt Freese, Matt Turner
Defenders: Max Arfsten, Sergiño Dest, Alex Freeman, Mark McKenzie, Tim Ream, Chris Richards, Antonee Robinson, Miles Robinson, Joe Scally, Auston Trusty
Midfielders: Tyler Adams, Sebastian Berhalter, Weston McKennie, Cristian Roldan
Attacking Midfielders/Wingers: Brenden Aaronson, Christian Pulisic, Gio Reyna, Malik Tillman, Tim Weah, Alejandro Zendejas
Forwards: Folarin Balogun, Ricardo Pepi, Hajji Wright
