Mauricio Pochettino has officially named the 26 players who will represent the United States at the 2026 FIFA World Cup, unveiling the squad in front of thousands of supporters at Pier 17 in New York City.
Key Details At A Glance
With the tournament returning to North American soil for the first time since 1994, the announcement marks the beginning of what many hope will be the most successful World Cup campaign in modern USMNT history.
| Category | Detail |
|---|---|
| Manager | Mauricio Pochettino |
| Squad Size | 26 |
| Captain | Christian Pulisic |
| Announcement Date | May 26, 2026 |
| Venue | Pier 17, New York |
| Average Age | 26 years, 332 days |
| Opening Match | June 12 vs Paraguay |
| Group | F (Paraguay, Australia, Türkiye) |
USA’s Full 26-Man World Cup Squad
Goalkeepers
Matt Turner, Chris Brady, Matt Freese
| Player | Club | League |
|---|---|---|
| Matt Turner | New England Revolution | MLS |
| Chris Brady | Chicago Fire | MLS |
| Matt Freese | New York City FC | MLS |
Defenders
Sergiño Dest, Alex Freeman, Mark McKenzie, Tim Ream, Chris Richards, Antonee Robinson, Miles Robinson, Joe Scally, Auston Trusty, Max Arfsten
| Player | Club | League |
|---|---|---|
| Sergiño Dest | PSV Eindhoven | Eredivisie |
| Alex Freeman | Villarreal | LaLiga |
| Mark McKenzie | Toulouse | Ligue 1 |
| Tim Ream | Charlotte FC | MLS |
| Chris Richards | Crystal Palace | Premier League |
| Antonee Robinson | Fulham | Premier League |
| Miles Robinson | FC Cincinnati | MLS |
| Joe Scally | Borussia Mönchengladbach | Bundesliga |
| Auston Trusty | Celtic | Scottish Premiership |
| Max Arfsten | Columbus Crew | MLS |
Midfielders
Tyler Adams, Weston McKennie, Sebastian Berhalter, Cristian Roldan
| Player | Club | League |
|---|---|---|
| Sergiño Dest | PSV Eindhoven | Eredivisie |
| Alex Freeman | Villarreal | LaLiga |
| Mark McKenzie | Toulouse | Ligue 1 |
| Tim Ream | Charlotte FC | MLS |
| Chris Richards | Crystal Palace | Premier League |
| Antonee Robinson | Fulham | Premier League |
| Miles Robinson | FC Cincinnati | MLS |
| Joe Scally | Borussia Mönchengladbach | Bundesliga |
| Auston Trusty | Celtic | Scottish Premiership |
| Max Arfsten | Columbus Crew | MLS |
Attackers
Christian Pulisic, Gio Reyna, Malik Tillman, Tim Weah, Brenden Aaronson, Alejandro Zendejas, Folarin Balogun, Ricardo Pepi, Haji Wright
| Player | Club | League |
|---|---|---|
| Tyler Adams | Bournemouth | Premier League |
| Sebastian Berhalter | Vancouver Whitecaps | MLS |
| Weston McKennie | Juventus | Serie A |
| Cristian Roldan | Seattle Sounders | MLS |
Christian Pulisic Leads The Squad
The captain’s armband belongs to Christian Pulisic, who enters the tournament as the most experienced player in the squad with 84 caps.
The AC Milan forward remains the face of American soccer and will carry enormous expectations as the United States attempts to make a deep run on home soil.
Pulisic said: “I’m grateful to be in this position. It’s exactly what I want. You only have a World Cup in your home country once in your life.”
There is, however, some concern surrounding his form after finishing the season amid a lengthy goal drought with Milan.
A Perfect Split: Veterans And Debutants
The squad is evenly divided between experience and youth.
Thirteen players return from the 2022 World Cup in Qatar, while thirteen players will experience the tournament for the first time.
Qatar Veterans vs Debutants
| Category | Number |
|---|---|
| 2022 World Cup Returnees | 13 |
| World Cup Debutants | 13 |
| Dual Nationals | 13 |
Half the squad therefore arrives with previous World Cup experience, while the other half represents the next generation of American talent.
The Biggest Talking Point: Gio Reyna’s Inclusion
No selection generated more debate than Gio Reyna.
The Borussia Mönchengladbach playmaker played only limited minutes during the second half of the club season and managed just one goal in 19 appearances.
Despite that, Pochettino chose to trust his creativity and international experience.
“We all know about Gio. He has an amazing talent and experience too. We need to trust in players with experience.”
Reyna remains one of the few American players capable of producing moments of genuine unpredictability in the final third.
The Major Omissions
While Reyna made the squad, several notable names missed out.
Players Left Out
| Player | Club | Position | Reason |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tanner Tessmann | Lyon | Midfielder | Injury concerns |
| Diego Luna | Real Salt Lake | Attacker | Competition for places |
| Aidan Morris | Middlesbrough | Midfielder | Selection choice |
| Patrick Agyemang | — | Striker | Achilles injury |
Tessmann and Luna are widely regarded as the most surprising absentees after featuring prominently under Pochettino during the past year.
Five Players Who Could Define The Tournament
Christian Pulisic
The captain, leader and primary attacking threat.
Tyler Adams
The midfield anchor whose presence transforms the team’s balance and defensive structure.
Weston McKennie
Pochettino’s ultimate utility player and arguably the squad’s most versatile footballer.
Folarin Balogun
The striker capable of giving the United States a genuine elite-level goalscoring threat.
Ricardo Pepi
Four years after missing out on Qatar, Pepi arrives determined to seize his World Cup moment.
Sebastian Berhalter’s Fairytale Rise
One of the most emotional stories belongs to Sebastian Berhalter.
Four years ago he watched the World Cup from the stands. Today he is part of the squad.
The Vancouver Whitecaps midfielder learned of his selection while leaving a team meeting.
“People would have thought you were crazy if you said that this kid could be on the team four years later.”
Injury Concerns Before Kick-Off
The biggest concern surrounds Crystal Palace defender Chris Richards, whose participation remains uncertain because of ankle ligament damage.
The United States can still make roster changes until shortly before the opening match if necessary.
Group F: USA’s Road To The Knockouts
The United States opens its campaign against Paraguay before facing Australia and Türkiye.
Group F Fixtures
| Date | Opponent | Venue |
|---|---|---|
| June 12 | Paraguay | SoFi Stadium |
| June 19 | Australia | Seattle |
| June 25 | Türkiye | SoFi Stadium |
Progression from Group F is considered the minimum expectation for a squad playing in front of home supporters.
Squad Profile
Age And Experience
| Metric | Detail |
|---|---|
| Average Squad Age | 26 years, 332 days |
| Youngest Squad In USMNT History | 1990 (24 years, 25 days) |
| Oldest Player (Potential) | Tim Ream, 38 years, 250 days |
| Most Capped Player | Pulisic (84 caps) |
| Dual Nationals In Squad | 13 players |
League Representation
| League | Number Of Players |
|---|---|
| MLS (USA) | 6 |
| Bundesliga (Germany) | 3 |
| Ligue 1 / French leagues | 3 |
| Premier League (England) | 2 |
| Eredivisie (Netherlands) | 2 |
| Serie A (Italy) | 1 |
| LaLiga (Spain) | 1 |
| Liga MX (Mexico) | 1 |
| Scottish Premiership | 1 |
| Championship (England) | 2 |
The squad reflects the growing international footprint of American soccer, with players spread across Europe’s major leagues alongside a strong MLS contingent.
Pochettino’s Selection Philosophy
Pochettino admitted the final decisions were among the most difficult of his managerial career.
“It’s painful, because I really know what means to be out of the roster.”
The Argentine stressed that balance rather than individual talent ultimately determined several close decisions.
The Pressure And The Opportunity
The United States enters the World Cup carrying greater expectations than any previous generation.
Playing at home presents enormous pressure, but also a historic opportunity.
As Christian Roldan put it:
“The pressure comes with privilege.”
For the first time in decades, the United States will attempt to turn home advantage into a deep World Cup run. Whether this squad can deliver remains one of the biggest stories of the summer.
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