Just over three weeks out from the opening match on June 12, the roster representing the United States at this summer’s home World Cup has been finalized.
After years of buildup and months of conjecture, the 26-man United States roster, assembled by manager Mauricio Pochettino, was unveiled Tuesday at a televised event in New York.
“We are confident this is the best group of 26 players to help us achieve success at the World Cup,” Pochettino said. “These were very difficult decisions, and we are thankful to all the players who were part of this journey. This group is very focused and ready to give everything they have to represent the United States and deliver performances that will make the fans and the country proud.”
As expected, the roster is anchored by a number of longtime American standouts playing in Europe: AC Milan forward Christian Pulisic, Bournemouth midfielder Tyler Adams and Juventus midfielder Weston McKennie.
Each are among the 13 players returning for their second World Cup appearance, paired equally with 13 players who made their first World Cup.
Pulisic leads all members of the U.S. squad in appearances (84) and goals (32) at the international level. He scored the lone goal of the Americans’ only win at the 2022 World Cup in Qatar, a 1-0 triumph which lifted the U.S. through to the knockout round.
“I’m so proud to represent this country,” Pulisic said Tuesday. “I’m going to do my best to make you guys proud.”
There were plenty of uncertainties, though, about the roster heading into the reveal.
Most notably, 23-year-old midfielder Gio Reyna has made the roster for his second World Cup despite not making a start for the USMNT since last December. That inclusion likely came over Lyon midfielder Tanner Tessmann, who was left off the roster even though he’s expected to recover from the muscle strain he’s been sidelined by before the World Cup begins next month.
Another somewhat surprising roster addition was 28-year-old midfielder Alejandro Zendejas, who likely beat out Real Salt Lake midfielder Diego Luna for the spot.
The United States squad ranks 16th in the current FIFA/Coca Cola World Ranking. That’s been the American team’s range since the last World Cup, ranking somewhere between 11th and 18th since 2021.
While the United States has qualified for seven of the last eight World Cups since a drought from 1954-86. But the country has advanced past the Round of 16 just once in its last nine appearances, a run to the quarterfinals in 2002.
Pochettino, while of Argentinian descent, is a big fan of the 1980 U.S. men’s hockey team which stunningly won gold at the Lake Placid Olympics. That has been a rallying camp in the build-up to this home World Cup.
“We talk with the players about, ‘Why not us? Why not us?’ I think it’s important to really believe,” Pochettino said on the broadcast. “In sport, the first thing is to believe. And then work really hard to try to earn what you want.”
The U.S. is in Group D of the World Cup, opening play June 12 against Paraguay in Inglewood, Calif., before matches against Australia (June 19 in Seattle) and Turkiye (June 25 in Inglewood, Calif.).
The team’s final tune-up friendlies are against Senegal (May 31 in Charlotte) and Germany (June 6 in Chicago).
UNITED STATES WORLD CUP 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, Haji Wright
–Field Level Media
