Head coach Mauricio Pochettino’s full 26-man United States roster for the 2026 World Cup, obtained by The Guardian and confirmed by multiple sources, includes Club América winger Alejandro Zendejas and omits Lyon midfielder Tanner Tessmann. The list, set to be publicly announced at a televised event in New York City on Tuesday, also keeps Gio Reyna and excludes Real Salt Lake’s Diego Luna. Managers must submit final squads to FIFA by 1 June; Pochettino’s choices will shape the USMNT’s final tune-up friendlies against Senegal on 31 May and Germany on 6 June. The roster blends 13 veterans with 13 first-time World Cup picks and adjusts the balance of defenders and midfielders heading into the tournament.
Key Takeaways
- Pochettino’s 26-man roster includes Alejandro Zendejas (Club América) and excludes Tanner Tessmann (Lyon); the list was obtained by The Guardian and corroborated by multiple sources.
- Gio Reyna (Borussia Mönchengladbach) made the cut despite 520 minutes of club action this season; Diego Luna (Real Salt Lake) is absent despite 4 goals in 17 appearances in 2025 and strong form in 2026.
- The squad contains 10 defenders, 4 central/defensive midfielders, 6 attacking midfielders/wingers and 3 strikers; 13 players are on their second World Cup roster and 13 are first-timers.
- Chris Brady (Chicago Fire) is included as a presumed No. 3 goalkeeper alongside Matt Freese and Matt Turner; Brady has 0 senior caps but strong MLS form.
- Notable omissions beyond Tessmann and Luna include Aidan Morris and Zavier Gozo; Chris Richards is listed despite a recent ankle ligament announcement by Crystal Palace.
- Pochettino has prioritized defensive depth (10 defenders) and selected only four central/defensive midfielders: Weston McKennie, Sebastian Berhalter, Cristian Roldan and Tyler Adams.
Background
The 2026 World Cup, co-hosted by the United States, Mexico and Canada, places exceptional scrutiny on the US roster because the squad will play on home soil and face intense media and fan attention. Pochettino took charge of the national team with a mandate to blend established internationals and emerging talent; selection decisions are being watched for tactical balance and experience ahead of the tournament. The national federation has coordinated promotional activity through partners and broadcasters—some players appeared in adverts produced months before selections—adding a commercial layer to roster optics.
Recent US cycles have featured contentious availability questions, dual-national recruitment and recurring debates about off-field conduct, most prominently involving Gio Reyna at the 2022 World Cup and later family disputes that strained relations with former coach Gregg Berhalter. Club form has not always dictated national-team selection; Pochettino has signaled a willingness to include players like Reyna irrespective of minutes at club level. Injuries and fitness—such as Tanner Tessmann’s reported muscle strain and Diego Luna’s knee issues—have complicated final calls in the weeks leading to roster submission.
Main Event
Sources who reviewed Pochettino’s finalized list confirmed that Alejandro Zendejas, 28, earned a place after an outstanding Liga MX campaign with Club América: 12 goals and seven assists across 2,443 minutes. Despite limited minutes for the USMNT previously (139 minutes across six appearances), Zendejas’s club production and two-way wing play persuaded the staff to include him. In contrast, Tanner Tessmann, 24, who appeared in 29 league matches for Lyon this season (22 starts), is not on the 26-man list; he sustained a muscle strain two weeks ago, but the federation has not publicly tied his omission to that injury.
Gio Reyna, 23, is listed despite totaling only 520 club minutes this season; Pochettino has publicly endorsed Reyna’s potential and selected him on that basis. Reyna’s presence reignites attention to past incidents: during the 2022 World Cup he nearly exited the squad for disciplinary reasons, and subsequent public disputes involving his parents and former coach Gregg Berhalter persisted into the following years. Sebastian Berhalter, 25 and the son of former coach Gregg Berhalter, joins the roster as a first-time World Cup selection after strong form with the Vancouver Whitecaps and recognition as an MLS Best XI performer.
Diego Luna’s omission stands out because he was a fixture in the US buildup and scored prolifically for Real Salt Lake in 2025 and early 2026. Luna recorded four goals in 17 appearances in 2025 and, after a brief absence while returning from injury in March, posted four goals and two assists in seven MLS appearances since 1 April. The federation confirmed that Pochettino did not select players for commercial ads and that promotional appearances were not determinative in roster selection. Other midfield omissions include Aidan Morris; the final central-midfield group numbers just four players, creating an unusual squad composition for a World Cup campaign.
Analysis & Implications
Pochettino’s decision to carry 10 defenders signals an emphasis on defensive options and versatility. With potential formations tilting between a back four and a five-man defensive block, having a larger defensive pool gives Pochettino latitude to rotate and respond to injuries across a long tournament. The corollary is compressed central-midfield depth: only four specialists are listed, which could force tactical trade-offs if suspensions or injuries occur. Expect Pochettino to rely on midfielders who can play multiple roles—Tyler Adams and Weston McKennie have fulfilled box-to-box and transitional duties in recent windows.
Attack selections reflect a mix of proven internationals and in-form club scorers. The inclusion of Alejandro Zendejas and first-time strikers Folarin Balogun and Ricardo Pepi adds pace and finishing variety but raises questions about World Cup experience in the final third. Pochettino’s repeated endorsement of Gio Reyna suggests trust in talent over minutes; if Reyna recaptures form or builds chemistry with Christian Pulisic and Brenden Aaronson, the team gains a high-skill attacking axis. Conversely, if Reyna struggles for match sharpness, the US could depend more on direct-play options.
Beyond tactics, the roster sends signals about selection criteria under Pochettino: a willingness to back players with recent club production (Zendejas, Brady) while retaining players for whom the coach sees role-specific attributes (Reyna, Berhalter). The omissions—especially of a promoted MLS contributor like Luna—highlight the delicate balance between form, fitness and tactical fit. Internationally, the squad will be assessed for its ability to handle varied opponents in group play and knockout rounds; depth in defense may be an advantage against set-piece-reliant teams, but limited central-midfield options could be tested by possession-oriented opponents.
Comparison & Data
| Position | Players | First-time World Cup picks |
|---|---|---|
| Goalkeepers | 3 | 2 |
| Defenders | 10 | 6 |
| Midfielders (CDM/CM) | 4 | 1 |
| Attacking midfielders/wingers | 6 | 2 |
| Strikers | 3 | 2 |
The table above summarizes Pochettino’s positional breakdown: a notably defensive-heavy squad with 10 defenders and only four central/defensive midfielders. Thirteen of the 26 players are first-time World Cup selectees, reflecting a near-even split between experience and newcomers. This composition contrasts with some recent US squads that carried larger central-midfield pools; the present selection prioritizes defensive cover and wing/attacking variation.
Reactions & Quotes
Federation and media reaction has been mixed, with officials declining to comment on the roster until the formal announcement. Sports outlets noted surprise at several omissions and the defensive tilt.
Pochettino has repeatedly highlighted Reyna’s quality and potential impact, viewing him as a selection independent of club minutes.
Club/Coach statements reported by media
Supporters and analysts also flagged the absence of Diego Luna amid his recent scoring burst and visibility in tournament promotions.
Fans expressed surprise at Luna’s exclusion given his early-2026 form and earlier praise from coaching staff.
Fan reaction aggregated on social platforms
Unconfirmed
- Whether Tanner Tessmann’s omission is directly due to the reported recent muscle strain remains unconfirmed by the federation or Lyon.
- Any late roster changes for “exceptional” injury cases prior to the World Cup are possible but not publicly foreshadowed.
- The internal criteria Pochettino applied to weigh promotional appearances against selection decisions have not been detailed by US Soccer.
Bottom Line
Pochettino’s 26-man roster balances defensive depth and attacking variety while creating potential vulnerability in central midfield. The inclusion of Alejandro Zendejas rewards club form and adds a dynamic wing option; the omission of Tanner Tessmann and Diego Luna underscores how fitness, tactical fit and coach preference can outweigh recent momentum.
With two final friendlies scheduled before the World Cup and FIFA’s 1 June submission deadline, the roster is likely to be examined and, in rare cases, adjusted only for verified medical reasons. Supporters and analysts will now shift focus to match tactics, player fitness, and how quickly the selected squad can build cohesion against Senegal and Germany in the coming fixtures.
Sources
- The Guardian (media report that obtained the roster)
- The Athletic (media — earlier reporting on Reyna and Luna selections)
- US Soccer (official federation site — statements and event scheduling)
- Fox Sports (media — tournament promotional partners)