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The United States unveiled its 2026 FIFA World Cup roster on Tuesday, but not without some controversy and debate.
Midfielders Gio Reyna and Sebastian Berhalter were included in US coach Mauricio Pochettino’s 26-man World Cup squad on Tuesday, along with winger Alejandro Zendejas, while midfielders Diego Luna and Tanner Tessmann were left out.
Defender Sergiño Dest, midfielder Tyler Adams and forward Haji Wright were added after missing friendlies in March due to injury. Zendejas was passed over for the March roster after a knee injury last fall.
Players were announced in order of uniform number on the roof of the South Street Seaport’s Pier 17, with the Brooklyn Bridge as a backdrop.
‘Disrespectful’ to bring up list omissions
When asked about some notable omissions from the squad, Pochettino dismissed the line of questioning, stating that focusing on the omissions undermines the players who earned their places.
“I think we can’t talk about the players who are not on the list because I think it’s very disrespectful to the player who made the list,” Pochettino said. “Because … we’re going to talk about the players that aren’t on the roster … and that’s very disrespectful to me.”
The manager took full responsibility for the final cuts, noting that adding one fan favorite would only fuel debate about another.
“It was my decision to choose the 26th and now we have to respect (it),” Pochettino said. “If I include one for sure, you will ask me for another … we really believe that team, these 26 players are the right players.”
Pochettino stressed that the selection process was the culmination of an exhaustive 18-month scouting period aimed at building a squad that can contend with the world’s best.
“We worked really hard and did a year and a half or more to try to get to this moment in the best condition with all the information to try and make the best decision,” he said. “It’s impossible to be fair to everyone, but they seem to make the best decision to be competitive on their side and try to win.”
Who made the cut?
(Photo by Vincent Carchietta/USSF/Getty Images)
Among the most notable inclusions is Reyna, a son of former U.S. captain Claudio Reyna. Reyna was almost sent home from the 2022 World Cup by then coach Gregg Berhalter due to a lack of hustle and has made just four starts this season for Borussia Mönchengladbach – none since 19 December.
Despite the limited playing time, Reyna is regarded by Pochettino as a “special player”.
Sebastian Berhalter, a 25-year-old son of the former coach, also made the cut. He made his national team debut last June and became the Americans’ best corner kick taker.
Players who had been on the list in March included goalkeeper Patrick Schulte along with Tessmann and midfielder Aidan Morris.
Luna missed the March games with a knee injury after playing in 17 of 18 internationals last year, but was ultimately unable to regain his place.
The U.S. squad was also hampered by health issues, with two players sidelined by recent injuries: midfielder Johnny Cardoso had surgery on his right ankle and forward Patrick Agyemang is dealing with a torn right Achilles. Defender Cameron Carter-Vickers is also out as he continues to recover from a torn Achilles suffered in October.
2026 FIFA World Cup: How to watch
The 2026 FIFA World Cup will run from June 11 to July 19, 2026. Spread over three countries, the tournament will culminate with the final on July 19 at the New York New Jersey Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey. All 104 tournament games will be broadcast live across FOX (70) and FS1 (34) with every game streaming live and on-demand on both FOX One and the FOX Sports app. A record 40 games, more than a third of the tournament, are televised in prime time across FOX (21) and FS1 (19).
The June 11 opener between Mexico and South Africa (3 p.m. ET) will stream for free on Tubi, as will the USA’s June 12 opener against Paraguay (9 p.m. ET).
