The United States men’s national soccer team has officially announced its roster for the 2026 FIFA World Cup, which will be held across the United States, Canada, and Mexico. Head coach Mauricio Pochettino revealed the 26 players during a televised event in New York, confirming the names that had been leaked earlier.

Key Players and Selections

The roster includes many familiar faces, led by captain Christian Pulisic, midfielder Weston McKennie, defender Antonee Robinson, and midfielder Tyler Adams. Gio Reyna, despite limited club playing time in Europe, has also been included in the final squad.

Among the goalkeepers selected are Matt Turner, Matt Freese, and Chris Brady. The defenders chosen include Sergiño Dest, Tim Ream, Chris Richards, Joe Scally, Max Arfsten, Alex Freeman, Mark McKenzie, Antonee Robinson, Miles Robinson, and Auston Trusty. Midfielders Tyler Adams, Sebastian Berhalter, Weston McKennie, Gio Reyna, Cristian Roldan, and Malik Tillman will also represent the U.S. Forwards include Brenden Aaronson, Folarin Balogun, Ricardo Pepi, Christian Pulisic, Tim Weah, Haji Wright, and Alejandro Zendejas.

Notable Omissions

The roster announcement drew attention to those left out, such as midfielder Diego Luna, who had become a fan favorite, and Tanner Tessmann, who has been performing well with French club Lyon. Pochettino emphasized the importance of selecting “the right 26” players for the tournament.

Preparation and Expectations

The United States enters the World Cup with heightened expectations, having automatically qualified as co-hosts. The team will travel to Georgia for final preparations, including pre-tournament friendlies against Senegal and Germany. The U.S. will begin World Cup play on June 12 against Paraguay, followed by group-stage matches against Australia and Turkey.

Original reporting: CBS19 / KYTX (Tyler) — read the source article.