USMNT Finalizes 26-Player 2026 World Cup Roster as Pochettino Caps 91-Player Evaluation
Updated
Updated · ESPN · May 25
USMNT Finalizes 26-Player 2026 World Cup Roster as Pochettino Caps 91-Player Evaluation
9 articles · Updated · ESPN · May 25
The U.S. men's national team is set to unveil its 26-man 2026 World Cup squad within hours, ending a selection process that tested 91 players since the last tournament.
Mauricio Pochettino, in charge since late 2024, has framed the decision as unusually open, warning that "no one can feel safe" as final cuts were made.
A weekend roster leak underscored how unsettled the process remained, while players waited through what former striker Jozy Altidore called a nerve-racking final stretch.
Past U.S. roster shocks show the scrutiny Pochettino's choices will face, with Landon Donovan's 2014 omission still the benchmark for a World Cup snub.
Has Pochettino's shocking omission of Tanner Tessmann created a fatal flaw in the USMNT's World Cup midfield?
Pochettino has challenged his 'soft' stars. Can Pulisic and Reyna handle the pressure of a home World Cup?