Pochettino Declares USMNT's 26-Man Squad Ready for 2026 World Cup Opener
Updated
Updated · The Guardian · Jun 12
Pochettino Declares USMNT's 26-Man Squad Ready for 2026 World Cup Opener
3 articles · Updated · The Guardian · Jun 12
Summary
All 26 U.S. players are available for Friday’s World Cup opener against Paraguay, and Mauricio Pochettino said the team’s months of testing formations and personnel have left it ready to play.
Pochettino framed relaxation as the final step in preparation, saying players no longer need a pre-match speech and should approach the game like children — focused, free and without pressure.
That confidence follows a rocky buildup that included a fourth-place finish in the 2025 Concacaf Nations League and March friendly losses to Belgium and Portugal by a combined 7-2.
Tyler Adams said the squad’s bond has held despite major roster turnover since Qatar, with 13 players set for World Cup debuts as the U.S. tries to turn home-soil optimism into results.