USMNT 2026 World Cup Roster: Gio Reyna In, Diego Luna Out

The United States Men’s National Team’s 26-man roster for the FIFA World Cup 2026 is taking shape ahead of Mauricio Pochettino’s official announcement on May 26 in New York City. Multiple sources briefed on the decisions confirmed on May 22 that Gio Reyna, Brenden Aaronson, Mark McKenzie, Matt Turner, and Sebastian Berhalter have been informed they made the final squad. Real Salt Lake forward Diego Luna has been told he did not make the cut, ending a difficult week for one of the most exciting young Americans to emerge in recent seasons. The USMNT will compete on home soil for the first time at a senior World Cup, and Pochettino’s squad decisions carry the full weight of a nation expecting a deep run in front of their own fans.

The full official squad will be unveiled at a live event at Pier 17 in New York City at 3 p.m. ET on May 26, broadcast live on FOX. Rosters remain subject to change until FIFA’s June 1 submission deadline, and injuries between now and that date could still alter the final group. What the early leak makes clear is that Pochettino has stayed true to the principles he outlined from day one — he wanted character, cohesion, and tactical commitment alongside ability, not simply the 26 most talented names in the player pool. The United States 2026 World Cup squad will reflect that philosophy entirely.

Gio Reyna: The Special Situation Resolved

No USMNT selection generated more debate in the months leading to this announcement than Gio Reyna. The Borussia Mönchengladbach midfielder had one of the most turbulent seasons in the player pool, managing just 509 Bundesliga minutes across the 2025-26 campaign. Yet Pochettino consistently described him as a “very special talent” who operates in a different category of evaluation from the rest of the squad. The coach’s language was deliberate — Reyna was never being judged purely on club minutes, but on what he provides in a USMNT environment and what he can unlock in the tournament itself.

Reyna’s November 2025 performance against Paraguay — where he scored in the fourth minute and set up the winner — gave Pochettino the on-field confirmation he needed. He appeared in each of Mönchengladbach’s final five league matches of the season, scoring once, signalling a return to match sharpness at a critical moment. He carries 36 caps and 9 international goals into this tournament. His father Claudio Reyna played at the 1998, 2002, and 2006 World Cups. Gio will now write his own chapter at a tournament played across three cities that include the stadiums where his father once starred. The 2026 World Cup fixtures give the USMNT a credible path deep into the knockout rounds, and Reyna’s ability to change tight games will be tested on the biggest possible stage.

Diego Luna Omission: What Happened

Diego Luna’s exclusion is the story with the sharpest edge. The Real Salt Lake forward played in 17 of the USMNT’s 18 matches in 2025, establishing himself as one of the most consistent contributors under both Gregg Berhalter and Pochettino. He had four goals in 18 appearances for the national team — a meaningful return for a player who entered 2025 with just one senior cap to his name. At club level, he recorded four goals and three assists in the 2026 MLS season before the World Cup break.

The injury that disrupted his spring changed everything. Luna suffered a knee problem before the MLS season began, forcing him to miss the USMNT’s March international window — the final camp before Pochettino locked his squad picture. Sources told The Athletic that the player was fit by the time the final call was made, and one source indicated the coaching staff had been cautious with the injury precisely to protect his World Cup chances. In the end, those chances did not survive the final cut. His RSL teammate Zavier Gozo, 19, who had not yet earned a senior cap, was also informed he did not make the squad. For Luna, the 2030 window will arrive with him at 25 and likely at the peak of his career.

Other Key Selections Confirmed

Brenden Aaronson’s inclusion confirms his recovery from the difficult spell that saw him struggle for consistent minutes at Leeds United. The winger’s energy and work rate against the press have been central to Pochettino’s system, and his USMNT record in pressing-heavy shapes makes him a reliable choice for the group stage. Mark McKenzie, the Toulouse centre-back, earns his place in what has been a competitive defensive pool. His performances in Ligue 1 this season — a league that tests central defenders against technically sharp attackers every week — gave the coaching staff strong evidence of his readiness. Matt Turner returns as a goalkeeper option after his time with Crystal Palace. Sebastian Berhalter, son of former USMNT head coach Gregg Berhalter, has been one of Pochettino’s favourite midfield options since the 2025 Gold Cup and earned subsequent call-ups in September, November, and March windows.

USMNT Group Stage Opponents and Schedule

Pochettino’s Selection Philosophy

Pochettino took over as USMNT head coach with one stated mission — build a team, not a collection of individuals. Every camp he ran reinforced that culture, behaviour, and tactical understanding mattered as much as raw talent. The inclusion of Sebastian Berhalter over higher-profile names signals that Pochettino rewards players who learn and execute his system precisely. The exclusion of Luna — despite his goals record — suggests the March international window carried enormous weight in the final decision-making process. Players who were not in camp during that window started at a structural disadvantage regardless of their club form afterward.

The USMNT will play in front of some of the largest crowds in tournament history. The United States is a co-host of the FIFA World Cup 2026, meaning American fans will fill venues like MetLife Stadium, SoFi Stadium, AT&T Stadium, and Hard Rock Stadium across the group stage and knockout rounds. The pressure that comes with hosting a 48-team tournament and carrying the expectations of 330 million people has not been publicly discussed as a burden by Pochettino. He has kept his squad focused on process, and the players he has selected are the ones he trusts to maintain that focus when the noise levels reach their maximum.

Frequently Asked Questions

Conclusion

The USMNT’s 2026 World Cup squad is built around trust, tactical familiarity, and the kind of team culture Pochettino established from his first training session. Gio Reyna’s inclusion rewards his talent and his history with the national team over club-level metrics that do not fully capture what he offers in this system. Diego Luna’s omission is painful, but it reflects how much the final pre-tournament camp mattered in the coach’s evaluation process. The full squad drops on May 26, and from that point the USMNT begins its most significant tournament run since the 2002 World Cup — this time with the entire country watching from home soil.

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