The United States men's national team (USMNT) head coach Mauricio Pochettino has finalized his 26-man roster for the upcoming World Cup, with Club America winger Alejandro Zendejas securing a spot and Lyon defensive midfielder Tanner Tessmann missing out. The Guardian obtained the full roster, which was verified by multiple sources familiar with the selections.
Key Inclusions and Omissions
Zendejas, 28, has been one of Liga MX's most dangerous attackers this season, tallying 12 goals and seven assists in 2,443 minutes to lead Club America's offensive line. Despite limited appearances under Pochettino—just 139 minutes across six games, with his last outing on September 9 against Japan—his club form earned him a place on the World Cup squad.
Tessmann, 24, suffered a muscle strain at Lyon two weeks ago, which may have contributed to his exclusion. The FC Dallas academy product appeared in 29 league matches this season, starting 22 of them. Also omitted was Middlesbrough midfielder Aidan Morris, 24, who featured heavily in March friendlies against Portugal and Belgium.
Diego Luna, a breakout star for Real Salt Lake, was left off despite frequent praise from Pochettino for his aggressiveness. Luna scored four goals in 17 international appearances in 2025 and returned from injury in strong form with four goals and two assists in seven MLS games since April 1. His omission came as a surprise, especially given his prominence in pre-tournament promotional materials.
Reyna and Berhalter Make the Cut
Gio Reyna, 23, earned a spot despite limited playing time at Borussia Monchengladbach—only 520 minutes this season—though he featured in the club's final five league matches. Pochettino has repeatedly praised Reyna, stating he is willing to include him regardless of club form. Reyna's inclusion comes after a turbulent period during the 2022 World Cup, where he was nearly sent home for behavioral issues, and a subsequent public fallout involving his parents and former coach Gregg Berhalter.
Sebastian Berhalter, son of the former USMNT coach, also made the roster. The 25-year-old midfielder never represented the US at youth levels but forced his way into Pochettino's plans with strong performances for the Vancouver Whitecaps since 2022. He made the MLS Best XI last year and provides a dead-ball specialist ability, consistently delivering dangerous corner kicks.
Roster Breakdown
The squad includes 13 players making their second World Cup appearance, with the other half being first-time selections. The defensive corps has 10 players, including center-back Chris Richards, who is recovering from torn ankle ligaments but was still selected. Missing among central defenders is Noahkai Banks, a dual-national who left his international status in limbo.
The midfield has only four central or defensive midfielders: Weston McKennie, Sebastian Berhalter, Cristian Roldan, and Tyler Adams. McKennie, typically an attacking midfielder, was deployed deeper in March.
In goal, Chicago Fire's Chris Brady joins Matt Freese and Matt Turner. Brady, 22, is in strong form but has never been capped.
Full Roster
Goalkeepers (3): Chris Brady (Chicago Fire), Matt Freese (New York City), Matt Turner (New England Revolution)
Defenders (10): Max Arfsten (Columbus Crew), Sergino Dest (PSV), Alex Freeman (Villarreal), Mark McKenzie (Toulouse), Tim Ream (Charlotte FC), Chris Richards (Crystal Palace), Antonee Robinson (Fulham), Miles Robinson (FC Cincinnati), Joe Scally (Borussia Monchengladbach), Auston Trusty (Celtic)
Midfielders (4): Tyler Adams (AFC Bournemouth), Sebastian Berhalter (Vancouver Whitecaps), Weston McKennie (Juventus), Cristian Roldan (Seattle Sounders)
Attacking midfielders/wingers (6): Brenden Aaronson (Leeds United), Christian Pulisic (Milan), Gio Reyna (Borussia Monchengladbach), Malik Tillman (Bayer Leverkusen), Tim Weah (Marseille), Alejandro Zendejas (Club America)
Strikers (3): Folarin Balogun (AS Monaco), Ricardo Pepi (PSV), Haji Wright (Coventry City)
The USMNT will play final friendlies against Senegal on May 31 and Germany on June 6 before the World Cup. Managers must submit final rosters to FIFA by June 1, with changes allowed only in exceptional circumstances.
