Pochettino's 26-man squad for the 2026 World Cup confirms a blend of Premier League reliability and continental flair, with Bournemouth's Tyler Adams and Fulham's Antonee Robinson headlining the English-based contingent. The selection, announced on Monday, also hands a compelling vote of confidence to Giovanni Reyna, whose 2022 tournament experiences threatened to derail his international career. As tournament co-hosts, the United States enter with a weight of expectation that extends beyond their Group D encounters with Paraguay, Australia, and Turkey.
The core of the team leans heavily on players plying their trade in Europe's top divisions. Adams, who has anchored Bournemouth's midfield with characteristic tenacity, and Robinson, an ever-present attacking left-back at Fulham, are joined by Leeds United's Brenden Aaronson, Crystal Palace center-back Chris Richards, and Coventry City forward Haji Wright from the English pyramid. Scottish Premiership representation comes from Celtic's Auston Trusty, while Serie A offers the star power of Christian Pulisic at AC Milan and Weston McKennie at Juventus. Pulisic, in particular, carries the creative burden, having enjoyed a resurgent club campaign.
Pochettino's squad announcement notably incorporates a nuanced mix of battle-hardened veterans and emerging MLS talents. Alongside Seattle Sounders' Cristian Roldan and Charlotte FC's Tim Ream, the 38-year-old defensive linchpin, there are promising inclusions such as Columbus Crew defender Max Arfsten and New York City goalkeeper Matt Freese. The presence of three home-based goalkeepers — Chris Brady, Freese, and Matt Turner — underscores a position of domestic depth, though Turner's experience from a previous European stint provides seasoned assurance.
No selection invites scrutiny quite like Reyna's. The Borussia Mönchengladbach playmaker was at the epicenter of a destabilizing saga at Qatar 2022, when then-coach Gregg Berhalter nearly expelled him from the camp over training attitude concerns. The fallout intensified dramatically when Reyna's mother, Danielle, alerted U.S. Soccer to a 1991 physical altercation between Berhalter and his then-girlfriend, now wife, prompting an independent investigation. The probe ultimately cleared Berhalter of withholding information or repeating such behavior. Reyna's inclusion in 2026, facilitated by a new coaching regime, signals a deliberate reset — a chance for the prodigiously talented 23-year-old to rewrite his World Cup story on home soil.
Adding an intimate layer to the narrative is the call-up of Sebastian Berhalter, Gregg's son. The Vancouver Whitecaps midfielder's presence in the same midfield pool as Reyna's is a quiet subplot, indicative perhaps of a broader resolution within the national team's culture. Pochettino, inheriting a fractured yet talented player pool, appears to have prioritized merit and availability over past interpersonal fires.
Defensively, the squad offers a blend of attacking verve and tactical flexibility. Sergiño Dest, reborn at PSV Eindhoven after an injury-ridden period, and Joe Scally of Borussia Mönchengladbach provide genuine wide threats. Toulouse's Mark McKenzie and the experienced Tim Ream lend composure to central defense, with Richards and Trusty offering younger legs. The fullback positions, in particular, are stocked with Premier League-caliber starters, hinting at Pochettino's intention to deploy aggressive, overlapping wing play.
In midfield, the manager can call upon a hybrid of destroyers and creators. Adams is the natural shield, while McKennie offers box-to-box energy. The attacking three behind Folarin Balogun — expected to lead the line with Ricardo Pepi and Haji Wright as alternatives — will likely feature Pulisic, Reyna, and one of Tim Weah or Malik Tillman from a deep reservoir of wide attackers. Tillman, fresh from a productive Bundesliga stint at Bayer Leverkusen, represents the kind of late-blooming asset that deepens the squad's versatility.
The World Cup opener against Paraguay on June 13 will immediately test the cohesion of a group that has had limited preparation time under the Argentine coach. Paraguay, traditionally stubborn defensively, will seek to frustrate a U.S. side that must balance creativity with counter-attacking resilience. Australia, physically imposing and direct, poses a different challenge in matchday two, while Turkey's technically adept midfield will demand constant concentration in the group finale. Progression to the knockout rounds is the minimum expectation for a co-host nation, but this roster suggests deeper ambitions harbored by Pochettino and the federation.
The selection also reflects strategic continuity with the player pool that navigated the qualifying cycle, albeit with notable omissions. No room was found for experienced MLS figures like Walker Zimmerman or Jordan Morris, signaling a tilt toward Europe-proven talent. This could be interpreted as Pochettino valuing top-flight rhythm over domestic familiarity, a decision that will be scrutinized if the team struggles to gel quickly.
The road to 2026 has been paved with reset intentions: a coaching change, a new federation leadership, and now a squad that marries youthful exuberance with continental experience. Pressure will mount swiftly, as home crowds expect nothing less than a statement performance from the opening whistle. Pochettino's reputation as a tournament strategist — forged at Tottenham and Paris Saint-Germain — provides belief, but he must quickly instill his high-pressing, positional discipline into a group fragmented by club commitments and far-flung geography.
Ultimately, the United States enters the World Cup with a roster that is undeniably talented, if unproven as a collective under this particular manager. The inclusion of Reyna, alongside the foundational Adams-Robinson-Pulisic spine, creates a narrative of redemption and potential. Whether Pochettino can mold this compilation into a cohesive unit capable of surviving and advancing in a diverse group will determine not only the tournament's success but his own lasting legacy in the American project.
Based on reporting from BBC Sport.
