Day 14 until kickoff
Two weeks. That's all that stands between the United States and its first home World Cup since 1994. And Mauricio Pochettino just answered the question that's dominated this newsletter for months: who's going?
The Squad Is Set — and It's a 50/50 Bet on Experience and Youth
Pochettino named his 26-man roster on May 27, and the headline number tells the story neatly: 13 players who were in Qatar, 13 who weren't. Half continuity, half reinvention. Christian Pulisic (AC Milan), Tyler Adams (Bournemouth), and Weston McKennie (Juventus) anchor the experienced core, while AS Monaco striker Folarin Balogun is expected to compete for the starting striker role in Pochettino's preferred 3-4-2-1.
The inclusions that raised eyebrows: Gio Reyna made it despite limited minutes at Borussia Mönchengladbach this season, and Alejandro Zendejas — left off the March roster — earned his way back in with a strong finish at Club América. The omissions that stung: Diego Luna, dealing with injury, and Lyon midfielder Tanner Tessmann, who many expected to feature.
Pochettino said he's "confident this is the best group of 26 players" to deliver a deep run. McKennie, at the squad reveal event in Manhattan, put it more emotionally: "I hope that we can make people fall in love with the game here and maybe be able to etch our names in the history books."
The US open Group D against Paraguay on June 12 at SoFi Stadium, followed by Australia and Turkey.
Player Spotlight: The Reyna Redemption Arc
Gio Reyna's inclusion deserves its own paragraph. At Qatar 2022, he was nearly sent home by then-coach Gregg Berhalter over a training dispute — a saga that spiraled into a full federation investigation and consumed months of US Soccer's attention. Now, at 23, he's back in the fold under a different manager, carrying the creative burden in a squad that needs someone to unlock defenses between the lines. Limited club minutes or not, Pochettino clearly believes the talent outweighs the rust. If Reyna clicks, the USMNT's ceiling rises considerably. If he doesn't, the critics will be loud.
Host City Note: SoFi Opens the Show
The US opener lands at SoFi Stadium near Los Angeles — one of the tournament's marquee venues and a fitting stage for the USMNT's first home group game. The Americans last hosted in 1994, and the symbolism of opening at one of the country's most modern football venues isn't lost on anyone. Fourteen days from now, that stadium will be full.
Countdown Corner
The 2026 USMNT squad includes players from 13 different clubs across multiple leagues — from the Premier League and Serie A to Liga MX and MLS. Alejandro Zendejas (Club América) and Sebastian Berhalter (Vancouver Whitecaps) represent CONCACAF leagues on the same roster as Champions League regulars. That range of environments, tempos, and tactical systems is either a strength or a coordination challenge — probably both. Pochettino has two weeks to make it feel like one team.