The United States wants to take advantage of a home World Cup

The United States national team officially confirmed the 26 players who will represent the country at the 2026 FIFA World Cup, a tournament the US will co-host alongside Mexico and Canada.

The squad selected by Mauricio Pochettino combines international experience, established European stars, and young players arriving in excellent form ahead of the tournament.

The announcement also included several major surprises, including the presence of Alejandro Zendejas and the absences of players such as Diego Luna and Tanner Tessmann, who had frequently appeared in many projected World Cup rosters.

The official United States squad for the 2026 World Cup

Goalkeepers

Matt Freese — New York City FC (MLS)
Matt Turner — New England Revolution (MLS)
Chris Brady — Chicago Fire (MLS)

Defenders

Chris Richards — Crystal Palace (Premier League)
Tim Ream — Charlotte FC (MLS)
Mark McKenzie — Toulouse (Ligue 1)
Auston Trusty — Celtic (Scottish Premiership)
Miles Robinson — FC Cincinnati (MLS)
Antonee Robinson — Fulham (Premier League)
Sergiño Dest — PSV Eindhoven (Eredivisie)
Alex Freeman — Villarreal (LaLiga)
Joe Scally — Borussia Mönchengladbach (Bundesliga)
Max Arfsten — Columbus Crew (MLS)

Midfielders

Tyler Adams — Bournemouth (Premier League)
Weston McKennie — Juventus (Serie A)
Cristian Roldán — Seattle Sounders (MLS)
Sebastian Berhalter — Vancouver Whitecaps (MLS)
Malik Tillman — Bayer Leverkusen (Bundesliga)
Gio Reyna — Borussia Mönchengladbach (Bundesliga)
Brenden Aaronson — Leeds United (Premier League)

Forwards

Christian Pulisic — AC Milan (Serie A)
Tim Weah — Olympique Marseille (Ligue 1)
Alejandro Zendejas — Club América (Liga MX)
Folarin Balogun — AS Monaco (Ligue 1)
Ricardo Pepi — PSV Eindhoven (Eredivisie)
Haji Wright — Coventry City (Championship)

Head Coach

Mauricio Pochettino

Player to watch

All eyes will be on Christian Pulisic, who arrives at the 2026 World Cup as the undisputed leader of the United States national team and arguably in the best form of his career.

The AC Milan star has established himself as one of the most important players in modern American soccer history and will carry the enormous pressure of playing a World Cup on home soil.

With experience at the highest level in Europe and a proven ability to perform in major matches, Pulisic will attempt to become the face of the greatest World Cup run in USMNT history.

Alejandro Zendejas was one of the biggest surprises

One of the most talked-about names in the squad announcement was Alejandro Zendejas.

The Club América winger managed to convince Mauricio Pochettino thanks to his strong performances in Liga MX and ultimately earned his place in one of the most competitive United States squads in recent years.

Meanwhile, the absence of Diego Luna surprised a large portion of American fans, especially after the strong performances he had delivered in recent months with Real Salt Lake.

Everything you need to know about the USMNT in the World Cup

The United States dreams of making history at home

Playing a World Cup as a host nation completely changes the expectations surrounding a national team.

The United States understands the enormous pressure it will face throughout the tournament, but it also believes this generation possesses enough talent to seriously compete against any team in the world.

With players spread across some of the best leagues on the planet and an internationally experienced coach like Mauricio Pochettino, the USMNT will attempt to use home support as fuel to deliver the greatest World Cup campaign in the country’s history.

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