U. S.
Men's National Team head coach Mauricio Pochettino unveiled the official 26-man squad for the 2026 FIFA World Cup on Tuesday during a press conference in Manhattan.
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The selection solidifies the roster for the upcoming tournament ahead of the opening match against Paraguay in Los Angeles, though changes can still be made in the event of an injury before June 11.
The roster announcement sparked immediate debate among soccer analysts, highlighted by the unexpected omission of deep-lying central midfielder Tanner Tessmann and the inclusion of attacking midfielder Gio Reyna.
Reyna, who experienced a turbulent 2022 World Cup campaign under former coach Gregg Berhalter, expressed relief after waiting anxiously for the selection notification while in Connecticut with his wife.
"Just over the moon," said Gio Reyna, describing the emotional reaction of his parents upon hearing the selection news.
The 23-year-old midfielder has faced club challenges, struggling to secure a regular starting spot during recent stints with Borussia Dortmund, Nottingham Forest, and Borussia Mönchengladbach.
"Reflect? I guess," said Reyna.
"It was a while ago. But yeah, it happened.
It is what it is."
Analysts from The Athletic noted that Reyna has accumulated only 2,180 minutes and three goals since the 2023-24 season, making his inclusion a significant talking point regarding his current form.
"I mean, of course," said Reyna. "Everyone wants to play every minute of every game.
But sometimes it doesn't work like that."
National team reporters noted that Reyna appears to approach this tournament with newfound humility compared to his previous World Cup appearance in Qatar four years ago.
