The World Cup roster was leaked over the weekend and ASN’s Brian Sciaretta breaks it down now forward of the formal unveiling on Tuesday in New York
BY
Brian Sciaretta
Posted
Might 23, 2026
8:00 PM
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And with that there was rather a lot to interrupt down. Who was reduce? Why? What can we take away from the way in which Pochettino needs to play from his choices?
Right here is the roster together with some big-picture ideas.
The Roster
Goalkeepers
1) Matt Freese
2) Matt Turner
3) Chris Brady
Defenders
4) Max Arfsten
5) Sergino Dest
6) Alex Freeman
7) Mark McKenzie
8) Tim Ream
9) Chris Richards
10) Antonee Robinson
11) Miles Robinson
12) Joe Scally
13) Auston Trusty
Midfielders
14) Tyler Adams
15) Sebastian Berhalter
16) Weston McKennie
17) Cristian Roldan
Attacking Midfielders/Wingers
18) Brenden Aaronson
19) Christian Pulisic
20) Gio Reyna
21) Malik Tillman
22) Tim Weah
23) Alejandro Zendejas
Heart Forwards
24) Folarin Balogun
25) Ricardo Pepi
26) Haji Wright
Very Defender Heavy
The primary massive takeaway from the roster is that just about each heathy defender within the pool made the ultimate roster. The one cuts he made had been far down on the depth chart (Walker Zimmerman, Kristoffer Lund, Tristan Blackmon) who weren’t anticipated to make it. A case could possibly be made for Noahkai Banks, however he has solely performed two video games and 65 minutes since March 2.
Chris Richards is coping with an ankle harm that may hold him out of the Convention League remaining. Tim Ream is getting older shortly. Mark McKenzie and Auston Trusty have been inconsistent with the nationwide staff. Miles Robinson has not had a great 2026 for Cincinnati.
At fullback, Sergino Dest and Antonee Robinson have handled vital accidents this season. Max Arfsten is taking part in effectively however isn’t even taking part in fullback as he’s been moved again to winger. Tim Weah made the staff and isn’t even listed as a fullback.
Central protection has been a weak spot for the staff all through the cycle. Pochettino’s roster probably means he’s going to compensate for that weak spot by brining in additional central defenders (together with two fullbacks who’ve some membership expertise in central protection in Alex Freeman and Joe Scally) into camp.
By having this many central defenders, Pochettino is giving himself extra time to determine an answer on this remaining camp.
Attacking midfielder weaknesses
After a lot hypothesis, Gio Reyna made the ultimate roster regardless of having a fifth-straight season the place he has been severely restricted in minutes for his membership. Malik Tillman additionally made the staff regardless of a subpar season following a $40+ million switch. Within the season’s remaining two months, Reyna was taking part in greater than Tillman.
One of many massive speaking factors is that Diego Luna didn’t make the staff and it stays to be seen how a lot Luna’s harm performed a component in that. He has not performed in Actual Salt Lake’s final two video games. It’s probably one thing that Pochettino should tackle.
Pochettino did react to the realities of the participant pool by calling in Alex Zendejas, who has not been with the staff since September. That provides the staff a sturdy left-footed choice who can play wing or play centrally.
Three-man backline seems to be probably
In March, Pochettino went with a different formation that switched relying on whether or not the staff was in possession. Nevertheless it didn’t work.
This roster definitely performs to a three-man backline greater than any earlier roster he has ever named since taking the U.S. job.
He introduced 5 conventional central defenders together with 4 (Richards, McKenzie, Ream, and Robinson) who play a three-man formation at their golf equipment. He has fullbacks who push approach up the sphere and fullbacks who can even shift to central protection in that formation.
Additionally, with the addition of Zendejas, Pochettino has but another choice who can play out large within the assault.
This staff was constructed to assault large, which might counsel a three-man backline. He has an abundance of central defenders, attacking fullbacks, and wingers to make this occur.
In fact, Pochettino can nonetheless make the most of a four-man backline if he needs and he has a lineup to do this. However it could not be shocking if Pochettino determined to play with a three-man backline after which picked a roster to suit that strategy.
The Tessman and Morris cuts
Each World Cup roster options a number of painful and harsh cuts. This roster was no exception.
Tanner Tessmann was an everyday starter for Lyon all through the season. Certain, he missed a couple of video games on the finish of the season, however reviews are that he was for the opening of World Cup camp). Nearly two months in the past in the beginning of the March worldwide window, Pochettino was requested about Tessmann and the Argentine was very complementary. He singled out Tessmann’s “brain” as being a key power. He mentioned Tessmann might play a number of positions (together with central protection) as a result of he knew tips on how to learn the sport so effectively.
Flash ahead to Might and Tessmann will not be on the staff regardless of being a key participant for a great Lyon staff.
Whereas Tanner was essentially the most shocking reduce on the roster, it was a part of a much bigger shock in that the second greatest reduce on the roster goes one other central midfielder in Aidan Morris. Morris was an everyday starter for a Middlesbrough staff that simply missed out on promotion to the Premier League.
Their absences make the staff very skinny in central midfield. If there’s a purple card or an harm, the staff will not be effectively outfitted to deal with gamers not in a position to go. That is approaching the heels of Johnny Cardoso struggling an ankle harm earlier this month that compelled him off the roster.
Cristian Roldan and Sebastian Berhalter are good gamers however aren’t as versatile as Morris or Tessmann within the methods they will backup a number of positions.
If Pochettino goes with a three-man backline, he won’t want as many central midfielders. However slicing Tessmann and Morris is extraordinarily shocking given the seasons that that they had.
On one other be aware, it appears clearer with this announcement that Weston McKennie will probably be taking part in a No. 8 central midfield position. McKennie is flexible and has performed loads of positions with Juventus and with the U.S. nationwide staff lately however it’s laborious to see how he received’t begin with Tyler Adams in central midfield.
Adams should keep wholesome
Tyler Adams has handled a number of accidents over time. He has missed lengthy stretches of video games this previous cycle alone. However with no Tessmann, Morris, or Cardoso on the roster, Pochettino should really feel very snug that Adams will probably be able to go a full 90 minutes each recreation.
However what’s “Plan B” after Adams? McKEnnie performs loads of positions however not likely a No. 6. Roldan additionally performs additional up the sphere and isn’t actually a protect of the backline.
It must be an enormous concern of this staff in how the staff can nonetheless win video games in opposition to good groups with out Adams?
Regarding kind
At any time when a roster is revealed, a lot of the talk facilities on gamers who surprisingly made the staff and the notable gamers who had been reduce. However the greatest bellwether for achievement is the type of the person gamers. In different phrases, many of the evaluation is on the fallacious issues.
We will analyze each facet of the roster, however the principle focus shouldn’t be on the additional defenders or the backup central midfielders, it must be on the staff’s prime gamers.
In that regard, issues are blended.
Christian Pulisic enters camp having not scored since December. He presided over Milan’s spectacular late-season collapse the place he fell utterly out of the Champions League spots. In December, Milan was within the Scudetto hunt.
As Soccer America completely put it: “The only way Christian Pulisic could enter the USMNT training camp for the World Cup in worse shape is if he was injured.”
If Pulisic can not flip issues round with the U.S. nationwide staff, it’s laborious to see the U.S. nationwide staff going far.
Issues are additionally bleak for the No. 10 place with Gio Reyna and Malik Tillman each not taking part in vital roles for his or her golf equipment within the second half of the season.
In central protection, Richards had a great season, however it stays to be seen if he’ll get better from his ankle harm as shortly because the reviews counsel. However not one of the staff’s different central defenders are thriving.
By way of different key gamers, there are positives. Tyler Adams ended his season taking part in strong soccer for Bournemouth as they certified for the Europa League (it was the staff’s first qualification for a European event). The 2 strikers in Folarin Balogun and Ricardo Pepi each had nice seasons.
Additionally the fullback positions stay strong with Antonee Robinson and Sergino Dest.
The place of goalkeeper is one which requires loads of consideration and prior to now few weeks of the MLS season, Matt Turner has outplayed USMNT No. 1 Matt Freese.
Whereas the variety of gamers in good kind outnumbers the gamers in unhealthy kind, having Pulisic, central protection, and goalkeeping at subject in the beginning of USMNT will not be good in any respect.
