Mauricio Pochettino's World Cup roster reveals a squad that values the coach's established preferences and development potential over immediate form, with Alejandro Zendejas of Club America earning a spot despite minimal playing time under the manager, while Lyon midfielder Tanner Tessmann finds himself among the notable omissions.
The 26-man roster, obtained by the Guardian and authenticated by multiple sources, will be officially announced Tuesday at a nationally televised event in New York City. Among the most eye-catching decisions is Zendejas's inclusion alongside the confirmations of Gio Reyna and Sebastian Berhalter, while Real Salt Lake's Diego Luna was cut despite emerging as a genuine breakout star during the qualifying campaign.
Zendejas brings goal-scoring punch from Liga MX, where the 28-year-old has produced 12 goals and seven assists in 2,443 minutes to anchor Club America's attack. Yet Pochettino has only deployed him across six appearances and 139 minutes, with his most recent involvement dating to early September against Japan. The disparity between Zendejas's club resume and his limited international auditions underscores Pochettino's willingness to gamble on talent over established chemistry.
The Reyna decision carries different weight entirely. At 23, the Borussia Monchengladbach winger has managed just 520 minutes of club action this season, though he did feature in his club's final five league matches. Pochettino has publicly championed Reyna multiple times, signaling he views the youngster's development trajectory more favorably than current circumstances suggest. Reyna carries baggage from the 2022 World Cup, when he nearly departed the tournament due to behavioral issues and subsequently became entangled in his parents' public dispute with former coach Gregg Berhalter, events that have lingered in perceptions of his career.
Sebastian Berhalter's selection represents another vote of confidence from the current coach. The 25-year-old, son of the former USMNT coach, bypassed youth international levels before forcing his way into Pochettino's plans through development with the Vancouver Whitecaps. He earned MLS Best XI honors last year and delivered as the Whitecaps' primary playmaker, eventually leading the club to its first MLS Cup appearance and first Concacaf Champions Cup final. Beyond his outfield contributions, Berhalter offers dead-ball expertise, consistently placing corner kicks into dangerous spaces.
Diego Luna's exclusion stands as the roster's most jarring surprise. The 22-year-old Real Salt Lake attacking midfielder logged 17 appearances and four goals during the buildup to the tournament, earning effusive praise from Pochettino for his aggression in both phases. Luna returned from a March injury absence and exploded into form, netting four goals and two assists across seven MLS appearances since April 1. He even appeared in Fox's promotional campaign for the tournament, despite a federation spokesperson clarifying that Pochettino had no involvement in those casting decisions. Luna has managed nagging knee and muscular issues throughout 2026 but was expected to remain in the conversation until the final roster dropped.
Tessmann's absence remains murky. The 24-year-old Lyon defensive midfielder suffered a muscle strain two weeks prior but seemed poised to make the cut. Whether the injury derailed his prospects entirely or other factors influenced the decision is unclear. Tessmann appeared in 29 league matches for Lyon this season, starting in 22, and came through the FC Dallas academy. His omission represents a significant blow to depth at the defensive midfield position, where only four players are available, including Weston McKennie, Cristian Roldan, Tyler Adams, and Berhalter.
Middlesbrough's Aidan Morris also landed outside the roster despite appearing regularly for his club and featuring heavily in March friendlies against Portugal and Belgium. The 24-year-old seemed well-positioned to make the squad following Johnny Cardoso's high-grade ankle injury earlier this month, but Pochettino elected otherwise.
The defensive complement gained an extra body this cycle, with 10 defenders selected to distribute minutes across four or five starting slots. Crystal Palace's Chris Richards made the cut despite his manager announcing he would sit out the league finale after tearing ankle ligaments. Noahkai Banks, the dual-national who left his international status unresolved while considering German interest, failed to crack the defense.
In goal, Chicago Fire's Chris Brady joins Matt Freese and Matt Turner. Brady, at 22, ranks among MLS's most impressive keepers and has cycled through national team camps multiple times without earning a cap, arriving as presumed third-stringer behind Freese and Turner.
Thirteen roster members will make their second World Cup appearance, with the remaining half composed of first-time selections. The USMNT faces Senegal on May 31 and Germany on June 6 before the tournament begins. FIFA requires roster submission by June 1, with changes permitted only in exceptional circumstances approved by the medical committee.
Author James Rodriguez: "Pochettino built this roster on instinct and potential rather than current form, which is either visionary or reckless depending on how it plays out."
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