Mauricio Pochettino has assembled his 26-player roster for the 2026 World Cup, unveiling the squad at a New York event with a mix of established stars, European-based talents, and promising young prospects betting their careers on a deep tournament run.
The goalkeeper picture reveals both continuity and transition. Matt Freese, a Harvard-educated MLS keeper who earned his first international start only last summer, has become a near-certain starter under Pochettino, a development that marks a significant shift for a program long synonymous with elite shot-stoppers like Tim Howard and Brad Friedel. Matt Turner, 31, returns to the squad after his European experiment fizzled, spending time at Arsenal, Nottingham Forest, and Crystal Palace before heading back to MLS. Turner started all four matches at the 2022 World Cup but has since lost the primary job to Freese. Chris Brady, just 22, rounds out the goalkeeper contingent, having outperformed highly touted predecessor Gabriel Slonina at Chicago Fire and earned the team's defender of the year honor in 2023.
The back line balances youth with experience in ways that define Pochettino's approach. Tim Ream, 38, stands on the cusp of becoming the oldest player in USMNT World Cup history, having driven five hours from St. Louis to Chicago for developmental soccer two decades ago. Now the squad's elder statesman, Ream brings calming influence to a youthful backline that still struggles with consistency. His presence anchors a defense that includes Chris Richards, the reigning U.S. men's player of the year from Alabama, and Antonee Robinson of Fulham, a naturalized American who peaked with the club in 2023-24 as a Premier League standout against elite opponents.
Sergiño Dest brings European pedigree and unconventional flair to the defensive unit. The first American ever to play for Barcelona, Dest was Lionel Messi's teammate and carries a playing style influenced by his childhood idol Ronaldinho, a rarity among American defenders. His passion occasionally boils over, most memorably when he was sent off for yelling at both referees and his own teammates during Concacaf Nations League play. Dest, 25, operates as a wing-back, a position where Max Arfsten has also emerged as a regular contributor after beginning the year in the fringe category.
Alex Freeman, 21, represents Pochettino's willingness to gamble on youth and potential. The son of former NFL legend Antonio Freeman played just 10 minutes of first-division soccer before 2025 but has since featured prominently, helping the USMNT reach the Gold Cup final and scoring twice against Uruguay. His move to La Liga side Villarreal solidified his squad selection despite limited playing time abroad. Miles Robinson, 29, recovered from a ruptured Achilles that cost him the 2022 World Cup, while Mark McKenzie at Toulouse has developed into a ball-playing left-footed center-back whose form in France has steadily improved.
Joe Scally, just 23, carries more international experience than his age suggests with 24 caps and regular Bundesliga starts for Borussia Mönchengladbach. The Long Island native once requested his mother bring bagels during her visits, though they rarely arrived fresh. Auston Trusty rounds out the defensive options, a Pennsylvania native whose soccer connection traces back to his sister's involvement with the U.S. women's program.
Pochettino's squad construction speaks to a philosophy that rewards both European experience and MLS development, youth and veteran leadership, established stars and hungry prospects. The 2026 tournament will test whether this balance can compete on the world's biggest stage.
Author James Rodriguez: "Pochettino has built a squad with real depth at the back and genuine European credibility, but the goalkeeper situation still feels unsettled and Freese will need to prove his mettle in a way a young MLS keeper rarely gets to do."
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